Vandyke’s ‘Lust for Oaks success

By Brad Bishop and Mandy Cottell 

Vandyke filly aiming to do what her older half-sister did four years ago.

Philia is not the first daughter of Meerlust that David Vandyke has trained, but the others would not have given him confidence that their younger half-sister could one day run an Oaks trip.

Admittedly, Philia is targeting this Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Oaks – which is run over 2200 metres, opposed to the traditional Oaks distance of 2400 metres – but it is still further than any of the siblings that Vandyke trained ran over.

The one who got out over furthest was Baccarat Baby.

The daughter of Casino Prince was a Group 3-winner and Group 2-placed at 1600 metres, but her only start beyond 'a mile' was a fourth placing in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet over 1800 metres. 

Philia is by All Too Hard, a son of Casino Prince, which makes her a three-quarter-sister to Baccarat Baby.

But, two foals after Baccarat Baby, Meerlust had Duais, the daughter of Shamus Award who was one favourite for the Melbourne Cup.

That was in the months following the Ed Cummings-trained filly's win in the Queensland Oaks, which came in 2021, while she later won a Group 1 Tancred Stakes at 2400 metres which is all the confidence Vandyke needed to target the Oaks with Philia.

"She's a half to Duais who is a multiple Group 1-winner and won over 2400," Vandyke said.

"She goes right back to one of the best families in the world. It is an impeccable pedigree."

Meerlust was bought by Matthew Irwin for $22,000 at the 2009 Scone Yearling Sale and was retired after one win from just five starts.

Now 17 years old, she is out of the Fly So Free mare Flying Visit, who never got to the races but had seven to race for six winners.

Flying Visit is out of the General Assembly mare Red Luce, who is a three-quarter-sister to the dam of former star racehorse and proven sire Holy Roman Emperor and Milanova, who at $5 million was once the most expensive broodmare ever sold in Australia.

The all descend from the Northern Dancer mare Fanfreluche, who was Canadian Horse of the Year in 1970.

Philia had her first two starts last October, finishing second each time and has won her only four starts since.

After a maiden win at Doomben on February 26, she won a 1600 metre 3YO handicap at Eagle Farm on March 15, before a maiden stakes success in a Listed Princess Stakes, again over 1600 metres at Eagle Farm, on April 26.

Her only start since was a gritty on-pace win in the Group 3 The Roses at Doomben on May 24 at her first try at 2000 metres. 

"First step up to the 2000, she handled it in a breeze and it's really excited heading into the Oaks now," he said after The Roses success.

Philia, who is striving to join Ethereal, Scarlett Lady and Youngstar as fillies to complete The Roses and Queensland Oaks double, is $4.20 favourite for this weekend's race, in which she drew barrier 16 and has Kerrin McEvoy to ride.

Vandyke is chasing a second Queensland Oaks success, following his win with Gypsey Goddess three years ago.

Meanwhile, Private Eye hasn't had an ideal Stradbroke Handicap preparation but sending the top sprinter-miler into the Group 1 race first-up holds no fears for trainer Joe Pride.

The gelding was to have contested the Kingsford-Smith Cup last Saturday but when it was washed out and transferred to this weekend, he decided against running him.

Not only was he lukewarm about leaving Private Eye in Brisbane, he didn't think a seven-day back-up into the Stradbroke Handicap this early in the horse's campaign was a smart option.

"I am making the best of what is a bad situation for us," Pride said.

"I didn't want to leave him up there all week.

"He will have had four trials in total, so I think he will run super."

In lieu of the Kingsford-Smith Cup, Private Eye was given a solid 900 metre barrier trial at Rosehill on Friday, leading throughout to score, and will return to Queensland next week.

It will leave just Lekvarte to represent the stable in the Magic Millions National Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday, while Pride could have up to eight runners at Randwick.