Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

Vandyke to raise the bar to MM if Hold The Line wins at the Gold Coast

28 November 2018

Share this page

Share on a platform

Or copy the page link

By Glenn Davis

Trainer David Vandyke will raise the bar to the Magic Millions Guineas in January if talented filly Hold The Line maintains her unbeaten record at the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

Hold The Line will have her first start around the tight turning Gold Coast track when she steps up in distance in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m).

The daughter of Your Song has won all her three starts against her own age including an impressive 1200-metre win on her home track at the Sunshine Coast on November 10.

Premier jockey Jeff Lloyd has ridden Hold The Line in all her three wins and will again partner her from barrier five.

“This is a nice test for her to see if she can handle the same conditions of the Magic Millions Guineas,” Vandyke said.

“If she does, she’ll be aimed for the big race and if she doesn’t, she’ll head to the paddock for a break.”

Vandyke conceded he has some reservations about Hold The Line running a strong 1400 metres.

“Jeff feels she’ll get the trip but I’m not convinced,” Vandyke said.

“But she’s had the right preparation to get 1400 metres.”

Vandyke deliberately kept Hold The Line out of the spring limelight when he considered interstate trips for several of the filly’s stablemates including Baccarat Baby.

“She was always a little soft compared to some of the others and I preferred her to keep ticking over in QTIS races here,” he said.

“Our QTIS prizemoney is better than winning some Listed races and there’s plenty of time to go after Black-Type later on.”

Vandyke is hopeful Hold The Line, who was a cheap $37,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales, can develop into a Brisbane winter carnival hope next year.

Meanwhile Vandyke also is upbeat about the prospects of stablemate Trois Choix in the Benchmark 80 Handicap (1800m).

Trois Choix is also stepping up in distance to 1800 metres for the first time following her last start seventh to the Tony Gollan-trained El Campeador over 1630 metres at Doomben on November 17.

“She’s been very solid right through her preparation and has been a great buy for her owners,” Vandyke said.

“It would be lovely to see her win a metropolitan race for the first time for us.”

Racing Queensland webnews  November 28