Another Star Filly for Vandyke

Tara Madgwick - Sunday Apr 21

David Vandyke has a happy knack for getting the best from a good filly and might have another on his hands with Bacccarat Baby winning the Listed BRC Princess Stakes at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday after it was transferred from the abandoned Doomben meeting on Saturday.

The daughter of Casino Prince won five races in succession last year before finishing fifth beaten less than a length in the Group I ATC Flight stakes at Randwick.

Spelled after that effort, she has taken a couple of runs to hit peak fitness and was third up from a spell in the Princess Stakes.

Baccarat Baby did best in a tight finish scoring a nose win over So You Think filly Word for Word from the powerful Chris Waller stable.

"When they hit the line I thought we had it but it's never a good thing until it's up in the frame" Vandyke said.

"That filly deserves that type of victory, she competed so well at Group I level in Sydney.

"She had a tough run today and for her to fight on and win like that is fantastic."

Baccarat Baby will now head towards another Black Type race in two weeks time targetting the $125,000 Listed Bracelet (1800m) at the Gold Coast.

Retained to race by her breeder, Baccarat Baby is the first winner for minor winning Johannesburg (USA) mare Meerlust, whose third dam is legendary matriarch Fanfreluche.

The Fanfreluche dynasty has given us champion sires Encosta de Lago and Flying Spur as more recent Group I winners such as Russian Revolution and I Am a Star.

Interestingly, Meerlust was covered last year by another member of the Fanfreluche dynasty in Holy Roman Emperor (IRE).

Baccarat Bay is the 16th stakes-winner for Vinery Stud's quiet achiever Casino Prince.

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