Wet track concerns for Vandyke

By Glenn Davis

Trainer David Vandyke is hopeful of bigger things ahead with stablemates Constant Flight and Cloak but concedes a wet track has him worried at Doomben on Saturday.

Constant Flight and Cloak are on the third and fourth line of betting at $7.50 and $8.50 respectively in early TAB markets for the Open Handicap over 1350 metres.

Interstate visitor Wren’s Day is the early $2.00 favourite with last year’s winter star Vanna Girl, a $3.70 second favourite.

“I think both of mine will be around when the winter carnival starts but I don’t think they’re Group horses but possibly they could measure up to a Listed race,” Vandyke said.

“Both should run well on Saturday but I’m not confident on a wet track so hopefully it’ll dry out a lot.

“It’s a suitable race for Constant Flight who runs well second up and he’s going good.

“Cloak also is in good shape and will run well fresh.”

Doomben was rated a heavy 10 on Thursday, but with fine weather could improve to be in the soft range.

Cloak has won six of his 19 starts and will be starting for the first time since finishing second in an 1800-metre Class 6 at Eagle Farm in mid-September.

Six-year-old Constant Flight finished a game fifth in the Magic Millions Sprint at the Gold Coast in January before being freshened when third to I’ve Gotta Nel in an 1100-metre dash at the Gold Coast on March 6.

Vanna Girl was scheduled to make her return at the Gold Coast on QTIS Jewel day on March 13 but a heavy track forced the stable to scratch her from the Australian Turf Club Quality over 1400 metres.

The recent rain deluge continued to play havoc with Vanna Girl’s preparation when she was again withdrawn from a 1200-metre Open at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

The Toby and Trent Edmonds stable are also hoping the Doomben track will improve ahead of her trip to Sydney for the Group 1 Coolmore Legacy Classic at Randwick next month.

The weight-for-age Group 2 Hollindale Stakes and Group 1 Doomben Cup are also pencilled in for Vanna Girl during the TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

Vanna Girl hasn’t raced since finishing ninth to Affair To Remember in the Group 2 Matriach Stakes over 2000 metres at Flemington on November 7.

She was one of the stars of last year’s winter, winning the Listed Daybreak Lover, Listed Pam O’Neill and Group 2 The Roses.