The more things change, the more they stay the same

“The more things change, the more they stay the same!” French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, 1849.

IT’S a case of déjà vu with a twist for David Moran heading into tomorrow night’s Victoria Cup.

This time last year Moran was devising a plan to beat his main danger in the Grand Circuit event.

Moran was set to partner his stable star Lochinvar Art, with his biggest threat coming from the Anthony Butt-driven King Of Swing.

History shows Lochinvar Art won the Group One, with King Of Swing runner-up

Fast forward 12 months and Moran is again working on a strategy to beat his closest rival…the Butt-driven Amazing Dream.

A major difference this time around is Moran will hold the reins behind King Of Swing.

“Last year I wanted King Of Swing beaten, now I’ll be doing everything I can to see him win,” Moran said. “A lot can happen in 12 months.

“Yeah, it is ironic in that scenario has changed, but the same difference is Ants is driving the one to beat!

“With a bit of luck history can repeat itself in my favour.”

For all his class, King Of Swing will need some luck after drawing the outside of the second row.

Despite his difficult starting position the son of Rocknroll Hanover is a $2.50 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds.

Amazing Dream, which has fared better in barrier five, is listed at $3.80.

“The draw hasn’t helped, but he is good enough to overcome it,” Moran said. “If Amazing Dream gets to the front and has an easy time of it, it will be hard to see her being beaten.”

Should Moran emerge triumphant it will be the first time a driver as won consecutive Cups with different pacers since the feature’s inception in 1974.

As it stands only Brian Hancock and Vin Knight have completed successive wins in the Cup.

Hancock notched a hat-trick with Koala King in 1978, ’79 and ’80, while Knight and Popular Alm scored in ’82 and ’83 before Knight repeated the dose with Bag Limit in ’87 and ’88.

Amazingly Sinbad Bay and Desperate Comment won two Cups with different drivers.

Brain Gath substituted for the suspended Knight behind Sinbad Bay in 1989 before Knight took the reins in 1991.

Desperate Comment was driven Peter Jones in 1995 and by Graeme Lang the following year.