Impressive Debut for 2YO Vancouver Filly

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday December 2

Punters got it right at Sandown on Wednesday when Team Hawkes unleashed exciting Vancouver filly Vandoula Lass as a short priced favourite in the juvenile fillies event.

Vandoula Lass bolts in at Sandown - image Pat Scala - Racing Photos.

Head and shoulders above her rivals on type in the mounting yard, Vandoula Lass had little trouble hunting down the Godolphin entry Translation, zooming past her to go on and win by two and three-quarter lengths.


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“We did think she’d come here and win,” said co-trainer Wayne Hawkes.

“She’s an absolute dream (to work with), she walked into the mounting enclosure and walked around as if she owned the joint and looked like a five-year-old gelding.

“It’s always good when a two-year-old has got ability but they’ve also got the attitude.”

Vandoula Lass was a $70,000 Magic Millions purchase from Orbis Bloodstock from the KBL Thoroughbreds draft, but the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 9 is an unlikely target according to Hawkes.

Vandoula Lass as a yearling

Winning rider Craig Williams was extremely impressed with Vandoula Lass having ridden her in a recent jumpout and then again on race day, so she may have bigger fish to fry in the autumn.

“I was so impressed by her physique but more importantly her mannerisms in the jumpout,” Williams said.

“She still had to do it under race conditions, but just the way she didn’t spend any extra energy walking around the yard, cantering to the start and in the gates... she’s a real high-class filly with a great attitude.”

Vandoula Lass is the first winner from metropolitan winning Commands mare Doula, who died in 2019 after having just two foals.

Doula came from the Asawir branch of the Easy Date family featuring Group I winners Rewayaa, Sense of Occasion and Ertijaal.

Vandoula Lass is the first winner from the second crop of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, who has given Team Hawkes two winners from two runners with three year-old gelding Yukon winning on debut for them last month at Wyong.


 

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Race Result - Clanbrooke Racing Hcp 1000m

Sandown-Hillside Track: Good(3) Time: 0:58.07
1
Vandoula Lass
- 2f Vancouver (AUS) x Doula (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Craig Williams 57
2
2.8
Translation
- 2f Frosted (USA) x Quidnunc (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: D Oliver 57
3
3.3
Scream Queen
- 2f Holler (AUS) x Sallanches (AUS) (Bon Hoffa (AUS))
Tnr: K L Corstens Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
4
4.5
Divine Waters
- 2f Headwater (AUS) x Mymy Justine (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: Jack Laing Rdr: Rose Pearson 57
5
10.5
Reach For Joy
- 2f Outreach (AUS) x Gaily Mill (AUS) (Alamosa (NZ))
Tnr: Paul Rocke Rdr: W Gordon 57
6
11.5
Bellatina
- 2f Palentino (AUS) x Belle Of The City (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Jamie Kah 57
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