O'BRIEN DECLARES CUP BID ON TARGET

Australian-bred stayer Vow And Declare produced a slashing Melbourne Cup trial in the Caulfield Cup but his place in the field on the first Tuesday of November is far from assured.

Vow And Declare was runner-up, beaten a length by Mer De Glace in Saturday's $5 millon Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m).

The result ensured he rose from 36thto 31st in the elimination order for the $8m Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.

"You'd expect with normal attrition he'd get into the field," said Danny O'Brien, trainer of Vow And Declare.

"It'd be a real shame if an Australian horse like him doesn't get a run in the Melbourne Cup.

"He, Steel Prince and Surprise Baby are three promising young local stayers that have got a chance of winning."

Vow And Declare is $11 with BetEasy to win the Melbourne Cup after producing what O'Brien described as a 'really strong Cup trial'.

"I'm very pleased with him," O'Brien said.

"We were always very wary that Caulfield probably wouldn't be ideal for him and he just grabbed a bit and was a bit awkward around the corner and got a bit further back than what we wanted to be as a result.

"But he was strong late and that's what we know he can do and he's going to be better getting to Flemington and also rising to 3200 metres."

Story by Carl Di Iorio for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos