David Vandyke confident Yankee Rose has rediscovered her mojo in time for Group 1 Golden Rose

PODCAST: AFTER below par trackwork and sluggish trials, David Vandyke had a welcome headache after Yankee Rose worked vastly superior last Sunday.

AFTER a tormented campaign of below par trackwork and sluggish trials, trainer David Vandyke had a welcome headache after Yankee Rose worked vastly superior to his instructions last Sunday.

Thanks to that Sunshine Coast hitout, in which Yankee Rose clocked a slick 34.2sec for her final 600m, Vandyke’s runner has been one of the best backed in Saturday’s $1 million Golden Rose.

It left Vandyke scratching his head, as he had formed the opinion Yankee Rose was the worst worker he had trained, while observers wondered if the Group 1 winner had left her engine in Sydney.

“Every preparation she works worse,’’ Vandyke said. “It’s not what I would like to have happen. I’ve certainly asked her to work better than she works.

“(Last Sunday) was the best piece of work I’ve ever seen her put in. For her to run 34.2 and for Michael Cahill to have trouble pulling her up, certainly showed me that she’s far from done with yet.

Trainer David Van Dyke with his stable star Yankee Rose. Picture: Lachie Millard

“The fear for me was that she was going to be like most two-year-olds and not come back to the same level as a three-year-old.

“My initial reaction when she ran that time was disappointment because I had asked Michael to go 37 (seconds). After the races he apologised for going quick and told me he couldn’t pull her up.

Yankee Rose and Zac Purton combine to win the Group 1 ATC Sires Produce during The Championships. Picture: Jenny Evans

“I rang him on Wednesday and told him I’m pleased he went too hard because I don’t think she would have been fit enough and she certainly pulled up in terrific shape.”

The trainer paid tribute to Cahill’s experience, saying he had been a vital cog in getting Yankee Rose ready for the Rose.

“Michael was able to use his judgment on numerous occasions,” he said. “In those trials it would have been easy to default to belting her with the stick and send her a bit sour.

“It would have been easy for him to be fighting her and not let her stride out in an attempt to obey my instructions. He’s been a big part in working with me to get her right for the race.”

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On Friday, having driven Yankee Rose’s float from Caloundra to the Sunshine Coast himself, Vandyke was feeling relieved his stable star was finally back at the races.

“A lot of times horses disappoint us because we have expectations and dreams of what they can do, but this is quite a unique situation because whatever I think she’s going to do in each start, she has always exceeded my expectations,” he said.

“I have underestimated her on all four occasions that she’s started.

Vandyke confessed preparing Yankee Rose for the Golden Rose had been the most testing time of his training life, but one he now feels will make him a better trainer.

“It’s tested me in different areas, but I think that’s been healthy,’’ he said. “It’s what I’m paid to do.

“It’s like a game of football. There’s some periods of the game where they have to dig deep to find some direction and inner strength and this campaign has been a bit like that.

“There’s been areas I have struggled with, but in the big picture, I love what I do and I’m looking forward to this race.’’