NAUGHTY HARRY UPSTAGES HIS RIVAL ON DEBUT

By Graham Potter | Saturday, January 15, 2022

All eyes were on the Magic Millions meeting at the Gold Coast on January 15 where the David Vandyke stable had a sole representative in the form of Constant Flight who raced in the $1 million Magic Millions Sprint.

But it was also business as usual for the stable away from the bright lights and glamour of the glitter strip as they quietly sent two runners to the meeting at Doomben and came away with a win and a third placing.

The winner Naughty Harry had to be a particularly satisfying result as are all debut winners.

Another New Zealand bred, with which David Vandyke is having so much success, Naughty Harry had three seemingly ordinary trails leading into his first taste of real race action in a Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap over 1350m … but the son of Tavistock certainly found his feet on race-day, scoring in impressive fashion at a starting price of $8.

Naughty Harry was only ordinary away and landed with nine runners in front of him.

Kyle Wilson-Taylor allowed Naughty Harry time to find his rhythm before gradually making progress at a comfortable while also saving ground along the inside running rail.

Naughty Harry was up to fourth but now being urged along by Wilson-Taylor and the field approached the home turn. On straightening, still hugging the rail, Naughty Harry still had four lengths to make up on the front-runner Mishani Bandit (another $8 chance).

Naughty Harry just kept coming but, even when he went past a tiring Mishani Bandit, it looked like the fast finishing pair of Drive A Deel ($7.50) and Fastnet Jack ($8) might have momentum on their side as they both launched their challenge down the centre of the track … but Naughty harry simply would be denied and his sustained effort carried him to an excellent 0.80 length victory.

Interestingly enough, Kyle Wilson-Taylor was in the saddle the David Vandyke trained Gypsy Goddess won on debut before going on to claim a Group 3 win in the Grand Prix at Eagle Farm to complete a perfect preparation with four wins from four starts.

Could Kyle Wilson-Taylor have helped kick off the career of another star-rater?

That’s too early to tell, of course, but there are sure to be people keeping an eye on this one.

*Demurral was the runner who claimed a third place for the Vandyke stable. The five-year-old has never finished out of the first four in five starts since relocating to David Vandyke.
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Congratulations were in order to Kyle Wilson-Taylor for another reason.

Wilson-Taylor rode no less than five winners over the eight race card at Doomben … a rare and outstanding achievement for any jockey, particularly and apprentice.
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Meanwhile at the Gold Coast, Constant Flight faced a huge task first-up in the $1 million Magic Millions Sprint against the likes of the eventual winner Isotope and quality runners from all of the top stables … Waller, Maher and Eustace, Team Hawkes, Godolphin etc.

As a consequence ,the seven-year-old chestnut was entirely unwanted in the betting jumping at a starting price of $101) which must be a first for a David Vandyke trained runner … and he ultimately would finish unplaced but, with the prize money pool on offer it was certainly worth a throw at the stumps.

This was Constant Flight’s second attempt at the race (he finished fifth in 2021).

The son of Written Tycoon can still stand proud as an eight time winner from twenty-four starts (a 33.3 percent strike-rate) with $277 225 banked in prize-money.

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