The Big O ready to go

By Glenn Davis

The long-awaited return of exciting sprinter Orbisyn is finally about to get under way at Doomben on Monday.

Orbisyn will be ridden by Victorian Craig Robertson when the gelding resumes in the Class 6 Handicap over 1200 metres.

Trainer David Vandyke has been forced to delay Orbisyn’s comeback a few times since the four-year-old last raced when he made it four from four in a Class 3 over 1350 metres at Doomben last June.

Vandyke is hoping another win from Orbisyn will be the perfect appetiser in his bid to win the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday with star filly Gypsy Goddess.

The Sunshine Coast trainer is confident Orbisyn can maintain his unbeaten record despite his long absence.

“He hasn’t raced for a long time but he’s going well enough to win first-up,” Vandyke said.

“He hasn’t trialled since he ran second to Apache Chase at Deagon last month but that was a very good effort.”

Orbisyn was being aimed for the Sydney autumn last year and some had him as a possible contender for the $15 million The Everest before a minor injury ended his campaign.

“He wasn't targeted for anything special at the time before he developed arthritis in a back fetlock,” Vandyke said.

Vandyke subsequently had a team talk with owner Jan McMillan and decided to abort the campaign and gave him an extended break by missing the Queensland summer carnival.

Orbisyn, who is known as “The Big O” after musician Roy Orbisyn around Vandyke’s stables, was bred by McMillan, who raced his mother Another Syn.

Another Syn was a four-time winner from 19 starts and a prolific broodmare before her recent death.

Vandyke rates Orbisyn as potentially one of the best sprinters he’s trained and decided against rushing him into the bigger winter carnival races this year.

The Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich next month was an early target but Vandyke has now revised his plans again.

“I just want to see how he comes through Monday’s run before deciding where he’ll go next,” he said.

Orbisyn wears blinkers going to the barriers but they are removed for his races.

“The only time he wears blinkers is going to the barriers because he can be a bit of a handful going around but they come off once he’s ready to race,” he said.