The fact David Vandyke is chasing a Brisbane Cup win this week is a situation that might not have been possible without a horse who is racing for a much lesser prize in Sydney on Wednesday.

A European import, Less Is More will be trying to stake an early claim for the spring when he runs in the Brisbane Cup.

But first, Vandyke will saddle up Maximus Gladiator as a strong chance at Canterbury.

Maximus Gladiator was part of Vandyke's Warwick Farm stable when the trainer's numbers barely made it to double figures.

The stayer is now one of 32 horses Vandyke has in work as he consolidates a return to Sydney's training ranks.

"The last thing I have to do now is go out hunting horses because I'm in a position where I no longer have to do that," Vandyke said.

"It allows me to turn my attention to the horses I have rather than the ones I don't have."

Maximus Gladiator won his first three starts when switched to Vandyke last year, enhancing the trainer's reputation for getting the best out of tried racehorses.

"The stable has certainly attracted a lot of interest over the past 12 months to the point where we've got a lot of great clients now," Vandyke said.

A rising six-year-old, Maximus Gladiator goes into the tab.com.au (1900m) after a first-up run at Rosehill and early scratchings and the promise of a genuinely run race have Vandyke expecting the horse to run well.

"I was looking to run him last Saturday but opted for the easier race and it's played into our hands a bit," Vandyke said.

Less Is More will be one of the main chances in the Brisbane Cup on the strength of his close second to Precedence in the Premier's Cup at Doomben.

"He didn't have an ideal preparation going into that race because I thought it was a bit rushed," Vandyke said.