Sunshine Coast-based horseman David Vandyke is looking at the Memsie Stakes 2017 as a spring opener for his multiple Group 1 winning filly Yankee Rose who trialled in Brisbane on Tuesday morning.
Yankee Rose will kick off her Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the 2017 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on September 2. Photo: Steve Hart.
A rising four-year-old, the daughter of All American stepped out in the public eye at Doomben Racecourse for the first time since her failed 14th behind all-the-way winner Lasqueti Spirit in Flemington’s Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) last November as the beaten odds-on favourite.
Yankee Rose may have failed the punters during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, but there were excuses and she subsequently missed the entirety of the autumn – winter racing season.
The $2 million earner, whose Crown Oaks lead-up produced the incredibly brave third behind the world’s best Winx in the $3 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m), is now back on track and gearing up for much anticipated return to the track.
After having bone chips from one of her knees removed post-her Crown Oaks flop, Yankee Rose stepped out in the first trial at Doomben on Tuesday with Michael Cahill putting her through her paces.
On Monday Vandyke told Racing Victoria he wasn’t expecting big things in the trial and Yankee Rose raced accordingly in the open 1000m hit-out finishing a length and a quarter back fourth behind the Chris Anderson-trained Mishani Sleuth.
“I don’t want her to do too much, I’d just like to see her travel on the bit the whole way and have a good experience,” Vandyke said yesterday.
“It’s been a long road and she’s had a few issues, she’s been in work for 20 weeks.
“She had bone chips removed from her knee and she’s been plagued by bad feet.
“Her feet are pretty good at the moment but she’s a horse with very thin-walled feet which can make it hard to keep shoes on her and it can mean she is prone to having abscesses.”
Vandyke is plotting the spring campaign for dual elite level winner and could race her first-up in the opening Group 1 of the new season with the $1 million Memsie Stakes (1400m) taking place at Caulfield Racecourse on September 2.
She will trial once more before debuting under race conditions as a four-year-old against the likes of the Darren Weir-trained Black Heart Bart who has an imposing record at the Memsie Stakes track / distance and Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc.
The other spring targets pencilled in for Yankee Rose at this stage including Flemington’s $750,000 Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) over the mile on September 16 and the $750,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) back at Caulfield on October 1.
From there a decision will be made whether to give her another shot at Winx, who shoots for a third consecutive Cox Plate victory in October, or step Yankee Rose up in distance for the $3.15 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21 a week before Cox Plate Day 2017.
With the dual defending champion Winx odds-on in futures Ladbrokes Cox Plate betting, Yankee Rose is currently rated a $34 roughie to go two better than her top three result last spring.
As for the pre-nomination BMW Caulfield Cup 2017 odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au, Vandyke’s filly is at a slightly shorter quote of $26.
To back Yankee Rose over the spring at the right Group 1 racing odds visit Ladbrokes.com.au today.
