Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare fails to flatter with trainer Danny O’Brien sending him for a spell
Danny O’Brien retains unshakeable faith in Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare despite his shock Flemington failure, believing a short break will have him back in the zone for the spring carnival.
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Vow And Declare is unlikely to race again until the Turnbull Stakes in October after Danny O’Brien decided to immediately spell the Melbourne Cup winner following the gelding’s listless Flemington performance.
Impressive first-up in the Australian Cup in March, Vow And Declare has failed to fire at his past two starts, prompting regular rider Craig Williams to assess the four-year-old is five lengths below his best form.
His lacklustre fifth behind Haky in the Newton Handicap (2600m) after a similarly uncharacteristic ninth in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes prompted O’Brien to abandon plans to replicate last year’s autumn and winter program.
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O’Brien retains unshakeable faith in the lightly-raced galloper, believing a short break at Thirteenth Beach will have Australia’s premier stayer back in the zone for the spring carnival.
“The horse is fine, there’s nothing obvious wrong with him. He trotted up sound this morning,” O’Brien said.
“He’ll have a little freshen up for the spring.
“When there’s nothing obvious, you can try scintigraphy, you can try a whole range of things, but usually the best thing is give them a six or eight-week break.
“You can speculate and diagnose as much as you want, but in the end a six or eight-week break is usually the best option, so why not do that?
“His last two runs weren’t his true form, so he’ll have a break and come back for the spring.”
O’Brien said the Turnbull Stakes on October 3 would be the gelding’s likely return assignment.
O’Brien dismissed suggestions Vow And Declare simply had not come up after a magnificent 2019 campaign crowned by Melbourne Cup success and an eye-catching Caulfield Cup second.
“His Australian Cup rating (after finishing third behind Fifty Stars and Regal Power) was his best-ever rating, so you couldn’t say he hasn’t come up in the autumn.
“He’s been below par at his past two runs.
“Most of these things, whatever they might be, are generally solved by a little break.”
Haky impresses in big win
Haky’s triumph was a masterstroke for young Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander.
Haky, who inherited the import from dual Arc-winning trainer John Hammond and immediately decided on a change of tactics to revitalise the horse.
“I was adamant the minute I got this horse that he's not going to be leading anymore,” Alexander said after Declan Bates sat off the speed before pouncing.
“We needed to teach him to settle and I think going the Australian way of trialling over 800 (metres), running over 1000m, running over a mile, the non-European things, has really taught this horse to relax and stop having his own way.
“The two horses (Beau Balmain and Scholarly) in front were going a good gallop and we were behind them having a breather," Alexander said.
“It was just like a racecourse gallop, really. We were in third, had a bit of cover and when Declan had that bit of cover, he's a very tough horse.
“We weren’t thinking that we’d beat that horse (Vow And Declare). We’ve got a lot of plans but we’ll just have to see.
“I’m not saying that he’s going to win a Melbourne Cup but he could win a nice Geelong Cup, Bendigo, Ballarat Cup, maybe just a little bit below the Melbourne Cup but where he ran today, who knows?”
Despite Vow And Declare’s defeat, O’Brien took training honours after an early double with Flying Award and Naivasha.
High five for Waterhouse
Sacramento could chase a Melbourne Cup berth through next month’s The Andrew Ramsden after the gelding’s dramatic VRC St Leger success.
Delivering an extraordinary fifth win in Victoria’s second-oldest classic for Gai Waterhouse, Sacramento ($5.50) had to survive a protest from St Eustace’s rider Michael Walker after tightening over the last 100m.
But Sacramento’s jockey Ben Melham convinced stewards to reject the objection, leaving Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott with ballot-free entry into The Ramsden, which in turn offers ballot exemption in the Melbourne Cup to the winner. Waterhouse and Bott have now won three successive St Legers.
Ridden quietly by Melham, Sacramento blended into the race at precisely the right time, emerging at the 200m, before fending off St Eustace ($31) and Wahine Toa ($26).
“He looked the leader in a race of nice speed, but he just stepped a bit awkwardly, I was always looking for one to cover him up,” Melham said.
“I thought that breeze was pretty strong around the circle, especially the second half.
“It was a strong staying performance – too good.”
Waterhouse and Bott had won the race with Runaway (2018) and Transact (2019).
Waterhouse also won the VRC St Leger with Hippopus (2013) and Order Of The Sun (2014). Melham became the fifth different rider to land the St Leger for Waterhouse, joining Stephen Baster, Luke Currie, Chad Schofield and Craig Williams.
Wily Williams comes up trumps
Craig Williams extended his lead as leading jockey at Flemington with a measured ride on Betcha Flying in the Armytage Handicap (1700m).
The reigning metropolitan champion, Williams notched his 16th victory at headquarters since August, stretching his buffer over Dwayne Dunn.
And the success was no surprise to Williams.
“I was really bullish about her. I liked her when she galloped with me one day at Moonee Valley,” Williams said.
“She went back to Sydney and ran really well. The winner franked the form in the Oaks.
“She got the opportunity back at Flemington and controlled the race where she was.
“All going well she backs up next week (in Adelaide) and unfortunately I can’t ride her. I’d love to ride her in a Group 1 over ten furlongs.”
More dee-light for owners
Matthew Williams had a carnival to remember at Warrnambool last year and he’s optimistic of a repeat with the Kuramae potentially leading the stable charge.
Beautifully ridden by Dean Yendall, the mare notched her second win from as many attempts over 1400m at Flemington.
Raced by Melbourne captain Max Gawn, TAB form guru Nick Quinn and Racing.com’s Matt Welsh, Kuramae ($37) held off Beehunter ($7) and Kooweerup ($7).
“She certainly likes the place (Flemington),” Williams said.
“She got a good run today. Just don’t know what to put her last run down to in a race that they probably didn’t make a lot of ground in, but we did come away scratching the head a little there.
“It was good to see her bounce back today.
“I had a race earmarked for her at Warrnambool so we’ll see where her rating goes today and we’ll just see what else is about.
O’Brien aemy sweeping the land
Danny O’Brien’s Adelaide arsenal could be strengthened with the addition of Naivasha after her eye-catching 1400m victory under Damien Oliver.
Unable to gain clear running until late, she stormed over the final 200m in 11.6 secs.
“(She) got in a bit of a difficult spot but fortunately when she was out she got to the line strongly,” O’Brien said.
“She’ll probably head to a stakes race in Adelaide, a 2000 metre mares race, but over a mile and a mile-and-a-quarter, she’s really effective.
“She had some really good form from earlier in her career and she’s come to us in great shape and she’s racing really well.”
Rupture proves his worth
Paul Preusker praised Rupture and jockey Jordie Childs after the pair combined to land The Les Carlyon (1700m).
“He’s a good, tough horse to train. He’s a fighter,” Preusker said.
“Good to see him race today without cover. It gives him another string to his bow. I’ve always hidden him up a bit. It was good judgment by Jordie, too.”
Moe mayhem
Plenty of drama before the second race at Moe when A Lone Hero, I Got Strings and Kislina were all scratched on veterinary advice at the barrier, reducing the field to just seven runners.
The race was eventually claimed by Solitary Tramp for Len Xuereb and jockey Carleen Hefel.
STEWARDS
Jye McNeil — 12 meetings, careless riding.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace — Fined $2000 for taking Ballarat horses to Sandown jumpouts, which were restricted Caulfield-trained horses.
EXCUSES, EXCUSES
Foxy Lady — Bled both nostrils.
Run To Perfection — Thumps
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I was dirty on him for missing he start and then I was dirty on him for putting her in the wrong spot. Fortunately it all ended well.”
— Danny O’Brien assessing Damien Oliver’s winning ride on Naivasha.
TAB BIG BETS
RACE 1
In an open affair, Flying Award broke through at his third start in the ANZAC Day Stakes.
Flying Award hovered around $4.80 for most of raceday before closing as the $5 favourite.
Runner-up Ironedge ($51 to $21 on raceday) almost landed a long-range plunge.
Third placegtter Indictment drifted from $8.50 to $10 on raceday.
Diala ($4.40 to $5.50 on raceday) and Gradslam ($5 to $6 on raceday) were unplaced.
Bets placed on Diala included $4500 at $6 and $5000 at $5.50.
Wyld Savanna (as much as $8.50 to $6.50) and Itzhot ($18-$10-$12) were also unplaced.
RACE 2
After seeing daylight with 200m remaining, Naivasha flew to claim her fourth win.
Naivasha tightened from $4.60 to $3.90 on raceday before easing late to $4.40 favourite.
Bets on Naivasha included $5,000 at $4.40, $4,500 at $4.40 and $5,000 at $5.
Runner-up Cryptic Jewel eased on raceday from $7.50 to $9.50 (touched $10).
Third placegetter Lamu drifted from $4 raceday morning favourite to $5.
The unplaced Nerve Not Verve was a notable raceday drifter ($4.20 to $6.50).
Part Time Lover ($16 to $8) and Shokora ($18 to $11) did not figure in the placings.
RACE 3
Most punters were left to lament after Kuramae hung on to salute for the third time.
Kuramae drifted in raceday betting from $26 to $41 (Lodestar was the outsider at $81).
Unplaced equal favourite Run To Perfection was backed late to $4.40.
Bets included $5,000 at $4.60 and $10,000 at $4.40.
Oasis Girl — also unplaced — tightened on raceday from $5 to $4.40 equal favourite.
Fundraiser ($7 to $5.50 on raceday) missed the placings.
Beehunter ($7.50) and Kooweerup ($6.50) were the minor placegetters.
One TAB punter placed $4500 each-way at $6/$2.10 on Kooweerup.
RACE 4
The majority of punters were stunned to see Vow And Declare fail to run a placing.
Two-thirds of the support was for last year’s Melbourne Cup winner.
Vow And Declare was as short as $1.70 on raceday before closing $1.85 favourite.
Raceday bets of note included $10,000 at $1.85, $6000 at $1.75 and $5960 at $1.70.
One TAB punter placed $14,500 at $2 on Vow And Declare on Saturday.
Haky eased in raceday betting from $10 to $12 but was too strong in the closing stages.
Sin To Win ($23 to $16 on raceday) and Good Idea ($16) were the minor placegetters.
One bet of $4,000 the win / $6000 the place @ $9/$2.40 on Mirimar.
RACE 5
Even though there was a late ease in betting, Betcha Flying proved too strong late.
Betcha Flying remained favourite despite getting out from $3.80 to $4.20.
One TAB punter placed an $11,000 wager at $4.20 on Betcha Flying.
Betcha Flying tightened from $11 to $8 for next Saturday’s Schweppes Oaks as well.
Runner-up Independent Road almost landed a plunge ($31 to $10 on raceday).
Third placegetter Excelman touched $6 on raceday before drifting to $7.50.
Second elect The Lifeline ($3.90 to $4.80) did not figure in the placings.
RACE 6
Sacramento nosed out Saint Eustace and survived a protest in the VRC St Leger.
Sacramento was rock solid around the $5.50-$6 mark and closed $5.50.
Saint Eustace was $26 out to as much as $41 on raceday before closing $34.
Unplaced favourite Chains Of Honour shortened from $6.50 to $5.
Raceday morning favourite Royal Crown drifted from $3.90 to $5.50 and was unplaced.
Sign Seal Deliver was supported from $14 to as short as $8 before easing to $10.
Wahine Toa ($26) was the third placegetter.
RACE 7
Prezado rewarded his patient backers with a tight win over The Inevitable.
Prezado was fancied at a price on raceday from $13 to $8.50 (as short as $8).
The Inevitable drifted as raceday favourite from 2.50 to $3.80.
The Inevitable firmed from $15 to $11 for The Goodwood on May 16.
Third placegetter Malibu Style ($10 to $5) was not able to land the plunge.
Milwaukee was specked on raceday ($13 to $10) and finished fourth.
RACE 8
Laststart Warracknabeal Cup winner Rupture was too strong for his rivals.
Rupture was $3.50 favourite, drifted to $4.60 and eventually closed $4.20.
Rupture lost favouritism due to the strong backing for Dadoozdart.
Dadoozdart was supported from $4.60 to $3.40 favourite but failed to run a place.
Bets on Dadoozdart included $7,000 and $4500 at $4.60 plus $4000 at $3.60.
Hang Man ($11) and Super Titus ($13) were the minor placegetters.
Originally published as Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare fails to flatter with trainer Danny O’Brien sending him for a spell