CUP WINNER PREPARES FOR AUTUMN

After finishing the spring on a high note, Danny O'Brien's Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare is back for this year's Autumn Carnival.

The veteran stayer, who took out the Group 2 Zipping Classic at the end of November, had a barrier trial at Geelong on Tuesday morning.

"He's come back very well," O'Brien said.

"He didn't have a long break; he ran in the Zipping Classic at the end of the spring. He's in great form, he's happy and well and we'll probably see him in the St George (Peter Young Stakes) at the end of February."

Beyond that, O'Brien said that Vow And Declare's program for the autumn will depend upon the weather.

"We don't want to send him up to Sydney if it's too wet, but we've got good options in Melbourne now that the Roy Higgins has been moved to the end of the autumn, there's even the Australian Cup if we wanted to keep him to 2000m," he said.

Fellow stayer El Patroness also trialled at Geelong and finished sixth in the opening heat behind I'm Thunderstruck.

The four-year-old mare hasn't raced since her comprehensive win in last year's ATC Oaks.

"She missed the spring with just a minor issue and she's had a good, long build-up over the summer," O'Brien explained.

"She was just there to stretch her legs today but both Damian Lane and I were very pleased with her.

"She probably goes to the races at Flemington on Lightning Stakes Day, we'll kick her off in a 1400-metre mares stakes race that day. She's been a while out, so we'll get one under her belt and see where she is."

O'Brien is likely to have Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Callsign Mav line up in the first Group 1 of the Melbourne autumn, the C.F. Orr Stakes at Sandown, on February 11.

The former New Zealander was the runner up to Mr Brightside in the second heat at Tuesday's trials.

"He seems to be in great shape and always runs well for us fresh," O'Brien said.

Young Werther is also likely to resume on Orr Stakes Day in the Carlyon Cup before potentially heading towards the Australian Cup.

By Ed Sadler for Racing.com

Pic by Racing Photos