Trackside Photography (Grant Peters)
Kiwi-bred filly Gypsy Goddess made a one-act affair of the Gr.3 Grand Prix Stakes (2100m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday, cruising to victory to keep her unbeaten record intact, with four wins from as many starts.
In the process, the David Vandyke-trained filly provided exciting Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino with his first stakes winner.
Sent out a $1.24 favourite, Gypsy Goddess travelled like the winner throughout under a patient Stephanie Thornton, who barely had to shake the reins to produce a near four length romp.
Sunshine Coast trainer Vandyke was blown away at the ease in which the filly gapped her rivals.
“Gee I was confident turning for home, she hadn’t moved on her,” Vandyke said.
“She is a stayer, which is what I love and the way Steph got into a rythmn there and when she produced her she had so much left.
“Where does she stand? I’m not sure, but gee she has got Oaks written all over her.”
The black-type breakthrough came after the filly strung together wins over 1400m and 1600m at the Sunshine Coast, before closing too well for her rivals over 2000m at Doomben last start despite enduring a torrid run.
The filly has proved a revelation for Vandyke, after she provided no indication of her ability leading into her first start at the Sunshine Coast back in October, including finishing last of five in her final trial.
“I will just keep an eye on her over the next two weeks, I won’t let her go far from home so I can see how she eats and see how she is physically and mentally.
“Then we will decide whether we go to Sydney for the (ATC) Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m) down there, or whether we wait and turn up for the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m).
“It is quite amazing because I have never had a horse win a Group race in its first preparation. Before her maiden win, she couldn’t beat a horse on the track, yet now she has just said ‘Okay, I can do this’.
“She has climbed the ladder that quickly you would think mentally it would just have her a bit hot, but she is just beautiful.
“She is just an absolute darling, everyone loves her and of all the horses in the stable she has got her head over the door for a pat more than any other. She is just so easy to work with.”
Gypsy Goddess is yet another quality galloper raised at Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore but the parrot-mouthed filly failed to meet her $20,000 reserve when offered as Lot 1145 in the Book 2 session of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Co-bred by highly-regarded veterinarian Chris Lawler, who also purchased and raced her sire Tarzino, Gypsy Goddess is out of the Redoute's Choice mare Invisible Coin.
Lawler remains in the ownership of Gypsy Goddess, racing her with a syndicate that includes Bob Jones, one of Vandyke’s biggest stable clients.
Jones had her transferred to Vandyke and the Sunshine Coast-based mentor is glad that he did.
“I just love the Kiwi-bred horses and when Bob told me about this filly, I was happy to take her,” Vandyke said.
“Bob comes to the Karaka Yearling Sales with me every year and we have had plenty of success with the horses we have bought.”
Gypsy Goddess has inherited her staying prowess from her Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) and Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winning sire Tarzino, who has sired four winners and 10 placegetters from his eldest crop, which are just three.
In addition to Gypsy Goddess, he is represented by twice stakes-placed Jungle Magnate and exciting gallopers Te Toki and Strongbow.
A half-brother to Gypsy Goddess by Belardo is catalogued in the Book 2 Sale at Karaka 2022 through the Haunui Farm draft, while Tarzino will be well-represented, with 20 Book 1 yearlings and 13 Book 2 yearlings. - NZ Racing Desk
