Vandyke set for rare Rocky hit and run mission

By Glenn Davis

It’s rare to see David Vandyke in the race program for a Rockhampton meeting, however that will change at Callaghan Park on Thursday.

Vandyke will make a special hit-and-run visit to the central Queensland city with two runners and hopes to be rewarded.

Five-year-old Blackboots will line up in the Class 1 Handicap over 1000 metres while her stablemate Night Express tackles the Ratings 0-65 Handicap over 1300 metres.

Vandyke rarely sends horses north despite it only being a six-and-a-half hour float trip from his Caloundra base, and states that he hasn't had a runner at the track since Bargannon ran fourth in the Rocky Cup last year.

“Both horses are on the edge of the breeding season and if they don’t win, they could have a change of lifestyle,” Vandyke said.

The Sunshine Coast-based trainer is confident both will be competitive.

Night Express will be having only her third run for the stable and is coming off a second-up fourth to Contessa in a 1300-metre Benchmark race against her own sex at Eagle Farm on August 4.

Night Express was previously trained by Henry Dwyer in Victoria before she headed north finishing fourth at her first Queensland start over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast last month.

Vandyke has booked Gold Coast jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester to partner both sprinters and resisted the temptation to claim on Blackboots who will carry 59kgs.

Blackboots has started 11 times for just a solitary win in a 1350-metre Maiden at Doomben in April last year.

However, the daughter of Wandjina has been very consistent with five placings and two close fourths from her past eight starts.

She has placed at her only two starts in her current campaign at Ipswich on July 15 before a last start second to the Chris Waller-trained Contessa in a 1300-metre Benchmark race at Eagle Farm on August 4.

“I think both horses should run well,” Vandyke said.

“Blackboots went well last start and should race a lot closer this time while Night Express led them up at her last start and just faded.

“She’s came through her run well.”