Golden Slipper First-Up For Yankee Rose

Trainer David Vandyke has confirmed that undefeated filly Yankee Rose will go into the 2016 Golden Slipper without a lead-up run.

Yankee Rose will be David Vandyke's first ever runner in the 2016 Golden Slipper. Photo by: Steve Hart

Yankee Rose will be David Vandyke’s first ever runner in the 2016 Golden Slipper. Photo by: Steve Hart

Yankee Rose made her racing debut with a narrow victory over Faraway Town in The Viridian Lightbridge Plate (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 31 and she was sent to the spelling paddock following another close win in the Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 21.

Vandyke revealed at the end of last year that he was keen to run Yankee Rose in the Golden Slipper and he told Sky Racing HQ that the daughter of All American will run in the $3.5 million race at Rosehill Gardens on March 19 first-up before she presses on to the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 9.

“We have four weeks and three days to her first trial, two weeks to her second trial and 15 days until the Slipper,” Vandyke said.

“Everything is worked out.

“As you know with horses things do change, but if everything goes according to plan we should have a nice fit filly ready to go first-up.

“She should be well suited by the speed in the Slipper.

“She will get back and as we saw in her last run, she ran the fastest 200 of the day and that included some pretty smart sprinters.

“Her main goal will be the Champagne Stakes, but it would be nice to knock off the Slipper on the way through.”

Yankee Rose spent about six weeks in the spelling paddock and Vandyke said that the two-year-old took plenty of benefit from her time away from the stable and has continued to improve physically as she works towards the start of her 2016 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign.

“She was 440 kilos when she went out, she came back at 470 and she is sitting at 464 at the moment,” Vandyke said.

“She has matured a bit since last preparation and I think we are dealing with a stronger filly.

“Sometimes you will buy a horse at the yearling sales and not see much change going forward and others really develop, she has certainly developed nicely and I think she is going to be a better three-year-old.

“I can’t argue with her record, she is two from two, and I am looking forward to getting her in some of these Group races.”

Yankee Rose is currently available at 2016 Golden Slipper odds of $15 with Ladbrokes and she is on the fourth line of betting behind Capitalist ($3.60), Astern ($9) and Calliope ($13).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.