Kiwi-bred filly Gypsy Goddess maintained an unblemished record when she overcame difficulties in the running to post her third consecutive victory at Doomben on Saturday.
The three-year-old daughter of Westbury Stud-based stallion Tarzino has proved a revelation for trainer David Vandyke, after she provided no indication of her ability leading into her first start at the Sunshine Coast back in October.
Vandyke didn’t know what to think after she had been beaten by every trackwork partner leading into the race as well as finishing last of five in her final trial.
After getting back near last in the 16-horse field she stormed home for victory and hasn’t looked back as she stepped up in grade to win over 1600m at the same venue before winning again over 1600m on Saturday.
“She has just kept surprising us and has stepped up to the mark every time we have asked,” Vandyke said.
“To be honest I didn’t know what to think about her before she had her first start as she had shown absolutely nothing.
“She couldn’t beat one in trackwork and hardly beat one home in her three trials.
“She was well back on the corner at the Sunshine Coast and she just powered home to win.
“She then stepped up a grade and did the same, while on Saturday she had every excuse to get beaten and she just refused to give in.
“She copped a real knock on the corner and got carted wide but gathered herself up and knuckled down to win it.”
Offered through the Curraghmore draft at the NZB National Yearling Sale in 2020 where she was passed in after failing to reach her $20,000 reserve, the filly was later purchased privately by Doctor Chris Lawler, who got Bob Jones, one of Vandyke’s biggest stable clients, involved in her ownership.
Jones had her transferred to Vandyke and the Sunshine Coast-based mentor is glad that he did.
“I just love the kiwi-bred horses and when Bob told me about this filly, I was happy to take her,” Vandyke said.
“Bob comes to the Karaka yearling sale with me every year and we have had plenty of success with the horses we have bought.
“Another smart one we bought out of the Curraghmore draft in 2020 is Colleagues, who we paid $260,000 for.
“He broke his maiden at Ipswich on Friday and is a very promising type.
“I’d like to think when we come back to Karaka in 2022, that we might have a drink or two waiting for us from Gordon Cunningham and the Curraghmore team.”
Vandyke will now lift his sights with Gypsy Goddess as he plans an assault on the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) later in the season.
“She looks like a stayer through and through so the Oaks will be her ultimate goal,” he said.
“We are going to try her in stakes company for the first time next up, with the Grand Prix Stakes (Gr.3, 2100m) at Eagle Farm in a fortnight the immediate target.
“She is the second by Tarzino that I have in my stable and they look like excelling over ground.
“They eat well and they are super tough, so I expect to see him do well as a sire in the future.”
Vandyke brought up a winning treble on Saturday with Proisir filly Sanzera successful on debut over 1200m at the Gold Coast, before Shamexpress five-year-old Weona Smartone made it eight wins in succession with a nail-biting last-stride victory over 1100m in his first run since September.
“I have never had a horse win eight in a row so it’s a bit of unchartered territory,” he said.
“Mind you I wouldn’t want that race over again as he never looked like he was going to get there and even when they went past the line, I thought he had been beaten.
“Bob Jones is also the majority shareholder in him, so he had a very good day.” – NZ Racing Desk
