MELBOURNE CUP WINNER TO TARGET NEW Q22 RACE

Vow And Declare’s pathway in his Melbourne Cup defence will centre on a rebadged $1.5 million weight-for-age race in Queensland to be called Q22 with trainer Danny O’Brien confirming it was on the horse’s 2020 agenda.

Racing Queensland on Tuesday announced a raft of programming changes to its winter carnival, including the O’Shea Stakes being changed to the Q22, the $400,000 Brisbane Cup returning to 3200m and the $600,000 Queensland Derby coming forward a fortnight to allow three-year-olds to compete in the Q22.

Other races will be upgraded and will carry exemptions into the Q22 (over 2200m), which will be run on Stradbroke Handicap day on June 6.

O’Brien has made no secret of how crucial Vow And Declare’s 2019 campaign north in the winter was to his Melbourne Cup success months later, saying he wanted to follow a similar pathway next year.

“Without the Brisbane campaign I don’t think he wins the Melbourne Cup,” O’Brien said.

“It allowed me to prepare him the way I wanted, which was to retain that residual fitness and only have a light spring. He did that with two runs and came into Melbourne Cup Day third-up and won.

“We’re not going to reinvent the wheel. He’ll be up in Brisbane. He’ll be able to run in the Q22. A $1.5 million and 2200m race is perfect for him.

“The best part for us is that Eagle Farm is back and in such great shape. We really enjoyed running our horses there last winter. It’s one of Australia’s great racetracks.”

acing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell said the changes would enhance the carnival by attracting better quality horses to Brisbane.

“A $1.5 million weight-for-age race on Stradbroke Day is not just an exciting addition to the Queensland racing calendar, but the nation as whole,” Parnell said.

“Across the world, the Arc de Triomphe, QEII and the Breeders’ Cup provide fitting finales for their middle-distance horses and we would like to see the EVA Air Q22 fill a similar role in Australia.

“With a new-look program, classic winners can target the Q22, while older horses can do likewise through the Hollindale Stakes or Doomben Cup.”

Vow And Declare raced three times in Brisbane during the middle of this year, culminating with his win in the Tatts Cup following a luckless second in the Queensland Derby.

By Glenn McFarlane for the Herald Sun

Pic by Racing Photos