Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare steps into his ‘hitting zone’ at Flemington

A second successive Melbourne Cup triumph is Vow And Declare’s ultimate 2020 goal but, in a warning to rivals, Danny O’Brien says the gelding is now entering his “hitting zone”.

“He’s ready to step to 2600m, it’s a nice race for him to run in and he’s still in ­(competitive at) the weight scale,” O’Brien said. “This race is part of the ­program heading towards the Melbourne Cup. The Andrew Ramsden is next (on May 16).

“All we’re doing is rolling through the program, but we’re still expecting him to be winning these races.

“If you look at his record at 2400m and beyond, he’s had four starts for two wins (Melbourne Cup and Tattersall’s Cup) and two seconds (Caulfield Cup and Queensland Derby). At 2400m and beyond, that’s where he’s genetically placed to advantage. He’s in his hitting zone.”

O’Brien was delighted with the four-year-old’s work over 1600m on Tuesday, describing it as “terrific”.

O’Brien will start boom galloper Russian Camelot in the 1700m Peter Armytage Handicap at Flemington in preparation for the South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on May 9.

Quarantined in Adelaide as part of a mandatory two-week self-isolation period, John Allen will be an interested onlooker as Damien Oliver partners Russian Camelot.

“He looks like a smart colt, but obviously has a lot to prove yet, I’m interested to see how he runs,” Allen said, pointing to possibly the only chink in Russian Camelot’s armour. “Only slight worry he’s six months younger than (the other horses) being northern hemisphere bred.”

By Leo Schlink and Gilbert Gardiner, Herald Sun