Trainer David Vandyke settles into new surroundings at Caloundra

DAVID Vandyke is not expecting any early miracles from his new Sunshine Coast base, but he is keen to claim a Group 1 from his new digs with gun filly Yankee Rose.

David Van Dyke

DAVID Vandyke is not expecting any early miracles from his new Sunshine Coast base, but he is keen to claim a Group 1 from his new digs with gun filly Yankee Rose.

Vandyke begins the next phase of his training career when Look To The Stars runs for him in Saturday’s Princess Stakes at Caloundra.

She is one of 15 horses Vandyke has relocated from his Sydney yard, which will stay in operation until July. He has 32 boxes at Caloundra but is happy to take his time filling them.

“We are down on numbers to start with, so the horses I do have will be getting the Rolls-Royce service,” he said. “The whole move is exciting. They are magnificent stables and it’s a world-class training centre.

“Irrespective of how Look To The Stars runs, I think we are in a good place to build on what we started in Sydney.

“There’s some apprehension. I’m yet to train a winner from my Queensland base. It’s like playing a game. The first one is now finished and you’re back to nought for the next one.

“There will be some adjustments and I’m not placing too high a expectations on myself in the first year. I’m looking forward to getting my first winner and I will be able to make more accurate predictions in 12 months’ time.’’

The star of Vandyke’s team is runaway ATC Sires Produce winner Yankee Rose, who missed last week’s Champagne Stakes with a setback, which has opened the door for her to star in Queensland.

“She has settled in terrifically and I will make an assessment on her in the next week but everything is geared towards the J.J. Atkins,” he said.

“I want to get a Group 1 with her and if we can do that, she will then be the only dual Group 1-winning two-year-old in Australia this season and hopefully put her in a pretty good place for two-year-old of the year.”

Look To The Stars won the BRC Sires Produce Stakes last year when she was trained by Clarry Conners but is yet to capture that form this season.

Vandyke feels she is in the right class of race on Saturday and has tipped her to improve on what she did in Sydney.

“She has only had the two runs for us. She had excuses first-up and then I thought she ran a nice race last time in terms of lining her up in this class of race.’’

Vandyke is aiming Look To The Stars for the Doomben Roses, a race he won two years ago with Arabian Gold.

Vandyke also has talented stayers Sir John Hawkwood and Maurus gearing up for carnival tilts.

Originally published as Trainer David Vandyke settles into new surroundings at Caloundra