Vandyke to take it slow with Acapulco Girl

By Glenn Davis

Trainer David Vandyke has scrapped a spring campaign for his star mare Philia and is no rush to test her promising stablemate Acapulco Girl on the interstate stage.

Philia was a star of the Queensland Racing Carnival winning four straight including the Listed Princess Stakes and Group 2 The Roses before falling short as favourite in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm in June.

Vandyke then spelled her and hoped to chase spring riches in either Sydney or Melbourne.

However, Vandyke, who has just returned from a short holiday in Thailand, has extended her spell which rules her out of the spring.

“She had been in work for a year and I just thought she needed a longer break,” Vandyke said.

“I didn’t want to rush her so I’ve chosen to miss the spring and she’ll come back in time for the autumn next year.”

Meanwhile Vandyke believes Acapulco Girl has a bright future but also won’t rush her after she contests the Class 3 Plate over 1350 metres at Doomben on Wednesday.

Her stablemate Antonito also was an acceptor for the Class 3 but was scratched after drawing wide while Lucifer’s Way also drew a wide gate but will start in the Benchmark 65 Handicap over 1110 metres.

Acapulco Girl - a Ben Thompson mount – drew barrier six and will be chasing her third win in six starts.

The four-year-old is a daughter of former dual Group 1 winning Irish import Contributer who was trained in Sydney by John O'Shea during his Godolphin days.

Acapulco Girl won at Eagle Farm in late July and is coming off a last start second to the Renita Beaton-trained Diamond Epic in a 1350-metre Benchmark race at Ipswich earlier this month.

“She had every chance last time but just ran into one better on the day,” Vandyke said.

“She’s a nice mare and is very compact but she’s not very big.

“It’s too early to say how far she’ll go as she’s still developing but she’s been very consistent.

“It’s a big step from a midweek race to Stakes level and for the time being we’ll just keep climbing the ladder with her.”

Acapulco Girl was bred in New Zealand and was bought by Grant Morgan who runs OnTrack Thoroughbreds.