Latest news with #DavidVandyke
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
goes here vandyke main from dorries
At first glance, David Vandyke's post-race celebrations if he wins the Queensland Oaks might not look too dissimilar from other trainers enjoying the afterglow of a momentous Group 1 triumph. You might perhaps spy Vandyke drinking a frothy amber liquid as he raises a glass with connections. Or he might even be sipping another beverage that, at a cursory look, could be mistaken for a gin and tonic. But that will be his favourite drink of sparkling water 'with a bit of lemon or lime in it' … or a zero alcohol beer. It's been the same for 26 years, since the last time the trainer touched the demon drink. Sobriety sits well with him. Vandyke was once a grog monster, addicted to hard drugs and even slept in his car for a period and considered ending it all. That was in Sydney in the 1990s but there is a new Vandyke today – and his move to the Sunshine Coast nine years ago has been a godsend. The last thing Vandyke wants to be is complacent as, despite being clean for a long time, he knows that remaining sober is always a work in progress. 'I've got to be a bit careful giving myself a pat on the back,' Vandyke tells The Courier-Mail. 'If I focus on what I have achieved, it can give me a false sense of where I am going. 'I will talk to anyone about it, it's part of being a recovering addict that we just share where we are at. 'I have been pretty safe with the work I have done to remain sober. 'Sobriety is the key to everything I do. 'My program of recovery and being sober unlocks everything else, everything seems to flow from there … relationships, work, life, fast horses. 'I wake up most days and just think 'Gee, I'm glad I didn't have a drink yesterday'. Vandyke, who can burst back into the Group 1 spotlight if favourite and winning machine Philia scores the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday, has a mentor to help ensure he never has a destructive addiction spiral again. As important as his work is training horses, and it is what puts money on the table, he also tries to guide other recovering addicts out of dark places. 'Part of the recovery process is sharing what we have gained and drawing a path for those recovering behind us,' Vandyke said. 'I often have people (recovering addicts) talking to me about where they are at. 'That might be phone conversations, or people coming and seeing me. 'I am a mentor and I have got mentors myself. 'I have people that I talk to and I have people who talk to me. 'If I wasn't training horses, I would like to think I would be doing the same thing. 'I have to do recovery work on a daily basis. 'The broad term involves being in communication with other recovering addicts. 'It's about living my best life and physical training is also part of that. 'If I let myself slide back physically or mentally, then there could be problems. 'I am healthy and well. I wouldn't move from where I am on the Sunshine Coast, it's a great spot to be.' Regular gym and swimming sessions are an important part of Vandyke's life and the trainer says he has never really been tempted by the grog since he gave it up and turned his life around. While beers often flow freely in the winners rooms of racecourses, there are other ways to enjoy a win on the track. 'I am happy to go and have a drink, but without alcohol,' Vandyke said. 'I will have a zero alcohol beer or a sparkling water with a bit of lemon or lime in it, that's probably my chosen drink. 'I had my last drink when I was 33. I am 59 now. 'When one of my mates is having a red wine, I might like to have a look at the bottle, but I won't have a drink of it. 'I moved up to Queensland because of the lifestyle more so than the work, I just felt I wasn't in the right place in Sydney. 'I moved up here and met my people, so to speak.' Racing has provided plenty of natural highs for Vandyke since he moved to Queensland including a Group 1 Oaks win with Gypsy Goddess (2022) and Alligator Blood's famous Group 1 Australian Guineas triumph in 2020. But you sense sobriety is his greatest achievement – more so than his four career Group 1s or the many millions of dollars in prizemoney his horses have won.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Trainer David Vandyke reveals sobriety the key to his success ahead of 2025 Queensland Oaks bid with Philia
At first glance, David Vandyke's post-race celebrations if he wins the Queensland Oaks might not look too dissimilar from other trainers enjoying the afterglow of a momentous Group 1 triumph. You might perhaps spy Vandyke drinking a frothy amber liquid as he raises a glass with connections. Or he might even be sipping another beverage that, at a cursory look, could be mistaken for a gin and tonic. But that will be his favourite drink of sparkling water 'with a bit of lemon or lime in it' … or a zero alcohol beer. It's been the same for 26 years, since the last time the trainer touched the demon drink. Sobriety sits well with him. Vandyke was once a grog monster and addicted to hard drugs. He slept in his car for a period and even considered ending it all. That was in Sydney in the 1990s but there is a new Vandyke today – and his move to the Sunshine Coast nine years ago has been a godsend. The last thing Vandyke wants to be is complacent as, despite being clean for a long time, he knows that remaining sober is always a work in progress. • Kimochi heads into unknown for Group 1 double shot 'I've got to be a bit careful giving myself a pat on the back,' Vandyke said. 'If I focus on what I have achieved, it can give me a false sense of where I am going. 'I will talk to anyone about it, it's part of being a recovering addict that we just share where we are at. 'I have been pretty safe with the work I have done to remain sober. 'Sobriety is the key to everything I do. 'My program of recovery and being sober unlocks everything else, everything seems to flow from there … relationships, work, life, fast horses. 'I wake up most days and just think 'Gee, I'm glad I didn't have a drink yesterday'. Vandyke, who can burst back into the Group 1 spotlight if favourite and winning machine Philia scores the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on Saturday, has a mentor to help ensure he never has a destructive addition spiral again. Philia dominates Race 7 at Eagle Farm for @vandykeracing13! @KPMcEvoy — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 • The curious case of the Stradbroke betting market As important as his work is training horses – it is what puts money on the table – he also tries to guide other recovering addicts out of dark places. 'Part of the recovery process is sharing what we have gained and drawing a path for those recovering behind us,' Vandyke said. 'I often have people (recovering addicts) talking to me about where they are at. 'That might be phone conversations, or people coming and seeing me. 'I am a mentor and I have got mentors myself. 'I have people that I talk to and I have people who talk to me. 'If I wasn't training horses, I would like to think I would be doing the same thing. 'I have to do recovery work on a daily basis. The broad term involves being in communication with other recovering addicts. 'It's about living my best life and physical training is also part of that. 'If I let myself slide back physically or mentally, then there could be problems. 'I am healthy and well. I wouldn't move from where I am on the Sunshine Coast, it's a great spot to be.' • Waller gives hobby trainer reason to believe in Stradbroke fairytale Regular gym and swimming sessions are an important part of Vandyke's life and the trainer says he has never really been tempted by the grog since he gave it up and turned his life around. While beers often flow freely in the winners rooms of racecourses, there are other ways to enjoy a win on the track. 'I am happy to go and have a drink, but without alcohol,' Vandyke said. 'I will have a zero alcohol beer or a sparkling water with a bit of lemon or lime in it, that's probably my chosen drink. 'I had my last drink when I was 33. I am 59 now. 'When one of my mates is having a red wine, I might like to have a look at the bottle, but I won't have a drink of it. 'I moved up to Queensland because of the lifestyle more so than the work, I just felt I wasn't in the right place in Sydney. 'I moved up here and met my people, so to speak.' Racing has provided plenty of natural highs for Vandyke since he moved to Queensland including a Group 1 Oaks win with Gypsy Goddess (2022) and Alligator Blood 's famous Group 1 Australian Guineas triumph in 2020. But you sense sobriety is his greatest achievement – more so than his four career Group 1s or the many millions of dollars in prizemoney his horses have won. â– â– â– â– â– Winning machine Philia has Vandyke's name back up in lights Philia is the star filly who has helped David Vandyke snap out of a rut of a long drought without a Stakes winner. While the four-time Group 1 winning horseman loves working on the Sunshine Coast, he says his training business needed to be in better shape. After winning the 2022 Group 1 Queensland Oaks with Gypsy Goddess, feature races winners dried up. Philia, who has won four in a row as she has stamped her credentials as the Group 1 Queensland Oaks favourite, is helping haul Vandyke back to where he wants to be. 'It's hard making money as a trainer in Queensland, it's not easy,' Vandyke says. 'I'm not really where I want to be business-wise, it's going to take a good horse or two and potentially some luck and some (horse) sales overseas to really get myself in the sort of shape I'd like to be. 'Before Philia won the Princess Stakes, I hadn't won a stakes race for a long while. 'I had a tough sort of time. 'Gypsy Goddess and Weona Smartone and a few other good horses left my stable at the same time. 'Now, it's just nice to be back competing at the highest level and it would be just great to win another Group 1.' • 'He's been good to me': Jones seizes unexpected Group 1 chance Philia is a winning machine but now the frontrunning filly must step up in class and also conquer the extra 200m of the Oaks after scoring The Roses over 2000m at Doomben last start. Vandyke admitted the 2200m of the Oaks at the bigger Eagle Farm track was a question mark. But winners just win. 'She has gone from a maiden race to a Group 2 so far this campaign and been undefeated and that says a lot,' Vandyke said. 'There are a lot of horses who have finished behind her in this preparation. 'And none finished in front of her. 'Every run she has improved. 'That's exciting because if she has improved from The Roses, well, the Oaks is a similar field and she will be hard to beat again. 'The question mark is probably the step up in distance, especially at Eagle Farm compared to Doomben. 'That is a question that is going to be answered on Saturday.' . @KPMcEvoy guides Philia to victory in The Roses for @vandykeracing13! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 Vandyke said he wasn't sure what Philia's pet distance would be as her exciting career progressed. But he felt she was developing into something special. He said her best attribute was her racing pattern which took luck out of the equation. 'I'm not really sure where she sits in regard to the distance she wants to run,' Vandyke said. 'That's something she will answer us in time. 'With the way she races, it's just nice going to the races knowing that whatever the opposition do, she will be comfortable with it.'
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
2025 Queensland Oaks: Kerrin McEvoy aiming to become second jockey to win race four times
Champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy is riding for a record-equalling fourth win in the Group 1 $700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) on favourite Philia at Eagle Farm on Saturday. McEvoy has won the fillies classic previously on Youngstar (2018), Egg Tart (2017) and Purple (2009) and – if he is successful on Philia – will join Chris Munce as the only jockeys to ride four Queensland Oaks winners. Trained by David Vandyke, Philia has won four races in succession and is attempting to complete The Roses -Oaks double last achieved by Youngstar seven years ago. McEvoy ridden Philia in her last two wins and is convinced the filly will stay a strong 2200m in the Oaks. 'I don't think 2200m will be a problem for her,'' McEvoy said. 'She feels like a stayer so the extra furlong (a200m) should be fine. 'We have drawn out a little bit but she has tactical speed to settle somewhere in the front half and off-set that barrier. 'It was good to hear David have a nice report after her work earlier this week and I'm looking forward to the race.'' . @KPMcEvoy guides Philia to victory in The Roses for @vandykeracing13! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 McEvoy has an opportunity to secure the three-year-old classic double when he rides Godolphin's Lavalier in the Group $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m). Lavalier, trained by James Cummings, is rated a $14 chance for the Derby, a race McEvoy hasn't previously won. 'I thought Lavalier was good in the SA Derby (third to Femminile) last start,'' McEvoy said. 'He had to do a bit of work early to get into a spot but then he stayed on well and showed he can run the trip. 'I was able to ride him in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm the other day and he's a nice, big horse to sit on. He's a good ride for the Derby.'' It's a maiden G1 triumph for Femminile who grabs the lead in the final furlong & holds off the fast-finishing favourite to win the South Australian Derby 🙌 @pstokesracing @LNeindorf — (@Racing) May 3, 2025 • Randwick Turf Talk: Saturday's best bet has a Contemporary feel In the past decade, four Queensland Derby winners have come out of the SA Derby including Warmonger, who was second at Morphettville before romping home at Eagle Farm by more than 10 lengths last year. Mr Quickie was third in the SA Derby before winning the Queensland Derby in 2019, Ruthven was second in Adelaide before his Eagle Farm success in 2017 and Magicool followed his fourth in the SA Derby by winning in Queensland a decade ago. McEvoy, who has ridden 73 Australian Group 1 Chris Waller -trained Democracy Manifest, a $34 chance in the Group 1 $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m).
News.com.au
02-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Trainer David Vandyke's assessment of his star Philia is frightening for her 2025 Queensland Oaks rivals
'I would say you'll see the best of her on Saturday.' Trainer David Vandyke 's assessment of his star Philia is frightening for her Queensland Oaks rivals as the super talented filly is primed to cap a dream campaign in the Group 1 for three-year-olds over 2200m at Eagle Farm on Saturday. To be ridden by top jockey Kerrin McEvoy, Philia will be shooting for her fifth straight triumph in the major on Saturday after a meteoric rise that prompted bookmakers to install her as the $3 favourite in the Oaks. Group 1 Australasian Oaks champion Benagil ($5) is on the next line from Jenni's Meadow ($6), Churchill's Choice and Movin Out (both $8). • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'From the time I got her as a yearling, the plan was always to end up at the Queensland Oaks,' said Vandyke, who won the major with Gypsy Goddess three years ago. 'For this girl to go from a maiden at the start of this prep and us not really knowing to what level she could climb … it would be wonderful to win an Oaks with her. 'When she goes out for a break next week, irrespective of what happens on Saturday, it'll be a good time for reflection. 'I can sit back and look at the pedigree page, I can watch the replays and I can really appreciate what's happened during this period.' But it hasn't all been smooth sailing for Sunshine Coast trainer Vandyke, who said the daughter of All Too Hard – a half-sister to Duais, who won the 2021 Queensland Oaks for trainer Ed Cummings – could be as stubborn as a mule at times. Philia dominates Race 7 at Eagle Farm for @vandykeracing13! @KPMcEvoy — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 • 'This girl's had very little time off in 12 months and she's been difficult to train,' he said. 'She's got a very strong will and it hasn't always been focused on running. 'Even now I'll take her down to the pool for a walk and if she doesn't want to do something or she wants to go at her pace, then there has to be a compromise. 'She can get a bit resentful if she's not respected or managed well.' That stubborn attitude is why Philia, with four wins and two runner-up finishes from just six races, has an iron will to win and an ability to soak up pressure from her rivals. Those traits shone through brightly in her last-start victory in the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) on May 24 at Doomben when she was softened up in the run but still kicked on to beat the fast-finishing Jenni's Meadow and Movin Out. . @KPMcEvoy guides Philia to victory in The Roses for @vandykeracing13! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 'She's the sort of horse you dream about, I couldn't be happier with her,' Vandyke said. 'With her pattern of racing, she can create the tempo. 'The other day (in The Roses) the fastest furlong was between the 1800m and the 1600m. 'She can really handle pressure and she's got that will to win when she gets taken on. 'She'll just pin the ears and keep going. I was delighted with her effort because she didn't do it easy.' Queensland Derby (2400m) and Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) to be rescheduled.
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
2025 The Roses: Philia wins at Doomben for trainer David Vandyke
It's been an 11-year wait but Caloundra trainer David Vandyke thinks he has the filly to give him a Queensland Oaks. In 2014, Vandyke won the Doomben Roses with Arabian Gold before that filly came up agonisingly short 14 days later when second to Tinto in the three-year-old fillies' Group 1. Fast forward to 2025 and Philia led from barrier to box to give Vandyke his second victory in the Group 2 The Roses at Doomben on Saturday and bookmakers reacted to the win by firming the filly's Queensland Oaks quote from $11 into $3.50 favouritism for the $700,000 Group 1 on June 7. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'She was a month between runs and now I've got the nice two-week progression off a hard run today, 2200 (metres). Bring on the Oaks,' Vandyke said. 'Moving forward into the Oaks, when she's got that amazing racing pattern where she can get taken on and absorb pressure, that's a great asset. She loves it. 'She's a half to Duais, a multiple Group 1 winner that won over 2400 (metres) and she goes right back to one of the best families in the world.' . @KPMcEvoy guides Philia to victory in The Roses for @vandykeracing13! — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 24, 2025 • Philia was forced to work early in The Roses when challenged leaving the straight by Verona Rose before a midrace move from Canny Queen applied more pressure to the leader, but the daughter of All Too Hard was up to the challenge. 'She was more relaxed in herself today which is pleasing going out in trip,' winning rider Kerrin McEvoy said. 'She kicked off the corner but had a bit of a stargaze at the barriers and thought 'job done' so I got a bit vocal with her but she's heading in the right direction. 'She's bred to and I think she will run the distance of the Oaks.' Philia ($3.70) defeated two fast-finishing backmarkers, Jenni's Meadow ($31) by three-quarters-of-a-length with Movin Out ($21) another length back in third. The $3.50 favourite Benagil struggled, beaten almost seven lengths into 10th. • 'I knew she was 100 per cent for today,' Vandyke said. 'She had to sprint a few times during the race and still had the audacity to kick in the straight and hold off the late charge. 'Moving forward into the Oaks, when she's got that amazing racing pattern where she can get taken on and absorb pressure, that's a great asset. She loves it.' Connections of Jenni's Meadow declared 'bring on the Oaks''. Jockey Ethan Brown declared the filly could have won The Roses if she'd drawn better than barrier 14. Co-trainer JD Hayes, who prepares the filly with brothers Ben and Will, said: 'That was a huge Oaks trial. She drew really wide, in the carpark actually, so we had to take our medicine and go back. But it was a beautiful Oaks run, bring on two weeks' time.' Jenni's Meadow firmed from $51 into $8 for the Queensland Oaks while Movin Out shortened from $51 to $11.
