The Vandeek team is pleased to temporarily place all of their eggs in the sprinting basket as their top sprinter gets ready to make his seasonal comeback in the end-of-month Haydock's Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes.
The undefeated son of Havana Grey wowed last year, winning the Middle Park in his last race at two. Despite the colt's impressive juvenile campaign and his impressive speed, connections have decided against taking him up to a mile this time around.
Vandeek's main summer goal is to win the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, with Simon and Ed Crisford seeing sprinting as their top priority. His run in the northwest on May 25 is considered the perfect opportunity to tighten the screws ahead of a return to Group One action at the royal meeting in June.
“He’s coming along nicely now, so we’re hoping we’ll be all systems go at the end of May,” said Ed Crisford. “I’m really happy with him and he has done extremely well. He’s a bigger, stronger horse this year and has really filled his frame. He just showed us so much speed and the whole pedigree says he was a sprinter. Last year he was still learning and he didn’t quite know what was going on. It took until Middle Park to see that real electric turn of foot. Plus he ran on bad ground all the time. When we saw him in the Middle Park he showed us that raw speed and we’ll definitely stick to sprinting for now. The Commonwealth Cup is the main target and Haydock will be the prep run and on from there.”
Vandeek's stablemate Poker Face is also expected to see top-tier action. He is scheduled to start in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury after finding Charyn to be too strong in the recent bet365 Mile at Sandown.
“He’s heading to the Lockinge now,” continued Crisford. “He carried a penalty at Sandown and it was his first run back, so we were very pleased with his run and he’ll now head to Newbury.”