O'BRIEN EYES CUP WITH DUO

Danny O’Brien will take a two-pronged attack consisting of his two of his tough stayers Vow And Declare and Young Werther into the 2024 Australian Cup on March 30 at Flemington.

O’Brien said bar for a bob of the head in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes Vow And Declare would be going into the Australian Cup as a first-up winner.

“He only just got beaten the other day. He was ahead before and after the line and Campioniessa had her head down on it,” O’Brien said.

“We decided after the Peter Young to go straight to the Australian Cup and it should set up well for him as he’s in really good order as he’s had five weeks between runs.

“That was a terrific first-up run. The horse needs Flemington and he’ll get to the Australian Cup in great shape.”

Although Vow And Declare is an eight-year-old gelding O’Brien pointed out he hadn’t been over taxed.

“He didn’t run as a two-year-old and he had his first start as a three-year-old. He had a year off as a five-year-old as he missed a year with a tendon. He’s only had 45 race starts; he hasn’t done a hell of a lot of racing,” he said.

“He loves being in the stable and he enjoys going to the races as long as he can keep competing at that level we’ll keep going with him.

“Last spring his form was also terrific without winning.”

O’Brien said Young Werther also loved the track and distance at Flemington and was heading to the Australian Cup for his next start.

“2000 metres at Flemington is his favoured course and distance.”

Story by Michael Manly for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos