Trainer David Vandyke was pleased with the way Yankee Rose handled the Caulfield track in a gallop in the build up to her return in the Group 1 $1m Memsie Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

Yankee Rose, above, returns to the racee track in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

Yankee Rose, above, returns to the racee track in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

Vandyke took Yankee Rose to Caulfield on Tuesday morning to let her get a feel of the tricky circuit and the Sunshine Coast trainer was happy with the way the All Americam mare navigated the track.

“She was on the right leg all the way around to the 300-metres and she changed which she normally does when she puts the foot down,” Vandyke told AAP.

“Her recovery was good and she’s in a good headspace.”

Yankee Rose is making her much awaited comeback to the race track after having bone chips removed from her near side knee since running down the track when fourteenth to Lasqueti Spirit in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington during the 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Vandyke also had to continually monitor Yankee Rose’s delicate feet during the build up to her 2017 Spring Carnival opener and admits that it has not been an easy road getting the mare fit to return to the race track.

“It’s been extremely tough. She’s been in work for over six months,” Vandyke said.

“There has been times when we thought she’d have to be retired.

“But she’s kept improving. Sometimes it’s three steps forward, two steps back.
“But I’m just glad to have her here in good shape now.”

“I’m just trying to take things one day at a time, but she’s in good shape now. It’s coming around pretty quick.”

Yankee Rose is a two time Randwick Group 1 winner with a win in the 2016 $1m Inglis Sires’ (1400m) as a two year old and then as a three year old won the $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

Yankee Rose will be having her first run as a four year old in a Memsie Stake field that is going to be overflowing with Group 1 talent including last year’s winner Black Heart Bart.

Vandyke has given Yankee Rose two barrier trails in Queensland before she headed south for a fourth at Doomben over 1000m followed by a win over 1270m on her home track at the Sunshine Coast and bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au have her marked at $9 for her return to the race track.

The Lindsay Park trained Vega Magic heads the market order at $3.80 ahead of Black Heart Bart at $6 and the Australian Guineas winner Hey Doc at $6.50.

Early market order for the Memsie Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.80 Vega Magic, $6 Black Heart Bart, $6.50 Hey Doc, $7 Le Romain, $9 Yankee Rose, $12 Ability, $13 I Am A Star, Tosen Stardom, $17 Foxplay, Humidor, $26 Hardham, Seaburge, $34 Charmed Harmony, Jon Snow, $41 Gailo Chop, He Or She, Single Gaze, $51 Grande Rosso.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.