'TDN Rising Star' and unbeaten G1 Golden Slipper victor Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) made his first major move towards an Australian spring campaign when winning a Randwick trial Friday (click here for a video feature). The Gai Waterhouse charge showed speed throughout the 850-meter trial and held off the dual Group 3 winner Hi World (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) to win by a short head in :50.60 over the soft going under regular race rider Tommy Berry. The star-studded field was rounded out by Vancouver's dual Group 1-winning stablemate Cosmic Endeavour (Aus) (Northern Meteor {Aus}); G1 Flight S. winner First Seal (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}); G1 Crown Oaks victress Kirramosa (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}); last season's G1 Doncaster Mile victor Kermadec (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}); and Godolphin's Group 2-winning juvenile Exosphere (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}).
“He gives you goosebumps,” Berry told Racenet. “That's the best he's trialed without the blinkers on. He's just so relaxed and laid back; what I really liked about him today was the way he pulled away from them inside the final 50 [meters].”
Vancouver officially turns three Saturday, and Waterhouse noted the first major target of his sophomore campaign will be the G1 Golden Rose S. Sept. 12. Lead-up races could include the G3 San Domenico S. Aug. 15 and the G2 Run to the Rose two weeks later.
“He's such a professional colt,” Waterhouse told Racenet. “I'm happy, happy, happy. I haven't made a decision yet; I will just see how he comes through that trial and make a decision sometime within the next 10 days.”
Prior to Friday's trials, in which Waterhouse sent out 25 horses, the Hall of Fame trainer discussed Vancouver's future prospects further with RSN's Shane Anderson.
“He's the most exciting colt I've come across in a long time; nothing's a problem,” Waterhouse said. “Everything he takes in his stride, and he never goes out of second gear. The Slipper was probably the first time we saw him in top gear.”
Waterhouse said Vancouver outruns everything she throws at him in the mornings.
“He toys with the Group 1 horses; he's too good for the 2-year-olds I have in the stables–and I have a lovely group around him–so I work him with a horse like Cosmic Endeavour, and she's an older mare, and a Group 1 mare.”
While little has been decided about Vancouver's future beyond the Golden Rose, late-season targets are likely to be the G1 Cox Plate late October or the G1 Coolmore Stud S. against 3-year-olds at the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“After the Golden Rose, a decision will probably be made by Coolmore and the group on whether he will he go on to the Cox Plate or be freshened up for the Coolmore. I must say, whatever he runs in, I don't think they'll beat him–that's how good he is.”
Coolmore purchased a controlling interest in Vancouver after the Slipper in March in a deal that set his value at a rumored A$40 million.
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