Melbourne Cup 2019: Vow And Declare captures first win for Danny O’Brien, Craig Williams

Rated a genetic freak, Australia’s tough stayer Vow And ­Declare was always going to be there if it became willing and just maybe a bit of rough stuff at the end has delivered him racing’s holy grail.

After months of meticulous preparation, Danny O’Brien and Craig Williams credited their extraordinary surge to Melbourne Cup glory partly to racing’s most fickle element — late-race interference.

Celebrating their maiden victories in the $8 million handicap, O’Brien and Williams believe the buffeting that prompted what is believed to be the first stewards’ protest in Cup history helped Vow And Declare to scramble home.

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Craig Williams and Vow And Declare cop a bit of interference nearing the finish line.

“I said to Craig that it got a bit willing on the post (but), Craig actually said it helped as he got there a bit soon and that squeeze-up made him surge through again,” O’Brien said.

“Watching it live, I did think that they had gone by my horse and he was going to run third or fourth.

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“But he has found something in the last 50, and put his head out right on the line.”

In the dramatic 159th edition of the race, stewards added a theatrical touch by ­demoting Frankie Dettori’s mount Master Of Reality from second to fourth, upholding their own protest.

The decision was accompanied by a nine-meeting ban for Dettori and the promotions of Prince Of Arran from third to second and Il Paradiso from fourth to third.

While a devastated Dettori said he “felt like crying” after hitting the lead on Master Of Reality and shaping to end an exasperating run of Cup denials, Williams and O’Brien ­savoured a fabulous success.

Vow And Declare and Craig Williams come in for a bit of attention at the finish line.

Bred in Australia and rated a genetic freak, Vow And ­Declare struck an increasingly rare blow for the locals against a marauding band of invaders.

“The way the race has changed over the last decade it has certainly became a more elusive target for a local trainer,” O’Brien said.

“And to do it with a locally bred horse is not something that is going to happen very often.

“It is getting further and further out of reach, but today shows it can still be done.

“This horse has got the genetic make-up, the heart and the lungs, he has all the things you need to run 3200m.

Craig Williams and Vow And Declare combine to win the Melbourne Cup.

“He is actually a horse that isn’t going to fulfil his potential under 3200m. He could run 4000m if he was in a race of that distance.”

O’Brien has rebuilt career and reputation after the cobalt case that threatened to sink him.

“Everyone in the racing game has their ups and downs,” he said as he jubilated with his wife Nina and family.

“The main thing is you keep persisting, keep working. Sometimes you have a bit of luck.”

O’Brien now owns Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup honours.

For Williams, his 15th ­attempt at the Cup delivered a victory that at 42 he might have despaired would never come.

Williams and trainer Danny O’Brien with the Cup.

His adventurous ride from barrier 21, following O’Brien’s advice to “trust the horse”, ended with a head margin in a slowly run Cup.

“It was a privilege to ride him today,” Williams said.

“We had a difficult barrier draw. It has been great to be associated with a great horse like this horse.

“I rode him on debut, James Winks won his maiden at Warrnambool 12 months ago and he progressed.”

Williams and Vow And Declare took the shortest route home along the rails.

Prince Of Arran’s trainer Charlie Fellowes is already contemplating a third tilt with his warrior after last season’s third placegetter jumped into second yesterday after the ­protest.

“He is an unbelievable horse, he absolutely loves it out here — maybe another five yards we might have been in front,” Fellowes said.

“Maybe it could be third time lucky next year.”

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Vow And Declare (rails) comes in for some late attention in a blanket finish.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup 2019: Vow And Declare captures first win for Danny O’Brien, Craig Williams