A home-bred hero, toughnut Vow And Declare fought off the raiders to claim the 2019 Cup

The 2019 Cup is still fresh in the minds of many as the event where Vow And Declare and jockey Craig Williams courageously resisted the competition and inspired hope among amateur breeders and small-scale owners, that aspirations of winning the Cup can still be achieved and flourish as a realistic dream. Despite being significantly outnumbered and disadvantaged in terms of class, the only chance for a genuine local victory resided in a tall, slender chestnut horse named Vow And Declare; notably, the sole Australian-bred, owned, and trained participant in the race.

Less than half a length separated first and fourth across the line as Vow And Declare held off a surging Master Of Reality, Prince Of Arran and Il Paradiso in a thrilling finish of the 2019 Cup. There was a protest between father and son trainers lodged in the moments after the race alleging interference in the final 100 metres, which resulted in Prince of Arran finishing second and Master of Reality dropping out of the placings. Vow And Declare ran 3:24.76 seconds in the cup on ground rated a Soft 5, more than eight seconds outside Kingston Rule’s 3:16.3 track record set in 1990.

Vow And Declare was bred by Paul Lanskey, the owner of the broodmare, Geblitzt (Testa Rossa). Her first foal – by Star Witness – raced as Lycurgus, himself a $70,000 Inglis Easter purchase who became a Stakes winner by taking out the Galilee Series Final (2400m). Declaration of War sired the horse whilst performing shuttle stallion duties for Coolmore Stud in Australia. Lanskey named the horse after his father's habit of coming home from the pub and saying "I vow and declare I've only had a few beers". At the 2017 Inglis Classic Sale, Vow And Declare had a reserve price of $70,000 however only received a bid of up to $45,000 and was passed in. It was $15,000 under what he wanted, and so the Noosa businessman put the yearling back in the float and drove him home. The horse was therefore retained by breeder Paul Lanskey and ownership was divided between Lanskey and others. Lanskey offered shares in a syndicate to family and friends, signing up 13 owners who were happy to give the “clumsy” Vow and Declare a go. Over the coming year, at his first three races, Vow and Declare looked to be something of a flop and hopes weren’t overly high for his career.

Trained by Danny O'Brien at Flemington Racecourse, Vow And Declare was unraced as a 2 year old. He claimed his first win as a 3 year old at his fourth start in a Warrnambool maiden run over 2381m in October 2018. At his next start, Vow And Declare was successful over 1800 metres at Flemington in the Listed TCL TV Stakes when ridden by Damien Oliver. In June 2019, he ran 2nd in the Group 1 Queensland Derby at odds of 25/1. Jockey Damien Oliver lodged a protest against the winner Mr Quickie however the protest was dismissed by stewards. Two weeks later the horse won the Tattersall's Cup over 3000 metres at Eagle Farm as a 2/1 favourite when ridden by Glen Boss.

Vow And Declare resumed racing as a 4 year old with a 4th placing in the Turnbull Stakes and a strong second placing in the Caulfield Cup behind Mer De Glace. He started at 10/1 when successful in the 2019 Melbourne Cup. Craig Williams, with his first Cup win produced a brilliant ride in the feature event, leading as the field went past the post for the first time before handing up to Twilight Payment to sit in the box seat, third behind the leader. He saved ground in the final stages as Vow And Declare did the rest, producing a gutsy staying performance, driving hard along the rails late to grip onto victory. Following a 5th in The Bart Cummings and a 6th in the Caulfield Cup, finishing both within 2L of the winner, Vow And Declare was also entered in the 2022 Melbourne Cup. He drew barrier number 4 and was given 54 kg weight with Blake Shinn aboard. He was placed 10th, 8.7 lengths behind the winner Gold Trip.

Vow And Declare claimed his first win since that memorable 2019 Melbourne Cup triumph, winning the Gr.2 Zipping Classic to break a three-year drought.The eight-year-old gelding, who has overcome back issues and a potentially career-ending tendon injury, returned in 2023 to join an exclusive group of horses, becoming only the 21st in over a century to compete in four or more Melbourne Cups. Shadow King holds the record for the most Melbourne Cup appearances, racing in six between 1929 and 1935. Red Cadeaux (2011-2015) and Skybeau (1996-2000) each contested five editions of the race. In the 2024 WFA Peter Young Stakes, Vow And Declare almost got in the bob of the head over the Kiwi, Campionessa, proving the old boy still has some magic left in this legs and fight in the belly. That followed from a nice 2nd in the Moonee Valley Cup in October 2023.

RACE RECORD - 41: 5–8–4

EARNINGS - A$ 7,471,670

Melbourne Cup (2019)

Tattersall's Cup (2019/2024)

Zipping Classic (2022)