Trainer David Vandyke is considering running Maurus in the Listed $175,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 2 after the English import made a one act affair in winning the Ipswich Cup last Saturday.
Ipswich Cup winner Maurus, above wining at Doomben, could head to the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Vandyke had only recently completed his move from Warwick Farm to the Sunshine Coast and Maurus was able to christen his new Caloundra stables with an emphatic win in the Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich.
“This win really means something. It is my first stakes win as a trainer (based) in Queensland and it was for Paul Fudge’s Waratah Syndicate who have been great supporters,” Vandyke said.
“I was happy enough when Damian (jockey Browne) went back to last but I must admit I was a bit nervous when Damian took off and made a wide run.”
“But Damian had a strong hold on him and they were going to win a long way out.”
Winning jockey Damian Brown put the contest beyond doubt when he rounded up the rest of the field on the home turn before Maurus ($2.50 favourite) ran away in the straight to record a three and half lengths victory over Jumbo Prince ($6) with Instrumentalist ($21) a further three and a quarter lengths away in third spot.
Brown is also based at the Sunshine Coast and Vandyke can see the leading jockey and Maurus teaming up again in the Caloundra Cup.
“I am sure Damian would like to win a Caloundra Cup and so would I,” Vandyke said.
Vandyke has a very high opinion of Maurus and considered him a little bit unlucky when fifth to Our Ivanhowe in the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) at Doomben on May 21.
“I could see visions of the Doomben Cup where he travelled wide a long way and then ran fifth,” Vandyke said.
Ipswich Cup day also provided another winner for the Vandyke stable with Blackjack Bella with Michael Cahill in the saddle scoring a narrow win in the first race on the program, the $60,000 XXXX Gold Ipswich Mile (1660m) for Class 6 horses.
Maurus’ Ipswich Cup victory took his winning record to six from seventeen race starts and the five year old has now earned $354,000 in prizemoney.
