Promising mare heads to Ipswich

The brilliant Invincible Express missed a clash with another promising mare, Tumbler, at Doomben but is ready to return to racing at Ipswich.

The four-year-old was nominated for Saturday’s Open (1050m) at Doomben but trainer David Vandyke decided instead to race her on Wednesday.

The Barry Lockwood-trained Tumbler won the race in slashing fashion and was able to stamp her book for a winter carnival campaign.

Invincible Express will run in a Class Six race over 1000m at Ipswich.

“I thought it was a better option to start her campaign and I would be disappointed if she didn’t run well,” Vandyke said.

Invincible Express and Tumbler are generally regarded among the most promising mares in Queensland.

Invincible Express, who is by super sire I Am Invincible, has won five races, four of them at her last four starts before a spell.

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Her most recent win was over Banda Spice in an Eagle Farm handicap in October.

Banda Spice franked the form by winning her next three starts.

Invincible Express wasn’t knocked around when fourth in a Sunshine Coast trial on March 14.

Vandyke had a double at Doomben on Saturday with Deep Image and Kylie’s Fame.

He expects Deep Image and Invincible Express will be among his main contenders in the winter with Group One winner Yankee Rose on the sidelines.

Vandyke has such a high opinion of Deep Image he formed a syndicate to race the horse after a sale to Hong Kong fell through.

“I think he will be very competitive in the three-year-old races and probably at 1600 metres,” he said.

“I have some promising unraced horses about to start so I am looking forward to the winter.”