Vandyke has one-eyed view of Doomben hopes

By Glenn Davis

Trainer David Vandyke will have a “one-eyed” view of his chances when he heads to Doomben with six starters on Saturday.

Vandyke underwent surgery to replace a lens in his right eye on Wednesday and hasn’t been able to study the form guide or watch video replays.

Vandyke’s leading hope Tick Tock Boom will line up in the male’s division of the QTIS Three-Year-old Handicap over 1200 metres, in preference to the Class 3 Plate in which he would have clashed with stablemate Good Chat.

However, Vandyke avoided a clash and will start Good Chat in the Class 3 Plate while his open company performer Desert Lord drew a horror barrier 19 in the Class 6 Plate (1350m).

His other runners are Toorooloo in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Fillies Handicap (1200m), Dissolution in the Benchmark 80 Handicap (2000m) and Hold The Line in the Benchmark 90 Handicap (1200m).

“I’ll be able to tell the difference now between the conditioner and shampoo in the shower,” Vandyke said.

“I had day surgery to replace the lens in my right eye on Wednesday and I’m due to have the other eye done next month.

“I was told to take three days off after the surgery but I’ll be at the races on Saturday.

“The only problem I’ve had is that I haven’t been able to look at the race replays or study the form for Doomben this week but the good news is the new lens is guaranteed for 50 years.”

Vandyke believes Desert Lord - a last start ninth to the Mark Currie-trained Soxagon in The Buffering at Eagle Farm on January 2 - faces a mammoth task from his wide gate.

“He’s drawn the car park and he’ll find it tough from out there,” Vandyke said.

“Had he draw better I would have given him a great chance.”

Vandyke expects Tick Tock Boom will be highly competitive despite an awkward barrier 11.

“The barrier won’t be that important to him as he likes to get back,” he said.

“He ran a good race to finish second last time at the Sunshine Coast and he’s a progressive type.”

Vandyke has no major plans just yet for Tick Tock Boom who produced a game effort to finish ninth, less than five lengths from winner Rothfire in the Group 1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm in June.

“He’s improving with age but as for the future it’s one step up at a time with him,” he said.

“Good Chat is very honest and he’ll run well but I haven’t really had a good look at the fields with my other runners following the eye surgery.”