Before he was a Melbourne Cup winner, Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) was 'Frank', a colt with a certain charm and character that Rosie Fisher formed a strong bond with during yearling preparation at Kitchwin Hills three years ago.
Vision emerged on social media this week of Rosie trying to coax Frank into a day of yearling prep from the paddock around early 2017, with the colt showing about as much enthusiasm for the task as a teenager on a Sunday morning.
It provided a window of insight into the level of care and dedication that goes into every horse and the amount of people that are involved in making a Melbourne Cup winner.
On Tuesday, as a nation roared in the most thrilling finish to a Cup in years, it was Rosie who was arguably yelling the loudest, at home watching on TV as 'Frank' became the first locally-bred horse to win Australia's most famous race in 10 years.
"It was the most excited I have ever been for a race," she told TDN AusNZ. "It was absolutely amazing watching him. When he was there at the finish and he put his head down and came back and won, it was just an awesome experience.
"It makes it a million times more exciting and special than just a regular horse you might be watching. It completely changes the experience."
"It makes it a million times more exciting and special than just a regular horse you might be watching." - Rosie Fisher
It was a victory notable for its determination, with both Vow And Declare and jockey Craig Williams digging in for the fight along the rail, battling back from a deficit halfway down the straight to win the great race.
It was that grit, plus a useful dose of strong character, which was a hallmark of Frank as a yearling, according to Rosie.
Vow And Declare as a yearling
"He always showed a bit of character. But when he got into prep, he had a bit more grit. He was very laid back in general," she said.
"He was easy to work with but at the same time had that extra bit of personality that he was going to get on and do it, get his head down."
"He was easy to work with but at the same time had that extra bit of personality that he was going to get on and do it." - Rosie Fisher
While Rosie has now moved on from working at Kitchwin Hills to a career in nursing, she recalls the bonds she formed with horses when working in the yearling preparation stage.
"They come in for about eight to 10 weeks, so you spend every day with them. You really get to know their personalities and they are all obviously so different. It’s awesome to have that connection with them and watch them go on and do so well," she said.
"There's normally a couple in each prep that I found I really bonded with. If you have that good reaction, or good relationship with them, you spend a bit more time working with them, especially at the sales. If you have that bond and they work well with you, you end up with more time leading them at the sales."
The qualities of a top racehorse
Vow And Declare didn’t get what owner Paul Lanskey wanted for him when offered in the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2017 Inglis Classic Sale and passed in short of his $60,000 reserve, but with the help of trainer Danny O'Brien and Geoff Corrigan, a syndicate of owners was put together to buy the colt and race him with the Lanskey family.
Connections of Vow And Declare
Rosie had to say her goodbyes to Frank and hoped that the time she spent with him helped him on the road to further success.
She couldn't have dreamt that a couple of years later, he would be the toast of a nation.
Watching him ready himself for Tuesday's race, she noticed the same qualities as she did in Frank in the paddocks at Kitchwin Hills.
"They've had a lot more experience and training after we say goodbye to them but those characteristics do seem to shine through. Seeing him in the parade ring beforehand, with his head down and getting on with it like he always did," she said.
"Seeing him in the parade ring beforehand, with his head down and getting on with it like he always did." - Rosie Fisher
Rosie had little time to celebrate the victory as she was preparing for a night shift in her new profession. But she remains connected to the horses which give her so much joy.
Vow And Declare in the tie-ups before winning the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup
"I was back at Kitchwin on the weekend and there is nothing quite like working with horses, having that connection with them and watching them race. I was missing the whole experience. It’s an amazing industry to be in," she said.
"Kitchwin do such a great job with these horses. They are well-educated right from when they are foals through the weaning process and then yearling preps. It’s sets them up well for a promising career if they have the ability to go on with it."
Nature backs up nurture
Results this spring certainly back that up, with Kitchwin Hills foaled and raised horses having won Australia's two richest races, the Melbourne Cup and The Everest (with Yes Yes Yes (Rubick)).
Nurture, like that of Rosie Fisher, has played its part, but so too has nature according to stud manager Mick Malone.
Mick Malone (left)
Malone said a 21.5 trillion tonne deposit of calcium in the Isis Valley has made Kitchwin Hills a 'limestone-empowered big race thoroughbred nursery' as the only horse stud in the Valley.
He points to the fact that calcium plays a significant role in the production and development of racehorses.
"Over 20 years these paddocks have kept producing outstanding racehorses. From the first two yearlings born here in Oomph and Fair Embrace, to Golden Slipper, Everest and now Cup winners, this is special horse country," he said.
"We know that the incredible strike rate of horses raised on this farm is in a large part due to what nature provides in this valley."
