Latest news with #KPMcEvoy
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.
News.com.au
26-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Queensland pair Philia and Spicy Martini halt interstate raiders in Princess Stakes and Mick Dittman Plate at Eagle Farm
The local stars repelled the fancied southern raiders on Saturday at Eagle Farm as the major players warmed up for the Queensland winter carnival. Spicy Martini won the $160,000 Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) for Gold Coast trainers Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean, before Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke took out the $160,000 Princess Stakes (1600m) for three-year-old fillies with Philia ($4.80). It was a particularly satisfying win for Vandyke, who has Queensland Oaks plans for Philia, which was ridden by Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy. The $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) will be contested at Eagle Farm on June 7. Vandyke comprehensively won the Queensland Oaks three years ago with Gypsy Goddess, ridden by the 'Wizard of the West' Willie Pike. 'It's hard to draw a line through the two of them,' the trainer said after Philia's impressive victory on a Soft 7 track ahead of southern raiders Pinito ($6.50) and Meridiana ($6). 'This girl (Philia) is on-pace and she gets herself a little bit hot and worked up whereas Gypsy Goddess was more one of those relaxed fillies who gets back and finds the line. 'It's hard to draw a comparison but she's pretty special this one (Philia). 'She keeps improving. Every run she gets better and that's what's exciting about her. 'She hadn't raced for five or six weeks. 'It's funny because her half-sister (Duais) won it in 2021 and I won it with Gypsy Goddess (in 2022). 'If the connections joined forces to win the Oaks it'd be the right synergy.' Philia dominates Race 7 at Eagle Farm for @vandykeracing13! @KPMcEvoy â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 Vandyke paid special tribute to trackwork jockey Quinton Cassidy, who suffered a broken arm while riding $83,000 purchase Philia on Tuesday and only got out of hospital on Friday. 'In my opinion he's the best rider I've seen. He's brilliant,' Vandyke said of Cassidy. 'This girl has been very hard to work with. She's got a very independent mind. 'He's worked with her tirelessly and he's really got her in the shape that she is today. 'Without him, she wouldn't be racing now and be as competitive as she is. 'I can't stress that enough. My name might be in the book but he's done the work. 'These blokes are the unsung heroes. It's a dangerous job and they don't get the recognition they deserve.' Noel Callow won three of the first four races, including on Tony Gollan's gelding Hurts So Good in a Benchmark 85 handicap, on a day to remember for the veteran jockey. In the Mick Dittman Plate, Spicy Martini made it three wins from her four races when Kyle Wilson-Taylor grinded away in the straight to pass McEvoy on $3 favourite Zoubaby, with $81 pop Belegato in third. Spicy Martini digs deep to win Race 6 at Eagle Farm! ðŸ'Š @EdmondsRacing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 26, 2025 'I probably don't think I've ridden a horse that tries as hard as her,' Wilson-Taylor said. 'The other horse (Zoubaby) had her beat all the way down the straight. Kerrin started roaring and I thought 'I might try that' and then she responded. 'Gee she's a good mare and Toby's a good trainer. We work really well together.' Edmonds said Spicy Martini, bought online for just $8000, was a 'good story'. 'She's a really good filly and she's quite underdone yet,' he said. 'She's still got a wiry coat and a long way to go. We've got high hopes for her this preparation. She just digs in, she's tough and unassuming.' Edmonds said Spicy Martini would next head to the $200,000 Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) on May 10.
