Ipswich Cup 2016: Trainer David Vandyke basking in Queensland glory with easiest of successes

DAVID Vandyke celebrated his first weekend as a fulltime Queensland trainer in style on Saturday as Maurus easily claimed the Ipswich Cup.

Promising partnership: David Vandyke and Damian Browne after winning the Ipswich Cup. Picture: Liam Kidston

DAVID Vandyke celebrated his first weekend as a fulltime Queensland trainer in style on Saturday as Maurus notched one of the easiest victories in the history of the Ipswich Cup.

The 50-year-old Vandyke completed his transition from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast last week and gave his fans a glimpse of what’s to come when Maurus came from last to claim the 150th Ipswich Cup running away by 3½ lengths.

The victory was Vandyke’s first stakes win as a Queensland trainer and comes more than two months after he claimed his first Group 1 victory with Yankee Rose in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes in Sydney.

Vandyke, who also claimed the Ipswich Mile with Blackjack Bella on Saturday, admits he was nervous moments before the Cup but he had no reason to worry after Damian Browne circled the field at the 700m mark to score with ease.

“He didn’t travel well to the track and we had to keep him walking because he was sweating up a bit,” Vandyke said.

Maurus and jockey Damian Browne make easy work of their rivals in the Ipswich Cup. Picture: Liam Kidston

“When he took off when he did and was making that long searching run, I was a bit nervous.

“I didn’t want a repeat of the Doomben Cup where he started to feel the pinch late (finishing fifth) but when I saw Damian turning for home, he still had a good hold of the horse.

“It’s just fantastic and it’s my first stakes win as a Sunshine Coast trainer.

“It’s been a dream year … and to have two runners today and both of them win and to win the feature race is just a dream.”

Trainer David Vandyke with the Ipswich Cup trophy. Picture: Liam Kidston

Browne celebrated his first Ipswich Cup win and admitted he knew he had the race won a long way out.

“At the 600m mark the horse was really travelling and had spent nothing in the run, so I was pretty confident,” he said.

The victory marked the beginning of what promises to be a formidable partnership between Browne and Vandyke.

“That was his first ride for me and I think we will have a good relationship,” Vandyke said.

“It would be a shame to see (Maurus) go to paddock after that because he was so dominant and I’m sure Damian and myself would love a Caloundra Cup together (in two weeks).”

Browne agrees.

“(The partnership) is at 100 per cent so far, so let’s hope we can keep it going,” he said.

Jumbo Prince made it a Queensland quinella in the Cup and jockey Jim Byrne was full of praise for the four-year-old.

“The winner was just in a different league,” Byrne said.

“(Jumbo Prince) slipped around a couple of times but he settled really well and that gives me the impression he will run the 2400m of the Caloundra Cup.”

Vandyke’s Blackjack Bella foiled a plunge on the fast-finishing Outraged, who was backed in from as much as $7 on Saturday morning to $3.60.

Originally published as Ipswich Cup 2016: Trainer David Vandyke basking in Queensland glory with easiest of successes