TAB Rockhampton Cup Review: Saturday 11 July, 2026.

Pint-sized grey will chase the Northern Crowns Bonus after fabulous Rockhampton Cup victory

A plan hatched months ago by astute Sunshine Coast trainer David Vandyke resulted in a popular $150,000 TAB Rockhampton Cup victory at Callaghan Park on Saturday.

Starting from the outside gate, the slightly built grey Keitel ($4.20) dominated the Rockhampton Cup sectionals from the half mile and with jockey Ryan Wiggins tactfully guiding him down the long 600m straight, the Hellbent gelding came up trumps, running near record time for the 1600 metres.

With 200m splits of 44.95, 33.65, 22.91, and 11.97 for the final half of the race, the others were never going to beat Keitel.

The runner-up Quothquan ($4.80) worked a little hard early from barrier ten. He was still third last of the 12 runners at the 800m, and did well to grind home well under Dylan Turner, 1.9 lengths from the winner.

Zoology (Aiden Holt -$15.00) raced in third position throughout and finished off the race strongly in the home straight to be beaten three lengths.

Vandyke, who took over the training of Keitel from Victorian’s Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. about a year ago, was proud of Keitel, and his own achievement.

The galloper was not previously considered to be a miler. Vandyke tested him in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile, at Eagle Farm a few weeks ago.

It was a race the trainer thought was beyond the horse, but he came through it with flying colours, with a stunning third place with only Chris Waller’s Sun God and Bjorn Baker’s War Eternal good enough to beat him by less than a length.

“I didn’t really want to run him against those horses at Eagle Farm, but I thought he needed the race before Rocky,” Vandyke said. “When he finished next to War Eternal in the Tatt’s Mile, who’s won over a million bucks, I knew were more than on track.”

This horse has been set for the Rockhampton Cup for a long time, Vandyke said.

“He’s only had two runs this year. “I was a little bit nervous about how he’d recover from the Tatt’s Mile because it was a career-best performance and often when horses, especially older ones, put in that sort of performance they don’t back it up. But he pulled up very well, and it’s worked out well for him today.”

After taking out the prized opening leg of the Northern Carnival, Vandyke confirmed that Keitel will take his shot at the inaugural Northern Crowns Bonus, a half-a-million prize for any horse that can win all four Northern Cups in Rockhampton, Mackay Townsville and Cairns.

“He may not run in the four, we will wait and see, but he should run in three of them and if he can win even three Cups, he gets a $250,000 bonus, that’s a top incentive,” Vandyke said. “He is a good traveler, so the long trips away won’t unsettle him.” “The trips away don’t bother him, he’s one of the quietest horses I’ve ever trained. He’s just like having a pony.”

Cup celebrations

David Vandyke and Keitel’s owners praised the Callaghan Park track and facilities, announcing at the trophy presentation ceremony that they are the best in regional racing.

“To have a track like this, and facilities to watch the horses in air-conditioned comfort as they parade in the mounting yard, right in front of you, and race on this track, is fantastic, well done to the Rockhampton Jockey Club for a fabulous day,” they said.

Vandyke and the owners celebrated at Pacino’s Italian Restaurant in Rockhampton last night, jockey Wiggins was on a 5.00 pm flight back to Brisbane to fill Sunday riding commitments and Keitel was loaded on the horse truck and hauled back to the Sunshine Coast.

Keitel will spend a week in his own box in Caloundra before, heading back to Rockhampton for a stopover enroute to Mackay for their Cup in a couple of weeks.

Dann’s Illegal Justice sensational in the Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas

Toowoomba three-year-old Illegal Justice scored its most significant race victory so far with a powerhouse performance in the $75,000 Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas (1500m).

The Under the Louvre gelding, trained by John Dann, came from sixth place on the home turn to score by 1.5 lengths. Heavily-back from double-figure odds when the markets first opened to firm into the odds on at one point, Illegal Justice was the popular elect starting at $2.25.

The money was relentless, and it was spot on!

Illegal Justice was given a perfect ride by jockey Dylan Tuner who tracked down the home straight, five horses off the rail to beat a valiant Enforceable (Les Tilley) and Aliquam (Sean Cormack), with that duo fighting out the minor spots at the finish. The winner came with a swooping running, clocking a fraction over 33 seconds for his last 600m and 22.5s for the final 400m.

A relative newcomer, Illegal Justice has now won two of his four race starts for a small group of owners, headed by truck repair business owner Dann and his family.

The victory was some consolation for Dann and Turner who played second fiddle to Vandyke and Wiggins, in the TAB Rockhampton Cup.

Clinton Taylor pockets $25,000 RJC – TAB Trainer’s Bonus

For the second time in three years, premier Rockhampton’s Clinton Taylor has collected a $25,000 bonus for being the leading trainer at the Rockhampton Cup Carnival.

Over two days of racing Taylor collected 11 points for his winners and placed horses to beat his nearest challenger, Sunshine Coast’s Kristie Clark-Peoples by 3 points in the competition.

Six of Taylor’s team earned points over the Carnival which was enough for him to collect the cash.

Taylor didn’t saddle a winner on Saturday, but his team figured in the minor placings twice. On Day one, Newmarket Day, Thursday, he had a winner, two seconds and a third place.

“This is great, it’s huge for us trainers being able to compete for a cash bonus like this, to win it is like earning what we would in a Group race,” Taylor said.

“Thank you to the RJC and the TAB, and let’s hope I can do it again next year.”

• David Aldred (CEO)