NOT THE USUAL SCRIPT - A DAVID VANDYKE TRAINED RUNNER WINS AT LONG ODDS

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Wow … a David Vandyke runner starting at $26!

That’s pretty far removed from the usual script, but some sort of normality was restored when the first-timer Gypsy Goddess stormed home in exhilarating fashion in a Maiden Plate over 1400m at the Sunshine Coast on October 17, coming from near last along the outside to get up in the final strides to score by a widening 0.50 length margin to reward those punters who gambled on the fact that the $26 was too bad a price to be true.

Gypsy Goddess, a three-year-old daughter of Tarzino, came into her debut outing on the back of three ordinary looking trials which obviously played its part in bookmakers setting her price at long odds.

The point is often made that a trial and a race are two very different beasts. That comparison is generally made when a horse trials well and a small question mark is put behind its name until that ability shines through under the pressure race conditions, but seldom does an ordinary trial have people saying, just wait until you see it under race conditions … yet clearly, something on race-day caused a spark which set Gypsy Goddess alight, and her finishing effort was outstanding.

Apprentice jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor jumped Gypsy Goddess in midfield but then gradually eased his mount back after being held wide.

At half distance, Gypsy Goddess had gone back to third last, all of eight lengths off the lead and, when she cornered seven wide with still over six lengths to make up and with only two runners behind her, the bookmakers must have been thinking they got her pricing right … but the first half and the second half of the race would tell two different storis.

Gypsy Goddess almost immediately started making ground in the early part of the home straight, still under a hands and heels ride from Wilson-Taylor. Then, as she built momentum and Wilson-Taylor got a bit more vigorous in the saddle, Gypsy Goddess began to loom as a real threat and, responding like a seasoned campaigner, she never missed a beat when it mattered most over the concluding stages, scoring a win that was as impressive as it was well judged.

This one run was probably worth its weight in gold for Gypsy Goddess in terms of race experience.

She settled well enough in traffic early. She maintained a comfortable gallop throughout before displaying a welcome willingness to stretch out when asked as well as another positive, valuable trait … a competitive mindset which helped her chase past the majority of the field in such a telling fashion.

Gypsy Goddess still has more to learn and there will be more physical and mental development to follow, but you can’t do much better than claim a dashing win on debut to tick off a great start to her career.
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The stable’s supporting cast has also been playing its part keeping the stable scoreboard.

Recent results in this regard include:

Keefy – who was a touch unlucky when landing his second successive runner-up placing (the first was in the Garden City Guineas at Toowoomba) in a Class 3 Handicap at the Sunshine Coast. Keefy was only run down in the last stride in his first attempt at 1800m. (October 8).

Constant Flight – went to town first-up after a five-month layoff and performed admirably when finishing fourth behind Royal Hale in an Open Quality Handicap over 1200m at Eagle Farm. (October 16).

Deep Tempest – finished fourth in a Colts and Geldings Maiden Plate over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast on debut … coming home only 1.90 lengths behind the winner. (October 17).

Jewel Flight – finished second in a Maiden Plate over 1350m at Ipswich. That’s two runs now for two placings after the very lightly raced four-year-old mare finished third in town on debut. (October 20).

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