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Trainer David Vandyke believes well-bred mare Iamican is still a work in progress but is hopeful she can record back-to-back wins at Ipswich on Wednesday.
David Vandyke nominated Iamican and Cotton Fields for the Rating Bands 0-65 for fillies and mares over 1200 metres but will split the pair with the latter running at Doomben on Thursday.
Iamican has drawn the rails and is coming off a brilliant win when she bolted in by five-and-a-half lengths first-up in a Benchmark race over 1000 metres on her home track at the Sunshine Coast on January 17.
It was her first run since failing on a heavy track at the Gold Coast in June.
Vandyke picked out Iamican at the 2018 Magic Million sales where she was knocked down for $475,000.
"She was the dearest horse I've ever bought at a sale," Vandyke said.
"She's well-bred being by I Am Invincible and her mother (If I Can I Can) won a Stakes race in New Zealand."
Vandyke nominated Iamican for the Golden Slipper along with Alligator Blood as a two-year-old but she wasn't ready to take on the cream of Australia's best two-year-olds at the time.
Iamican had a history of over-racing early in her career and Vandyke has worked around the clock to correct her manners.
"She's starting to work things out a bit better now," he said.
"She was always a bit uncertain and started to do a few wrong things and charge in her races.
"Her last win was very good and it was nice to see her race more tractable."
Vandyke expects Iamican to be hard to beat as she chases her third win in 11 starts.
"She'll be very competitive and I think she should take a lot of beating," he said.
Vandyke is uncertain of Iamican's future but will keep the door open to stepping her up to better city class races in the future including the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Iamican was given her chance in a Stakes race during last year's carnival when she led and weakened to finish 10th to Vanna Girl in the Listed Pam O'Neill Stakes over 1600 metres at Doomben last May.
"She led by a big margin that day and weakened out of it," Vandyke said.
"I want to see how she races on Wednesday before deciding where she goes next and I'll leave the door open with regard to her future."
