Vandyke targets Oaks with Miss Quaintly
Jockey Jeff Lloyd rides Miss Quaintly (r) to victory in the QTIS Two-Year-Old Handicap at Doomben.
Trainer David Vandyke is plotting a revenge attack on the Group One VRC Oaks in the spring after filly Miss Quaintly scored at Doomben on Saturday.
Miss Quaintly ($2.50) charged home in the final 150m to beat Pumps ($20) by a long neck with 1 1/4 lengths to Red Stina ($5.50) third in the Two Year Old Hcp (1600m).
Vandyke was immediately talking up Miss Quaintly’s chances in the Group One Victoria Oaks in November.
“I had Arabian Gold who started favourite in the Queensland Oaks and got beaten and Yankee Rose who started favourite in the VRC Oaks and she got beaten,” Vandyke said.
“It might be my turn with this filly. I will give her an ease up and then start her at 1600m here before heading south.”
“There is a 2000m race at Caulfield for fillies and she can have her first Melbourne start in it before taking the traditional path into the Wakeful Stakes and Oaks.”
Vandyke has no doubts Miss Quaintly can run a strong Oaks distance of 2500m.
“Her dam won up to 2500m and her sire (More Than Ready) has had Classic winners,” he said.
Jockey Jeff Lloyd continued his good run with Vandyke, after combining with the trainer to win on the promising Milly Will Party at Ipswich on Friday.
“She is a promising filly and should get further,” he said.
Vandyke is hoping Lloyd will delay his impending retirement to ride Miss Quaintly in the spring.