GULF OF VENICE'S VERY IMPRESSIVE DEBUT

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, June 1, 2022

While the pages of the racing calendar seemingly merge into each other and flow without a break, it is still always a good feeling to kick off a new month on a positive note … and that is exactly what the David Vandyke stable did when they took runners to Doomben on June 1 and came away with two winners.

It is also always good for a stable if they can get a horse to win on debut and, again, that is exactly what the David Vandyke stable did when they sent the first-timer Gulf Of Venice out for his first taste of action in a QTIS Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Maiden Plate over 1200m on June 1.

Prior to tackling this assignment, the three-year-old Not A Single Doubt gelding (he did not race as a two-year-old) had three trials in New South Wales when under the care of the Gerald Ryan/Alexiou training partnership before transferring to the Vandyke stable.

He then had another two trails for Vandyke (he actually won four of his five trails) before being presented on race-day.

Gulf Of Venice's trail performances had scared off the bookmakers who marked the gelding up at the prohibitive odds of $1.95 … and they were right to be fearful.

Ryan Maloney had Gulf Of Venice in fourth place early on, just over two lengths off the leader. Gulf Of Venice then went back to fifth briefly when Maloney had to take hold when the pace slackened, but he did not lose any ground and continued to maintain a close watching brief on those ahead of him.

Maloney then improved Gulf Of Venice’s position approaching the home turn and moved the gelding forward to slot into a gap three wide turning for home where he straightened in the leading line.

From there it was pretty painless.

Maloney allowed Gulf Of Venice to change gears in his own time, but the instant he started to lengthen his stride it was ‘race over’ (already, early in the straight) as Gulf Of Venice simple strode away from his rivals with arrogant ease to score, without any undue effort, by a commanding 5.50 length margin.

Gulf Of Venice provided the first leg of a double for trainer David Vandyke with Maybe The Best saluting later in the day.

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