By Glenn Davis
Trainer David Vandyke is hopeful of a big day on his home track at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday and won’t be distracted by Alligator Blood’s bid for a Group 3 victory in Sydney on Saturday.
Vandyke has six runners engaged at the Sunshine Coast while Alligator Blood chases the Group 3 Ming Dynasty (1400m) at Rosehill.
“I’ve got Alligator Blood in the Ming Dynasty on Saturday but I’ll be concentrating on our runners at Caloundra first,” Vandyke said.
“I’ve got two new interstate horses, Vihari and Bering Sea having their first starts for me and they’re both doing well.
“But my best hopes look to be Hold The Line and Pinnacle Star.”
Hold The Line will be ridden by Robbie Fradd in the Class Five Handicap (1200m) while Pinnacle Star will contest the earlier Benchmark 65 Handicap (1000m).
Hold The Line was a $37,000 buy for her owners at the Magic Millions QTIS sale and has already banked more than $285,000 from her four wins and two placings in nine starts.
The daughter of Your Song resumed with a narrow win against her own age at Eagle Farm last month before a last start fourth to Epic Girl in a 1200-metre Class Six at Eagle Farm on August 17.
“She was the top QTIS three-year-old of the year and has been a real success story,” Vandyke said.
“She looked like she was going to win last start and I was a bit disappointed she didn’t run a place.
“However, she’s come through that run really well. Robbie Fradd thought she did too much work early and she’d race better with cover.
“She also prefers a track with a bit of give in it so she’ll be more suited at Caloundra.
“She’s eligible for the QTIS race on Magic Millions day but I’d prefer to have her in the paddock then so she can come back and chase Black-Type races next year.
“I’m expecting her to be very hard to beat as she’s drawn a good gate.”
Vandyke is also hopeful Pinnacle Star will fight out the finish after suffering his first defeat from three starts when third to I Am Lexus at the Sunshine Coast on March 24.
“He’ll go well as he’s had a jump out and a trial and he’s drawn barrier two,” he said.
“He won his first two races at the Sunshine Coast then he was unlucky when third before he went out.
“The 1000 metres is going to suit him first-up and then hopefully I’ll just take him through his grades.”
Racing Queensland webnews August 27