Express Trip to Rocky For Vandyke Pair

Trainer David Vandyke rarely takes horses to Rockhampton from his Caloundra base, but the six and a half hour road trip will be done by Blackboots (Wandjina-Total Response, by Khelef) and Night Express (Fastnet Rock-Express Street, by Street Sense) for today's meeting, reports racingqueensland.com.au. "Both horses are on the edge of the breeding season and if they don't win, they could have a change of lifestyle," Vandyke said. "I think both horses should run well. Blackboots went well last start and should race a lot closer this time while Night Express led them up at her last start and just faded. She's came through her run well." Blackboots is a winner from eleven starts, and ran second last start in Brisbane. The 5YO mare is out of stakes-placed Total Response and cost $70,000 as a 2YO at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Night Express is a city winner of two races who wasn't offered at public auction. Her dam is an unplaced half-sister to four stakes winners: Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), Group 2 winner Lady Dehere (Dehere), Group 3 winner Oratorio (Stravinsky) and Listed winner Discorsi (Galileo).