By his own admission, David Vandyke is setting Archean a significant challenge by committing to a Grafton Cup start next month.
The European import posted his first metropolitan win in Australia with a fighting long neck victory over Bubbles `N’ Boats in the More Than Ready @ Vinery Handicap at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Vandyke immediately announced plans to step the horse up to stakes grade at the July country carnival with a long-term view to the spring.
“I will throw him in the deep end, that way we’ll get a bit of a guide on where we should aim in the spring,” Vandyke said.
“It’s an ambitious plan but he’s done everything right and he deserves a trip up there.
“It’s taken him a little while to adapt but he’s certainly there now.”
Archean raced twice in Europe before joining the Vandyke stable at the start of last spring when his best result was a victory at Canberra.
Having his second run from a spell on Wednesday, the four-year-old responded to a positive ride by Danny Beasley to grind out a narrow win.
Vandyke was unsure if the jockey would be able to stick with the horse in the Grafton Cup but said Beasley would have first right of refusal.
“He’s got an offer to ride (the Gai Waterhouse-trained) Bonfire. We’ll see how that horse goes Saturday and he might ride for us if he wants. The offer is there,” Vandyke said.
