With dual Group I winner Yankee Rose now sold, David Vandyke is looking for a new star to emerge from his stable.
Deep Image is no Yankee Rose but the four-year-old sprinter who resumes on Saturday at the Sunshine Coast has the ability and the x-factor to win many more races.
The Testa Rossa gelding hasn't been since winning his second race from four starts at Doomben in April, but will resume as the $3.20 favourite for Saturday's Benchmark75 Handicap (1200m).
Vandyke always thought the sprinter had a big motor and threw him in the deep end on debut when he ran second to Winning Rupert in the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Doomben in December last year.
He was initially being aimed at the riches of the Magic Millions carnival in January but Vandyke took a softer path.
The Magic Millions carnival is again on the agenda and Vandyke is looking forward to the future with great enthusiasm.
However, he warns Deep Image will take improvement from his first-up run on Saturday and concedes he faces a difficult task from barrier 13.
"He is a big, heavy strong horse and the main thing is I want him racing in January (at the Magic Millions)," Vandyke said.
"I will bring him up gently this preparation and he will definitely improve a lot more going forward into his preparation.
"He has trialled well, albeit a soft trial, but I don't want Michael Cahill to be too aggressive on him on Saturday.
"I don't want him to have a gutbuster.
"The way I see it is my horse has only had four starts and he is up against some pretty handy seasoned horses.
"First-up from a bad barrier, he will have to be very classy to get the job done."
Group I star Yankee Rose is still at Vandyke's stable but won't be for much longer.
Racenet has confirmed the Darby Racing-syndicated mare has been sold for an undisclosed price and will not race again.
Owners made the decision to sell Yankee Rose after the injury-plagued mare suffered more problems following her ninth in the Group I Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on September 2.
Yankee Rose won more than $2 million for connections and claimed the Group I Sires Produce and Group I Spring Champion Stakes in 2016.
