STAR STALWARTS AUS CUP BOUND

Danny O'Brien's star stalwarts Young Werther and Vow And Declare are both being set for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 30.

Young Werther made his first public appearance of his campaign at the Geelong trials on Tuesday and pleased O'Brien with his fourth placing behind stablemate Sparkle in the opening heat over 1200 metres.

"He didn't really have a break as he doesn't like spelling. He's in good shape," said O'Brien, who revealed the six-year-old gelding will resume in the Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield on February 10, followed by the Australian Cup Prelude (1800m) at Flemington on March 9 and then the Australian Cup.

"He will tackle the Australian Cup third-up. Three weeks from the Prelude is perfect for him," he said.

O'Brien's eight-year-old gelding Vow And Declare, who won the 2019 Melbourne Cup, is set to resume in the Australian Cup Prelude and then run in the Australian Cup.

"Vow And Declare has come back into work in good shape," he said.

Vow And Declare finished third in the 2020 Australian Cup behind Fifty Stars, while in his most recent campaign, he finished second in the Caulfield Stakes and Moonee Valley Cup, ninth in the Melbourne Cup and then fifth in the Sandown Classic.

Young Werther races well over the Australian Cup course at Flemington. Two starts ago he finished third in the Mackinnon Stakes behind Atishu and Duais, while he also finished second in the 2021 Turnbull Stakes and third a year later in the same race.

At the final start of his previous campaign, he finished second in the Ballarat Cup behind Captain Envious.

Story by Michael Manly for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos