Trainer David Vandyke can’t wait to see Gypsy Goddess over more ground at Randwick on Saturday.
The daughter of Tarzino was impressive when running home for third in the Gr.1 Vinery Stakes (1850m) at Newcastle last start, with the race reducing from its original 2000m distance after being transferred from Rosehill.
She clocked the fasted closing 200m of the race and Vandyke believes she will appreciate the step-up to 2400m in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks this weekend.
“That is how we have trained her. She has never raced under 1400m and all her work has been geared up for an Oaks,” Vandyke told RSN.
“We have never tried to get her to sprint hard over the shorter courses. We have set her up to run a strong 2400m. Being a Heavy track at Randwick it will be more like a 2600m.”
The Sunshine Coast horseman said his filly has come through the Vinery well and while he is hopeful she will appreciate the rain-affected track, he admitted he is still unsure how she will cope on what will likely be a Heavy10 surface.
“She felt it the couple of days after but bounced back really good from then. She is eating really well now, she looks good in the coat, and she is ready for Saturday,” Vandyke said.
“It is going to be a Heavy10, you would imagine. She did go well on a 6 at Doomben and won impressively there.
“I think she can handle it (Heavy10), but I don’t really know.
“She has got an economical action, which I think will help, and she is not a heavy horse, which is an asset in getting through wet ground.
“I am just hoping more than anything. The signs are that she should get through it but at this top level if she is not 100 percent on it then they will find her out.”
Gypsy Goddess will be ridden by William Pike from gate 11 and Vandyke said they may ride her more positively than in previous races.
“There is speed drawn around her and there are a couple that will go forward from out wide,” he said.
“In these type of events, half of the field may be struggling from the 600m on and it can be a bit dangerous getting back in the field behind tiring horses, especially on a Heavy10.
“We will have a good look over the next 24 hours and work out where we would like to be.
“How she jumps and how she gets into stride will determine to a degree where we sit, and also what they do around us.”
Following Saturday, Vandyke said there are plenty of options open to the Kiwi-bred.
“We have got the options ahead of us,” he said. “I am hoping that Saturday gives us a good guide as to where we can head next.
“They are only three once, do we tackle the Queensland Carnival? We know that she runs well at Eagle Farm; or do we bypass that and wait for Melbourne and look to the Classics there.
“We will just see how she runs on Saturday and how she recovers.”
Gypsy Goddess is yet another quality galloper raised at Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore but she failed to meet her $20,000 reserve when offered as Lot 1145 in the Book 2 session of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Co-bred by highly-regarded veterinarian Chris Lawler, who also purchased and raced her sire Tarzino, Gypsy Goddess is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Invisible Coin.
Lawler remains in the ownership of Gypsy Goddess, racing her with a syndicate that includes Bob Jones, one of Vandyke’s biggest stable clients.