Vow and Declare

{{Infobox racehorse

| horsename = Vow And Declare

| image_name = Vow_and_Declare_silks.jpeg

| caption =

| sire = Declaration of War

| grandsire = War Front

| dam = Geblitzt

| damsire = Testa Rossa

| sex = Gelding

| foaled = 17 October 2015

| country = Australia

| colour = Chestnut

| breeder = P Lanskey

| owner = G Corrigan, PJ Lanskey, HR Hueston, TC Lanskey, JP Lanskey, KT Goodman, WR Leitch, AF Lanskey, BT Lanskey, SWR Knipe, SM Corrigan, LJ Lanskey, SA Livingstone

| trainer = Danny O'Brien

| record = 41: 5–8–4

| earnings = A$ 7,471,670{{cite web |url=https://racingaustralia.horse/InteractiveForm/HorseFullForm.aspx?HorseCode=OTM1ODE0MTc0MA%3d%3d&src=horsesearch|title=Vow And Declare Horse Profile|publisher=racingaustralia.horse|access-date=6 November 2019}}

| race = Melbourne Cup (2019)
Tattersall's Cup (2019)
Zipping Classic (2022)

| awards= Australian Stayer of the Year (2019/20)

}}

Vow And Declare (foaled 17 October 2015) is an Australian bred thoroughbred racehorse that was the winner of the 2019 Melbourne Cup.

Background

Vow And Declare was bred by Paul Lanskey, the owner of the broodmare, Geblitzt. Declaration of War sired the horse whilst performing shuttle stallion duties for Coolmore Stud in Australia.{{cite web |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/sport/vow-and-declare-wins-melbourne-cup-20191105-p537m8|title=Quiet Australians take on world to win Melbourne Cup|date=5 November 2019 |publisher=fr.com|access-date=6 November 2019}}{{subscription required}} 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".{{cite web |last1=Keogh |first1=Frank |title=Melbourne Cup 2019: Vow And Declare wins; Frankie Dettori banned as runner-up Master Of Reality demoted |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/50298606 |website=BBC Sport |date=5 November 2019}}

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. The horse was therefore retained by breeder Paul Lanskey and ownership was divided by Lanskey and others.{{cite web |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/racing/owners-leap-of-faith-in-vow-and-declare-rewarded-20191105-p537p6.html|title=Owners' leap of faith in Vow And Declare rewarded|date=5 November 2019 |publisher=theage.com.au|access-date=6 November 2019}}

Racing 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.{{cite web |url=https://racingaustralia.horse/FreeFields/RaceHistory.aspx?GroupID=252|title=Batman Stakes winners|publisher=racingaustralia.horse|access-date=6 November 2019}}

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.{{cite web |url= https://www.punters.com.au/amp/news/mr-quickie-wins-dramatic-qld-derby_180874/ |title=Mr Quickie wins dramatic QLD Derby |publisher=punters.com.au |access-date=15 October 2020}}

Two weeks later the horse won the Tattersall's Cup over 3000 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse as a 2/1 favourite when ridden by Glen Boss.{{cite web |url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2019/06/22/bossy-lauds-vow-and-declare-after-tattersalls-cup-romp/|title=Bossy lauds Vow And Declare after Tattersalls Cup romp|publisher=sen.com.au|access-date=6 November 2019}}

Vow And Declare resumed racing as a 4 year old with a 4th placing in the Turnbull Stakes and a second placing in the Caulfield Cup. He started at 10/1 when successful in the 2019 Melbourne Cup when ridden by Craig Williams.{{cite web |url=https://www.7news.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vow-and-declare-wins-the-2019-melbourne-cup-c-541170.amp|title=Vow And Declare wins 2019 Melbourne Cup|date=5 November 2019 |publisher=7news.com.au|access-date=6 November 2019}}

Following a 5th in The Bart Cummings and a 6th in the Caulfield Cup, finishing both within 2 lengths 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.racenet.com.au/news/connections-declare-2019-melbourne-cup-winner-back-to-his-best-20221010 | title=Vow and Declare aiming to become a multiple Melbourne Cup winner | date=11 October 2022 }} He was placed 10th, 8.7 lengths behind the winner Gold Trip.{{cite web | url=https://www.punters.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-results/ | title=Melbourne Cup Results 2023 }}