Les Vampires delivered a powerful performance at Gosford on Saturday, earning his spot in the lucrative Big Dance at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day with a convincing win in the Gosford Gold Cup (2100m).
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding had already hinted at his quality during a consistent autumn campaign, and his Listed win now locks in his spot for the $3 million feature in November.
“I’m not sure how far we want to go now. We’ve got the ticket to the Big Dance and he is pretty deep into the campaign so we’ll be working back from having that feature somewhere in his program next time in,” Bott said.
“We’ve seen he can be effective early in the campaign, sharp over that trip and I think he’d be well placed in a race like that. Importantly, he’s qualified and there is some big money on offer so it’s got to be under consideration.”
A throat operation sidelined the four-year-old during last spring, but his return this preparation has been faultless. Saturday’s win not only earned him black-type status but came 33 years after Waterhouse secured her first stakes win with Moods in the same race.
Les Vampires ($2.90 betting favourite) didn’t have it all his own way, with Touristic making a bold move mid-race. But under Winona Costin, he responded with strength to surge home 1-1/4 lengths clear of Etna Rosso ($13), with Mr Waterville ($51) in third.
“It has never been big margins but today he was really able to put them away well over this trip so it has opened up a few more options for him going forward,” Bott said.
Costin, delighted with the ride, praised the horse’s ability to rally when challenged.
“I was only just starting to slowly amp it up and doing things under my own terms when one (Touristic) whipped around us and it put me in a tricky spot,” Costin said.
“But credit to the horse, he had nice acceleration and I was able to kick up and hold it out and keep momentum going all the way to the line.”
Les Vampires looks to be a serious player heading into the spring. For punters wanting to follow his future targets or lock in early odds, check out our up-to-date betting sites list for the best available offers.
