VOW WOWS ON MELBOURNE CUP TOUR

Vow And Declare was back enjoying the limelight on Sunday as a part of the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour. 

The Tour stopped in at the Yarra Valley for a special event at De Bortoli Wines, who are the official wine partner of the VRC and the Melbourne Cup Carnival.  De Bortoli are also a support sponsor of the tour. 

Vow was joined by his old mate and three-time Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Damien Oliver. Oliver spoke to the crowd about how special it was to win the ‘race that stops a nation’ three times.  Oliver won the coveted race in 1995, 2002 and 2013. 

Oliver is one of Australia’s most celebrated jockeys, retiring in 2023 with 128 Group 1 wins.  

2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare posed for photos with the guests and was back in his element being front and centre at the event. Oliver was riding the former Cup winner in his first listed win on Oaks Day in 2018, pictured below right.  

This year is the 24th edition of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour and will see the iconic trophy visit 37 destinations across Australia and the world.  

Since its inaugural journey in 2003, the trophy has travelled more than one million kilometres and visited over 780 destinations. 

The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour will continue its journey next weekend visiting the fire affected town of Longwood in northern Victoria.  2015 Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne will join the Cup for that visit.

Pic by Alex Coppel