3 minute read
After leading early, then handing up, Vow And Declare won the 2019 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday for Trainer Danny O’Brien and Jockey Craig Williams.
The inexperienced 4yo Vow And Declare had a great run in transit and took inside runs to hold on by a nose.
The race wasn't over then as there was a protest fourth against second for the interference over the concluding stages. It was upheld.
It was the first win for both Danny O'Brien and Craig Williams, the latter after so many attempts at the win.
Winning Trainer: Danny O'Brien
On winning the race: "It's an amazing thing to happen. I really can't believe it. I feel incredibly blessed to have had a horse good enough to be in it. He was ridden so beautifully by Craig. The last 100m he wouldn't give in, wouldn't give in and put his head out on the line and now we've won the Melbourne Cup."
"It doesn't get much better than this. It was a race which wasn't going to plan. To be fair to Craig he grabbed the bull by the horns early when nothing went forward. He ended up in front by the post. With 100m to go I thought you've led early and three are on you now. I was hoping he'd hang on for a place to be honest. He's a courageous horse, he's got great stamina. I'm sure he was headed but wanted to get his head out on the line."
On the horse: "He's definitely got a great motor. His recovery is the best we've seen. To get full advantage of that you probably need to run 3200m. We got outsprinted in the Caulfield Cup but the stamina won it for us today."
On what has happened in the recent past: "Everyone in the racing game has their ups and downs. The main thing is you keep persisting, keep working. Sometimes you have a bit of luck."
On the plans to go forward: "I left it up to Craig. It's been the winning move. He rolled the dice, he's an outstanding jockey and he wasn't afraid to try something different. Ultimately it was the winning move."
His son: "Oh God I've been waiting years for this moment."
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
Crediting the team: "Credit to Danny O'Brien and Matt Harrington, he let all of the people on social media get involved with this horses preparation. I don't want to name everyone in the stable but without all of their hard work, we don't have this horse."
On Vow And Declare's progression: "Danny O'Brien has got a fantastic story with him. It was a privilege to ride him today. We had a difficult barrier draw. It has been great to be associated with a great horse like this horse. I rode him on debut, James Winks won his maiden at Warrnambool 12 months ago and he progressed."
"I can't do this without him (Vow And Declare). Look at him, he knows he won and again, I'm so grateful to be given the opportunity."
Thanking his team: "My parents raised me, they instilled a lot of things in me and I'm forever grateful for their support. My two brothers, my wife Lisa, our four children who came out to the races, Victor, Alannah, Oliver and Summer, that's my core family."
"I really want to thank all of the people who came out today. Not only is this our greatest race that stops a nation, as you can see by the form book, today it is targeted by horses from all around the world and we did it today with an Australian horse."
Beaten Jockeys:
William Buick (Cross Counter): "He ran a huge race. Just slowly away."
Damian Lane (Mer De Glace): "Massive. He wasn't entitled to finish off like he did after the slow tempo. Finished well late."
Frankie Dettori (Master Of Reality): "I want to cry."
Ben Melham (Mirage Dancer): "He ran well. Probably didn't quite see out the last part of the race."
Mark Zahra (Southern France): "Had a tough run. Probably didn't stay."
Seamie Heffernan (Hunting Horn): "I needed to get cover and I couldn't. The pace was too slow."
James McDonald (Latrobe): "Just got back in a slowly run race. Hard to get into it."
Damien Oliver (Mustajeer): "They just went ridiculously slow and it didn't suit my horse. Probably didn't get a chance to run to his best."
Dwayne Dunn (Rostropovich): "He hasn't pulled up too well. He's obviously sustained an injury somewhere in the run."
Hugh Bowman (Twilight Payment): "He had a really smooth run in transit. Just didn't have the sprint required to win a Melbourne Cup."
Kerrin McEvoy (Finche): "He ran great. The pace wasn't that strong. Would've liked them to go a bit quicker. But we presented at the top of the lane and thought he was a real chance there at the 300. He then just leveled out the last little bit. A brave run."
Michael Walker (Prince Of Arran): "Charlie and the team have done a great job. I love the horse and I just wanted to win it, you know. I feel like I've let him down."
Jamie Spencer (Raymond Tusk): "Beautiful position but the race was too slow."
John Allen (Downdraft): "Slowly run race mightn't have suited him. Only I didn't think that he ran out the trip."
Ryan Moore (Magic Wand): STILL TO COME
Luke Nolen (Neufbosc): "They went too steady for me. I went back from the gate. Next time."
James Winks (Sound): "Tempo was ridiculous. He ran really well."
Jordan Childs (Surprise Baby): "He ran super. Just had nothing taking me into the race from the 800 but he'll be back bigger and better next year."
Joao Moreira (Constantinople): "Disappointing, yes. He was going to have a super run."
Wayne Lordan (Il Paradiso): "Would've done with jumping a bit quicker. Didn't get an ideal position but ran well."
Brett Prebble (Steel Prince): "Ran super. They didn't go a gallop. He was in a nice position but he wouldn't switch the chewy off and it just took its toll late."
Tim Clark (The Chosen One): "He went alright. From that draw I had to get a long way back and the pace was no good for him. But he stayed on well."
Tommy Berry (Youngstar): "Speed of the race didn't help him."