Yankee sold as Vandyke searches for new stable star

Ben Dorries - Thursday September 28

With dual Group I winner Yankee Rose now sold, David Vandyke is looking for a new star to emerge from his stable.

Trainer David Vandyke is searching for a new star after Yankee Rose was sold Photo: Steve Hart

Deep Image is no Yankee Rose but the four-year-old sprinter who resumes on Saturday at the Sunshine Coast has the ability and the x-factor to win many more races.

The Testa Rossa gelding hasn't been since winning his second race from four starts at Doomben in April, but will resume as the $3.20 favourite for Saturday's Benchmark75 Handicap (1200m).

Vandyke always thought the sprinter had a big motor and threw him in the deep end on debut when he ran second to Winning Rupert in the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Doomben in December last year.

He was initially being aimed at the riches of the Magic Millions carnival in January but Vandyke took a softer path.

The Magic Millions carnival is again on the agenda and Vandyke is looking forward to the future with great enthusiasm.

However, he warns Deep Image will take improvement from his first-up run on Saturday and concedes he faces a difficult task from barrier 13.

"He is a big, heavy strong horse and the main thing is I want him racing in January (at the Magic Millions)," Vandyke said.

"I will bring him up gently this preparation and he will definitely improve a lot more going forward into his preparation.

"He has trialled well, albeit a soft trial, but I don't want Michael Cahill to be too aggressive on him on Saturday.

"I don't want him to have a gutbuster.

"The way I see it is my horse has only had four starts and he is up against some pretty handy seasoned horses.

"First-up from a bad barrier, he will have to be very classy to get the job done."

Group I star Yankee Rose is still at Vandyke's stable but won't be for much longer.

Racenet has confirmed the Darby Racing-syndicated mare has been sold for an undisclosed price and will not race again.

Owners made the decision to sell Yankee Rose after the injury-plagued mare suffered more problems following her ninth in the Group I Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on September 2.

Yankee Rose won more than $2 million for connections and claimed the Group I Sires Produce and Group I Spring Champion Stakes in 2016.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.