Yays & Neighs from Queensland Oaks day

David Vandyke took the Group 1 prize home with Gypsy Goddess but there was plenty of other fallout from an action-packed day.

David Vandyke produced a training masterpiece to get Gypsy Goddess to the Queensland Oaks in winning order. Picture: Grant Peters — Trackside Photography.

After a string of victories by southern trainers, David Vandyke and Gypsy Goddess were able to back-up Desleigh Forster’s Kingsford-Smith Cup victory seven days earlier to fly the flag for the locals.

YAYS

1 – David Vandyke

The Sunshine Coast trainer went against many things he would usually do in getting Gypsy Goddess to the Queensland Oaks on Saturday, but it delivered in spades.

The Vandyke story is well publicised, but credit has to be given to him for his open and frank assessment of his star filly in the lead up to the race.

In what is basically still her first preparation, Gypsy Goddess went from a maiden to Group 1 winner after going agonisingly close in Sydney during the autumn.

How did Vandyke celebrate on Saturday night? He couldn’t wait to get back to the Sunshine Coast to run his eyes over his freshly minted Group 1 winner.

Critics once said Wizard of the West Willie Pike wouldn’t ride a winner outside of Western Australia, but now look at him.

He was cool, calm and collected aboard Gypsy Goddess from the widest gate in booting her to victory, even if he hit the front earlier than he anticipated.

2 – Locals Stradbroke

For too long Queenslanders have become accustomed to seeing southern horses come up and run away with the state’s greatest prize.

With Apache Chase, Baller, Isotope, Soxagon, Startantes, Emerald Kingdom and adopted Queenslander Alligator Blood all likely to line up in Saturday’s field, locals are set to play a major role.

Tony Gollan has achieved almost all there is to do in Queensland but the Stradbroke is a glaring hole in his resume, which he will be desperate to make amends for.

3- Chris Waller using Queensland as a breeding ground

There wasn’t much in the margin but did we see the next big thing from the Chris Waller camp winning The Phoenix on Saturday?

Political Debate gave the even-money backers a wild ride but was able to overcome them to win and stamp his ticket through to the Group 1 JJ Atkins in seven days time in the process.

Waller has launched the careers of many a star in the Sunshine State and if the wraps on Political Debate are right, he may well have another on his hands come the spring time.

GYPSY GODDESS ROUNDS THEM UP AND SALUTES IN THE QUEENSLAND OAKS!

David Vandyke and Willie Pike get the Group 1 glory. pic.twitter.com/VgnUEyarvY

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 4, 2022

*****

NEIGHS

1 – Palladas backers

The Tony Gollan-trained sprinter has promised the world and delivered an atlas instead.

After getting turned over by Francesco Guardi on Saturday, followers of the four-year-old must be bleeding.

In his last nine starts, Palladas has been sent out at odds more than $5 just once and only won one of them at the juicy price of $1.24.

2 – Aravene

The late betting drift told the story as the Caroline Jennings-trained filly knocked up to be beaten almost 10 lengths in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

After being heavily backed following Tuesday’s barrier draw, Aravene was almost favourite by Saturday morning, but the late swing back to Gypsy Goddess proved to be bang on.

There were question marks over the quality of opponents Aravane had beaten compared the Group 1 company Gypsy Goddess had held herself in, which proved to be correct.

There were alarm bells over the filly before she even stepped foot on the track on Saturday when jockey Brett Prebble’s saddle went missing in the weigh in room prior to the race.

3 – Time to recognise Incentivise

The phenom that is Incentivise is one of the great Queensland racing stories in modern history and it deserves to be recognised.

The Toowoomba staying freak won his first race in town on Queensland Oaks day a year ago in the Benchmark 85 Handicap over 1800.

While it is only a blimp on the radar compared to the Group 1 feature on the day, surely the day will come where the race is named in honour of the champion stayer, who almost pulled off one of the great fair tale stories last year.

Originally published as Yays & Neighs from Queensland Oaks day