David Vandyke still has Qld on his mind

Sunday 3 April 2016, 5:15pm

David Vandyke is not having any second thoughts about his upcoming move to Queensland despite winning his first Group One race in Sydney.

Golden Slipper runner-up Yankee Rose rewarded the Warwick Farm trainer with victory in Saturday's ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).

Vandyke gave the diminutive filly what many considered an unorthodox preparation, choosing not to run her between her last win in November and the Golden Slipper on March 19.

She is now the nominal favourite to become a dual Group One winner as a two-year-old in the Champagne Stakes on April 16.

Raced by a syndicate put together by Darby Racing, the $10,000 yearling has earned $1.511 million so far.

But the money won't tempt Vandyke to question his move to the Sunshine Coast for the start of the new season.

"I've been travelling horses to Queensland from here for years so there's no reason I can't do it the other way," Vandyke said.

"It's a lifestyle thing. The horses get the sun on their backs in winter which is good for them.

"And if they are good enough they can come back down to race."

Vandyke said he had been told he would take over some of the boxes vacated by Jason McLachlan who has decided to take an indefinite break from training.

McLachlan trained alongside his late father Bruce for many years with plenty of Group One winners coming out of the stable, something that supports Vandyke's belief he can do the same.

Whether Yankee Rose is among the horses to go with Vandyke to Caloundra has not been decided.

"That's a decision for the owners," Vandyke said.

The trainer's hopes of a Sydney Cup win have been thwarted with Group Three winner Sir John Hawkwood ruled out of Saturday's staying feature with a minor injury.

– AAP

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