Queensland trainer David Vandyke eyes Victorian Group 1 mission for the first time since Alligator Blood

News.com.au

8 hours ago

David Vandyke will head back to the scene of Alligator Blood's first Group 1 triumph when he attacks the Empire Rose Stakes with exciting mare Philia during the Victorian spring carnival.
Philia was an excitement machine during the Queensland winter carnival, winning four on the bounce and starting favourite for the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) where she endured a tough run and was beaten 2.5 lengths.
Group 2 winner Philia has now returned to Vandyke's Sunshine Coast stable and the astute trainer will aim her at races in her sweet spot of 1600m-2000m.
Vandyke and connections had been weighing up a potential mission to Sydney for the riches of the $10m Golden Eagle, but the decision was made that she will head to Melbourne.
Mindful that Philia had a busy winter, Vandyke will give her a light spring campaign with the plan to then unleash her in some big races during the 2026 autumn.
However, he has revealed that the $1m Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes over 1600m at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival is a key spring goal.
Flemington was where Vandyke won the 2020 Group 1 Australian Guineas with Alligator Blood when he trained the now retired seven-time Group 1 winning superstar at the start of the galloper's magical career.
Vandyke doesn't think he has had a Melbourne runner since the Alligator Blood adventure, but is looking forward to deploying frontrunning type Philia.
'I want to give her a fairly light spring, she was up a long time going into the winter carnival,' Vandyke said.
'We just hop on a plane at Brisbane Airport and she is there pretty quickly.
'Potentially, she will have one run and then into the Empire Rose.
'Sydney was certainly a consideration, but we ended up making the call to go to Melbourne.'
Kerrin McEvoy developed a strong association with Philia during the winter carnival and was impressed at every step of her winter journey.
Vandyke says Philia, now four, is back in his stable and had bulked up after a six-week break.
'She will have a couple of runs in spring and then we will look at giving her a good, strong autumn campaign,' he said.
'She has had a good six weeks off and she has come back a lot stronger.
'I will look at targeting races from a mile to 2000m for her.
'I don't think less than a mile is suitable for her and I don't know about more than 2000(m) at this point.'
In early betting markets on TAB fixed odds, Fangirl is the $4.50 favourite for the Empire Rose Stakes and Philia is rated a $26 chance.