Five years ago, the 3-year-old Vow And Declare won the Group III Tattersall's Cup over 3000m at Eagle Farm on the way to winning the Melbourne Cup and finishing second to Mer De Glace (JPN) in the Caulfield Cup.
The rising 9-year-old son of Declaration Of War (USA) was back to the scene of his triumph, and despite now being run 600m shorter, the chestnut gelding broke an 82-week drought, defeating his stablemate Young Werther (Tavistock) in a tough battle by a half-neck.
The Danny O'Brien-trained pair drew three-quarters of a length clear of Knight's Choice (Extreme Choice).
Vow And Declare advances his record to six wins, eight seconds and four third from 44 starts with earnings of $7,641,670.
Part-owner Geoff Corrigan was full of praise for winning rider Billy Egan.
"I’m particularly happy for Billy Egan, who loves this horse,” Corrigan said.
“He came to us and wanted to ride him and Billy’s just done a fabulous job with him. Besides Vow deserving the win, Billy deserved the win as well.”
Stable representative Matt Harrington said Vow And Declare is the stable favourite.
“It’s hard not to get emotional,” Harrington said.
“To think of a horse that won this race five years ago, to find a horse anywhere that’s actually been in a group race five years apart, let alone win it both times is just extraordinary.
“He just wants to be a racehorse, he just loves being around. He outlasted a lot of the staff. Liz, who is strapping him now, came up to Queensland five years ago and actually stayed with him, and we didn’t get her back. Everyone loves him and it’s an amazing effort.
“I feel sorry for Young Werther. He’s run a placing a few times in big races. He’s run enormous; it was like a trackwork gallop in the end, but it was awesome.”
Billy Egan left little doubt how he feels about the veteran.
“He’s a champion. I’ve ridden him his last eight starts, second in Group 1’s, but this is actually my first victory aboard him,” Egan said.
“I’m absolutely rapt to win on a Melbourne Cup winner.
“He’s an out-and-out stayer. Since he got up here (Queensland), each run I see him in the mounting yard, his coat has improved, and he was screaming out for the 2400m this preparation.”
Passed in when failing to make his $60,000 reserve when offered by Kitchwin Hills at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Vow And Declare was retained to race in a partnership by his breeder Paul Langsky,
Vow And Declare is a half-brother to Listed Melbourne Galilee Series Final winner Lycurgus (Star Witness) out of the Testa Rossa mare Geblitz, a winner in Sydney and Brisbane, who comes from the family of Group I winners Hauraki and Kidnapped.
Geblitz has an unraced 2-year-old Dundeel filly named Litzdeel with the Nick Ryan stable and a yearling filly by Too Darn Hot (GB)
After missing in 2022, Geblitz was covered by Tiger Of Malay last spring.
