Vandyke fears Dissolution not at top for comeback

By Glenn Davis

Punters have been given a lead with trainer David Vandyke suggesting talented sprinter Dissolution may not be at his top for his Eagle Farm comeback on Saturday.

Dissolution – a Mark Du Plessis mount – is set to have his first start since claiming the Gold Coast Stakes on March 13.

The soon to be seven-year-old has won seven of his 36 starts and showed he was a potential Stakes winner after finishing second to Hail Manhattan in the Listed Member’s Cup at the Sunshine Coast in February.

Dissolution pleased Vandyke when given a barrier trial over 1050 metres on a heavy track at Deagon on July 12.

“He’s always a lazy galloper but his trial was a good effort for him,” Vandyke said.

Dissolution's first-up record concerns Vandyke, who expects the former Sydneysider to take a great deal of benefit from the run.

The son of champion sire Snitzel has won only once in eight starts first-up but has placed on three other occasions.

“His first-up record isn’t great and he’ll more than likely improve a lot after this run,” Vandyke said.

“At this stage I’m just looking for him to have a good long preparation.

“If he races well enough this time in, he could be around for the summer carnival.”

Dissolution showed ability as a young horse when trained by the Hawkes partnership in Sydney, finishing second in the 2017 Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast as a two-year-old.

Later that year he also finished second in the Listed Dulcify Stakes at Randwick.

However, when his form dropped away, Dissolution was sent to Vandyke's stables on the Sunshine Coast, where he has won five times for the leading Sunshine Coast trainer.

Vandyke hopes his only other starter on Saturday, Weboughtazou, will be competitive in the Class 6 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Weboughtazou has a difficult draw to overcome in barrier 11 but his recent form suggests he’ll be in the finish.

The son of Zoustar was second to Kelly Schweida's Desert Man over 1110 metres at Doomben in June before a similar placing behind Totally Charmed over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast on July 11.

“He’s in good shape and I expect him to run well but he’ll need some luck from his bad draw,” Vandyke said.

“The soft tracks haven’t suited him his past two starts and he’ll be better on top of the ground.”