Eagle Farm Wrap-up - Ascot Green Grand Prix Stakes Raceday

 
DAVID Vandyke has Oaks options in Sydney for Gypsy Goddess, while Toby Edmonds is dreaming of potential Magic Millions glory with Me Me Lagarde after the Road to Magic Millions continued at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Gypsy Goddess was backed in to start $1.24 in the Group 3 Ascot Green Grand Prix Stakes and those who took the skinny odds never had any reason for concern, as jockey Steph Thornton let her ease into the race and coast home a near four lengths winner.

Vandyke said he would “keep an eye” on the filly in the stable for the next couple of weeks before giving her a break and aiming at either the Australian Oaks in Sydney or save her for the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm mid-year.

“I’ve never had a horse win a Group race in their first preparation,” Vandyke said.

“She’s got Oaks written all over her.”

Me Me Lagarde was less fancied by the market place, allowed to drift to double figure odds, before setting sail down the outside to put her rivals away in the Listed XXXX Gold Edition Plate.

TAB trimmed her odds noticeably for the $2M Magic Millions Guineas off the back of the effort and co-trainer Toby Edmonds said she would likely wait the four weeks for that race without another start.

Chris Munce’s recent winning run continued with a double, including Stampe taking out the Listed TAB Lough Neagh Stakes.

Listed and Group 3 placed at his previous two runs, Stampe notched his maiden stakes success after leading throughout under Sean Cormack.

Former Premiership winning New Zealand jockey Samantha Collett notched her first Saturday success since making the move to Queensland when she guided Dovetail Diva to a comfortable win over the older mares in the F&M 0MW Handicap.

Collett later completed a winning double aboard Tears Of Love for the Matt Kropp stable.

Dovetail Diva, who is prepared by John Symons and Sheila Laxon, led under her own steam and was able to reel off a strong closing sectional to win.

She gave Sunshine Coast trainers the first two races on the card after the David Vandyke prepared McCovey Cove returned to winning form in the E&G 0MW Handicap under Steph Thornton.

Eagle Farm is now set to have a renovation before racing returns to headquarters in March 2022.

 

Photo provided by: Grant Peters, Trackside Photography