Vow and Declare prevails in Melbourne Cup

Vow and Declare, second in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup on Oct. 19, won the Melbourne Cup in a blanket finish at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday in Australia.

Vow and Declare (10-1) was always near the front and prevailed by a head over 25-1 Master of Reality, who was disqualified and placed fourth for causing interference after drifting in near the finish.

Prince of Arran (16-1) was promoted from third to second, with 14-1 Il Paradiso placed third. Nine of the 24 runners were within two lengths of the lead at the finish of the two-mile turf race, which was worth $5.3 million.

Finche, the 15-2 favorite finished seventh, while Cross Counter, who won the 2018 Melbourne Cup for English trainer Charlie Appleby, finished eighth.

Frankie Dettori was given a nine-day suspension for this ride on Master of Reality.

Vow and Declare was a Group 3 winner at Eagle Farm Racecourse in June.

Ridden by Craig Williams for trainer Danny O’Brien, Vow and Declare, a 4-year-old gelding by Declaration of War, was the first Australian-trained winner since 2016 in a race with increased participation from European trainers in recent years.

Master of Reality is trained by Joseph O’Brien of Ireland, whose famous father, Aidan, trains Il Paradiso. Prince of Arran is trained in England by Charlie Fellowes but has raced in Australia this fall.