The 4-year-old was in good touch in Brisbane during the winter with a runner-up finish in the G1 Queensland Derby and then confirmed his status as a rising staying star with a commanding display to beat the older horses over 3000 metres in the G3 Tatt’s Cup.
That performance brought the curtain down on Vow And Declare’s 3-year-old season, but he’s been kept busy since and will strip in excellent order for Saturday’s G1 TAB Turnbull S. at Flemington.
“He’s had a very good preparation and he’s been in work in Queensland and didn’t have a break,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.
“He hasn’t been out of work and he’s been back here at Flemington for the last six weeks and his fitness levels are great.”
“He hasn’t been out of work and he’s been back here at Flemington for the last six weeks and his fitness levels are great.” – Danny O’Brien.
While he may not have the benefit of recent racing his rivals bring into the race, O’Brien has high expectations and particularly as he gets over more ground deeper into his campaign.
“We’re looking for him to finish in the top half on Saturday. We’ve got higher aspirations into the spring so he needs to run very well and I’m sure he will,” he said.
Vow And Declare, who won his first race at 2300 metres, doesn’t come from the stoutest of families, but he’s already outrun his pedigree and O’Brien said all the gelding wants to do is stay.
Danny O'Brien
“We’re hoping to get him to the Melbourne Cup and he will probably get in with 52kg,” he said. “He’s a horse that we think is at his best at 3200 metres. We’ll work out the best way to the Cup after Saturday.”
Vow And Declare is a half-brother to Lycurgus (Star Witness), winner of the Listed Galilee Series Final over 2500 metres, and their dam Geblitzt (Testa Rossa) was successful four times but not beyond 1400 metres.
Derby winner
Staying presences can be found further back in the family with the presence of the G1 South Australian Derby winner Kidnapped (Viscount) and while Hauraki (Reset) was sharp enough to win the G1 Epsom H., he did finish runner-up in the G1 South Australian Derby.
O’Brien has also unearthed another promising staying prospect in Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), who steps out in the G2 Edward Manifold S. on Saturday.
Miami Bound (NZ) as a yearling
She is unbeaten in two appearances this preparation and there are high expectations she can mirror the G1 VRC Oaks victory of her mother Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
“I am very pleased with her. She has had a couple of trips to the races already and has looked very impressive both times,” O’Brien said.
“She has had a lovely build up to Saturday and gets to her home track at a mile and it is a really nice stepping stone for her through to the G2 Wakeful S. and the G1 Oaks. I have got a lot of confidence in Miami Bound.
“She has had a lovely build up to Saturday and gets to her home track at a mile and it is a really nice stepping stone for her through to the G2 Wakeful S. and the G1 Oaks.” – Danny O’Brien.
“We’ve always had high hopes for her and the Oaks has been the race that we would have loved to see her get to from the moment we bought her and so far, so good.”
Like Vow And Declare, the Flemington conditioner had an inside knowledge of Miami Bound, who he purchased out of Westbury Stud’s draft for NZ$120,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale, as he trained her half-brother De Little Engine (Encosta de Lago).
He was a grand servant of the stable and won eight races, including the Listed Andrew Ramsden S. over 3200 metres.
O’Brien’s other black type prospects at Flemington further include the consistent pair of My Pendant (NZ) (Pins) and Fabric (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the G2 Blazer S., Order Of Fury (Squamosa) in the Listed Antler Luggage Poseidon S. and Serious Liaison (Zoffany) in the Listed McGregor Portables Super Impose S.
My Pendant (NZ) is one of Obrien's black type prospects
My Pendant was a course and distance winner here in August before success at Caulfield and last time out she closed strongly for fifth in the G2 Let’s Elope., while Fabric has been racing well and was a last-start winner in mares' company at Caulfield.
Order Of Fury has earned his crack at a stakes race after following up a debut second at Mornington with an impressive maiden victory at Bendigo while Serious Liaison also broke his duck at Bendigo before finishing a sound fourth over this course and distance.
