Tuesday, 13 March 2012: David Vandyke is hopeful Choice Words and Maximus Gladiator can spearhead the stables latest purple patch of form after they each recorded back to back wins at Canterbury on Monday.
 | David Vandyke
Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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After both winning on resuming in provincial company, the David Vandyke pair each dished out a repeat dose at Canterbury in their respective events.
“We went in quite confident we could get a winner and thought two on the day was possible,” Vandyke said.
“It doesn't always pan out that way and it was great this time. It was a case of having a plan and
everything falling into place.”
Choice Words 
led throughout in the $27,000 NMW Super Saver Handicap (1250m) for a two length win and may now try to chalk up her third straight success amongst black type company.
“It was a smart win,” Vandyke said.
“She wasn't comfortable being in front. When she was asked to extend she was a bit lost, she is a better horse chasing and we'd be quite happy to take a sit on something as she steps up in grade.
“We'll nominate for a Benchmark 80 on Saturday week but we may go straight to the Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) which is a week later.”
The
Choisir filly already possesses black type from her maiden race campaign during the spring where she was runner up behind Peter Snowden-trained
Disputes in the Reginald Allen Quality (1400m).
Choice Words was then outclassed when well beaten in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) behind
Streama .
“She was always going to go to the paddock after her third run and we were getting to the end of the carnival,” Vandyke said.
“There were no other options in Stakes company unless we travelled to Melbourne.
“We didn't want to do that with her so we gave her one more run in the Flight to see how she goes over the mile and that will give us a bit more knowledge for this prep.
“After seeing her run in The Flight I don't think she gets a mile, I think she is better off being allowed to run.
“She is more comfortable over 1200m/1400m than the mile.”
Maximus Gladiator enhanced his claims as a promising staying type with his win in the $27,000 Testa Rossa @ Vinery Handicap (1900m).
After sitting fifth on the rail, the ex David Payne-trained galloper loomed upon straightening before striking the front a furlong from home.
The Arena gelding held off a late challenge from
Milson to claim a narrow win.
“He has only had the two runs for the stable and has won them both,” Vandyke said.
“It was a pretty gutsy win yesterday as he was pretty soft going into it. I was very happy with him and he'll possibly run in a 2400m race Saturday week at Kembla Grange providing he continues to recover well from the run.
“I'm very happy to be training him, he's got lovely owners and he's had a good grounding before he came to me and I am just happy to build on that.”
The small stable of 15 is flying so far this season having recorded 10 wins and five minor placings from just 28 starters at a winning success rate of 36%.
“The season has gone beyond expectation,” Vandyke said.
“Realistically I would be happy with 25%. We're obviously having a purple patch and they don't last forever so we're enjoying the moment and looking forward to capitalising on the luck we're having.”
Four of those wins were recorded by stable star
Lamasery who is slowly working towards a race preparation after missing out on the autumn due to cannon bone issues.
“He'll have another two weeks and then go to the water walker for five weeks,” Vandyke said.
“He'll come back after that for the spring and that's when we'll get serious.”
