Trainer David Vandyke is optimistic about Oregon Coast’s chances at Ipswich on Wednesday, a sentiment fuelled by her previous runs against quality gallopers such as Pembrey and Chilly Girl.
While Pembrey and Chilly Girl are set to contest the Group 2 Furious Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, Oregon Coast will be participating in the Racing and Sports Fillies and Mares Plate (1200m). However, following the strong form lines, a method Vandyke employed when acquiring the horse, could prove to be a winning strategy for the midweek event.
Oregon Coast’s initial race was the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, where she finished sixth behind the undefeated Chilly Girl on January 31, competing under previous trainers Brett and Georgie Cavanough.
In her second career start, the filly finished second at Eagle Farm, trailing Pembrey by 5½-lengths a fortnight later.
Vandyke subsequently purchased the now three-year-old online for $100,000.
“One of my clients races her mother (She’s On Time) and she alerted me that this filly was up for sale,” Vandyke recalled. “I watched her two runs and it was a slashing run against Pembrey who has certainly come out and proved the form. There was a bloodstock agent selling it who I know so I rang him and he said ‘she’s fine’ so we bid on her and we were very happy to get her.”
“She’s been in work for five months so I’ve taken her along slowly and didn’t want to run her in races I didn’t think she could win. She drew badly last week so I scratched her but she has a good gate tomorrow (barrier three).”
The mount on Oregon Coast will be taken by Ben Thompson, who was recently crowned Queensland Jockey Of The Year.
“With her form, she should be very hard to beat in a maiden at Ipswich,” Vandyke concluded. You can find competitive racing odds on this race at various online bookmakers.