FASTER THAN INCENTIVISE, VOW SMASHES TRACK RECORD

Vow And Declare did more than turn back the clock on Saturday in Brisbane — he smashed it.

The 2019 Melbourne Cup-winner, set to return to Danny O’Brien’s 13th Beach training complex this week to a heroes’ welcome, broke track and class records with a second win in the Group 3 Tattersalls Cup at Eagle Farm — five years’ apart.

Vow And Declare denied stablemate Young Werther in 2:27.21 – 1.78sec inside the 2400m mark previously held by Splendiferous (2:28.99) in May 2022, also on a Good 4 surface.

The class record, held by Incentivise (2:29.76) from June 2021, was also obliterated by the rising nine-year-old.

“You would be hard pressed to find a horse that has contested the same Group race five years apart, let alone winning them both,” O’Brien racing manager Matt Harrington said.

“So proud of the horse. He just keeps turning up and producing his best, which was a track record performance on Saturday.

“It’s a testament to our staff who have worked tirelessly and have enabled Vow to still be producing his best year after year.”

Vow And Declare, who won the 2019 Tattersalls Cup, then a 3000m race, in a track record (3:09.85), which remains in place, capped a successful Brisbane winter for the O’Brien yard.

Maracana won a Group 3 and placed twice, while Miss Aria is slated to contest the Group 3 Winx Guineas on Saturday at Sunshine Coast.

Young Werther ticked over $2m career prizemoney in the Tattersalls Cup – a feat in itself as the four-time winner and multiple Group 1-placed galloper has yet to claim a stakes’ race.

By Gilbert Gardiner for Herald Sun Racing

Pic by Trackside Photopgraphy