Vigor to miss Manifold

Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien is thrilled in the progress of Vigor but won't run him in Saturday's Listed Chester Manifold Stakes.

Vigor, whose spring campaign was cut short, has been in work for some time after going out and coming back early but O'Brien will wait until Australia Day for his return to the track.

Vigor is being aimed at the Australian Cup in March and will start his autumn campaign at Caulfield in the Listed John Dillon Stakes over 1400m.

“He came back in early because he went out early but I think I'll give him another gallop, maybe even trial him, and wait until Australia Day to start,” O'Brien said.

“He's heading towards the Australian Cup. With a light spring hopefully he's got fresh legs for the autumn and to be honest he's never looked better.”

O'Brien said he hasn't had a lot of luck with the six-year-old, starting with drawing off the track in the 2009 Caulfield Cup but still running a great race for third.

He them failed to gain a start in the Melbourne Cup and ran in the Emirates instead before another spell.

Last autumn he had just a light campaign to ensure he had a decent break to be set for a big spring.

After an eye-catching fourth in the Liston Stakes fresh he ran third in the Makybe Diva Stakes but sustained a slight tear in his hind quarter.

He re-aggrevated it when seventh in the Turnbull Stakes and that, combined with a slight temperature, ended another spring.

“They were all niggling things but enough to stop his campaign. He looks great at the moment so hopefully all that's behind us.”

A $60,000 son of O'Reilly, Vigor has raced just 26 times for eight wins and seven minors and is just shy of $1 million in earnings.

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