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Vandyke fillies on trial for interstate trip

14 September 2018

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By Glenn Davis

Talented Caloundra fillies Baccarat Baby and Miss Quaintly will put their interstate spring carnival credentials on the line when the pair run at Doomben on Saturday.

Trainer David Vandyke had planned to start Victoria Oaks hopeful Miss Quaintly at the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday but was forced to start her at Doomben when the midweek race was abandoned due to lack of acceptors.

Miss Quaintly will run in the Class 3 Plate (1350m) while Baccarat Baby will attempt to stretch her winning sequence to five in the QTIS Three-Year-old Handicap (1600m).

Baccarat Baby, a Michael Hellyer mount, has been nominated for the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 29.

Vandyke is battling ‘flu and is hopeful of continuing the stable’s impressive strike rate of 18 wins from his past 46 starters.

“If she wins she’ll have purchased her ticket for the Flight Stakes,” Vandyke said.

Baccarat Baby suffered her only defeat in her race debut when third to Mishani Hustler in two-year-old company at Doomben in February.

Since then the daughter of Casino Prince was turned out for a spell before returning to win first-up in a maiden on a heavy track at the Sunshine Coast in July.

She subsequently won her next three starts at the midweeks at Doomben and the Sunshine Coast and is returning to Saturday city class tomorrow for the first time since her debut.

Interestingly, Vandyke has received steward’s permission for Baccarat Baby to wear ear muffs on the way to the barrier.

“The ear muffs will be on only when she goes to the barrier then they will come off,” Vandyke said.

“It’s her toughest test with her big weight but she is in excellent shape and should be hard to beat.”

Vandyke was disappointed when Miss Quaintly missed her midweek assignment but sees some positives with Plan B.

“She had 59kgs on Wednesday but I’m delighted she’s only got 53kgs tomorrow,” he said.

“It will make a big difference as she’s only little.

“She’s drawn well and if she wins she’ll head to Melbourne for the Oaks.”

Miss Quaintly, a Jeff Lloyd mount, has won two of her three starts and is coming off a last start win over 1600 metres at Doomben on July 21.

Racing Queensland webnews    September 14