04/11/2024. Melbourne Cup (AUS): Vauban vs Absurde vs Saint George… 05/11/2024 the race

 
 

Willie Mullins column: Melbourne Cup runners Vauban and Absurde


By Willie Mullins – 12:21 · MON November 04, 2024
 

We’ve done things differently with Vauban and Absurde this time around ahead of the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

I’m not sure being in quarantine for so long last time suited them so we’ve gone down a different route and we went out on the last shift which travelled to Australia.

I raced them more this year too, so they had nothing to do down there other than freshen up and get ready for the race. It’s all gone well.

The weather has been so up and down. When I went out two weeks ahead of the race it was 14 degrees but felt like eight, David Casey told me the day before it was 32 and blasting hot.

Our Irish horses aren’t used to anything like that, it’s very hard for them to race at 30 degrees which it was at the time the Cup was run in 2023.

This time thankfully it’s forecast to be a little cooler which will help.

Vauban’s form this year has been fantastic including behind Kyprios in the Irish St Leger and I loved what Absurde did on his last run at Chester, settling in behind, getting one gap and taking it.

We know he has the speed and stamina for this race and Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride and he’s won two Melbourne Cups so hopefully we have the right man in the saddle.

With the weight he has to carry it’s very hard to find the right jockey with the big-race experience, while William Buick, who rides Vauban, has been riding great all year.

I’m very happy with both horses, they’re in great shape, and I’m happy with their draws too. We have no excuses on that front.

After last year we wanted another go at the race with both horses and we’re looking forward to Tuesday.

 

 

Vauban

Age 6 (Foaled 25th March 2018)
Trainer W P Mullins
Sex Gelding
Sire Galiway
Dam Waldfest
Owner Mrs S Ricci
 
 
Date Pos BHA Type Course Distance Going Class Starting Price
15/09/24 2/6 115 FLAT Curragh 1m 6f Good 1 8/1
23/08/24 1/9 112 FLAT York 2m 56y Good (Good to Firm in places) 1 11/2
20/07/24 3/10 113 FLAT Curragh 1m 6f 16y Good (Good to Yielding in places) 1 11/8
20/06/24 4/9 114 FLAT Royal Ascot 2m 3f 210y Good to Firm 1 13/2
17/05/24 2/6 114 FLAT York 1m 5f 188y Good (Good to Firm in places) 1 7/2
07/08/23 1/8 114 FLAT Naas 1m 3f 202y Soft (Yielding in places) 1 4/6
20/06/23 1/16 101 FLAT Royal Ascot 1m 6f 34y Good (Good to Soft in places) 2 1/1
28/04/23 2/6 160 HURDLE Punchestown 2m Yielding (Good tio Yielding in places) 1 10/3
14/03/23 4/7 160 HURDLE Cheltenham 2m 87y Soft 1 16/1
05/02/23 3/5 160 HURDLE Leopardstown 2m Yielding (Good to Yielding in places) 1 9/2
29/12/22 2/5 156 HURDLE Leopardstown 2m Soft (Yielding in places) 1 11/4
30/04/22 1/6 152 HURDLE Punchestown 2m Yielding 1 4/11
18/03/22 1/12 146 HURDLE Cheltenham 2m 179y Good to Soft (Soft in places) 1 6/4
05/02/22 1/9 - HURDLE Leopardstown 2m Yielding 1 9/4
31/12/21 2/20 - HURDLE Punchestown 1m 7f 120y Heavy - 4/9
19/07/21 1/6 - FLAT Vichy 1m 3f 204y Heavy - 13/2
27/06/21 1/7 - FLAT Lyon-Parilly 1m 2f 205y Soft - 9/2
17/05/21 4/9 - FLAT Chantilly 1m 3f 204y Good to Soft - 9/1
18/04/21 4/10 - FLAT ParisLongchamp 1m 2f 96y Good to Soft - 25/1
font : Sporting Life
 
………………………………………………………………………………
 

Vauban back in Australia for Melbourne Cup redemption as jockey plans are confirmed for Willie Mullins contenders

Vauban: finished 14th when sent off favourite in last year’s Melbourne CupCredit: Patrick McCann

The Willie Mullins team believe they have unfinished business in the Lexus Melbourne Cup after Vauban and Absurde arrived in Australia for another crack at the country’s most famous race.

Vauban was sent off the 9-2 favourite at Flemington last year but could finish only 14th and while Absurde fared better in seventh, he was still five and a half lengths behind the winner Without A Fight.

The sense of regret still simmers as the pair settled into the familiar surroundings at Werribee, having travelled over with Jan Brueghel and Kinesiology.

Speaking to racing.com, Mullins’ assistant David Casey said: “We were very keen to come back with both horses. Absurde ran really well in seventh and had been on the pace when everything involved came from way off the pace, so on the day we got the tactics wrong with both horses.

“We felt we left something behind with Vauban as well and he didn’t give his true running. His owners Rich and Susannah Ricci were very keen to come back and have another go and we think he’s better than he showed last year. Hopefully we’ll be proved right.”

Vauban was ridden by Ryan Moore last year, but William Buick is set to continue his association with the six-year-old having been on board for his last two starts when winning the Lonsdale Cup at York and finishing second to star stayer Kyprios in the Irish St Leger.

Vauban, who has arrived in Australia later this time, is the 7-1 second favourite for the Melbourne Cup on November 5, behind unbeaten St Leger winner Jan Brueghel at 6-1.

Kerrin McEvoy has got the call for 14-1 third favourite Absurde, who was partnered by Zac Purton last year.

“They seemed to travel very well, they’ve been here before and know what it’s like,” said Casey.

“Since they’ve arrived in Werribee they’ve been very good. Vauban has put back on everything he lost and the other guy has put on most of it. They’ve done a bit of a hack and a canter and we’re delighted with them.

“We went a different route last year with Vauban because he had to qualify and he did that after Ascot at Naas and then we wanted to make sure we were able to get him here.

“With Absurde, we were originally thinking of coming for the Caulfield Cup [on Saturday] but when we shelved that plan after winning at Chester, we decided to go straight in.”


 

Lexus Melbourne Cup (4.00 Flemington, November 5)

Paddy Power: 6 Jan Brueghel, 7 Vauban, 9 Warmonger, 12 Absurde, Circle Of Fire, 16 bar

font : Racing Post

……………………………………………………………

 

LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP 2024

3:00 PM 3200 3YO+ G1 – Track RatingGood 4
 
Weather

 
 
1
Silk
9. ABSURDE Rtg 79T: W Mullins   J: K McEvoy (52.5kg)
 
2
Silk
1. VAUBAN Rtg 89T: W Mullins   J: W Buick (55.5kg)
 
3
Silk
22. SAINT GEORGE Rtg 82T: C Maher   J: T Schiller (50kg)
 

The Melbourne Cup. Plenty of betting angles as usual, with one being whether BUCKAROO (2) will run 3200m strongly. Gelded this campaign, he’s been outstanding in defeat at his past two starts, nosed out by Via Sistina in the G1 Turnbull Stakes before charging into second in the G1 Caulfield Cup. That looked a perfect Cup trial, the gamble is whether that translates to two miles. VAUBAN (1) returns to Flemington having started favourite in this race last year and failing. He’s coming off a tough second to a superstar in Kyprios and if he handles the occasion, he’ll just about win. INTERPRETATION (18) has a sense of timing. He’s flown home at his past two and was excellent from a long way back here last year. KOVALICA (5) is very interesting out to a trip, which we haven’t seen since his G1 Queensland Derby win. He’s got the ability. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (13) and SEA KING (15) were both excellent at their local debuts and come here with genuine chances.

Brought to you by:  Racing And Sports