Two years ago Prince Cheri was fancied by his trainer to be a contender for the Caulfield Cup after winning the Group III Kingston Town Stakes at Rosehill and finishing sixth in the Group I The Metropolitan.
A back injury put a halt to those plans however a forward showing in Saturday's Craig Opie Cup (1600m) will have Vandyke thinking big again with the import.
"He was disappointing when he came back after the Metrop run and was diagnosed with kissing spine after he finished fourth in the Scone Cup,” Vandyke said.
"He had surgery to fuse two of the vertebra together and the procedure was a success."
The seven-year-old was taken to Moonee Valley on Tuesday for a gallop under Damien Oliver, who has the ride on Saturday.
"He's never been a flash trackworker but the work was good," Vandyke said.
"Damien rode him and said he was a little lost around the home turn but when he straightened he picked up nicely over the last bit."
Prince Cheri returned to racing with a fourth place in the Group III Hawkesbury Gold Cup over 1600m on June 7.
Two Barrier trials in Sydney have him ready and Vandyke already has the Group III Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield on September 19 in mind.
"If he runs well at Moonee Valley we'll be straight to the Naturalism. That's the race we want to win as it will have us exempt for the Caulfield Cup," Vandyke said.
"We're down here for the big time and so far so good.”
Prince Cheri is rated a $7.50 chance by Sportsbet behind the $4.20 favourite The United States.