Willie Mullins column: Melbourne Cup runners Vauban and Absurde
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 |
Vauban back in Australia for Melbourne Cup redemption as jockey plans are confirmed for Willie Mullins contenders
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
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LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP 2024
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.
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