Vauban Books His Ticket to Melbourne Cup

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday August 8

Already one of the favourites for this year’s Melbourne Cup, the Willie Mullins trained stayer Vauban secured his place at Flemington when scoring a powerful win in the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Naas in Ireland overnight.

A Listed winner in France at three, Vauban then won a string of top class jumps races before switching back to flat racing to win a handicap race at Royal Ascot by seven and a half lengths.

Advertisement

He lived up to that form in his first try at a Group flat race, racing to a length and a half victory under Colin Keane as a short priced favourite.

“I wasn't worried about the drop in trip for Vauban as he'd won a Listed event in France a couple of years ago over a mile and a half and, although further suits him better, we were confident enough it wouldn't pose a problem. Colin (Keane) said it was straightforward. They went a nice even gallop, which suited him and a little bit of juice in the ground suited him well and he picked up well in the straight,” said assistant trainer David Casey.

“He had to run in the first three today to tick that box to pass the ballot for the Melbourne Cup, so he's done that now. Willie will decide in the next few weeks what he's going to do with him.”

Vauban is one of 13 stakes-winners by Galileo stallion Galiway and is bred to stay all day being from Waldfest, a Hurricane Run mare that won at 2750m and is from the family of Arc winner Waldgeist and St Leger winner Masked Marvel.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Go Racing Hoping for Big Day at Randwick
New Zealand syndicator Go Racing will be out to plunder the riches on offer at Randwick on Saturday, with their silks to be represented in two of the meeting’s key races.
Henry Dwyer Secures Top Lot on Day 4 Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
Promising Wootton Bassett two-year-old SKIATHOS topped the fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at 150,000 guineas with robust trade resulting in a clearance rate of 90% for the session. Turnover for the sale exceeded 33,000,000 guineas for only the fourth time in its history with a fifth and final session still to come on Friday, followed immediately by the Tattersalls Aut
Vauban - A 7yo wins the shortest race he's ever contested
Vauban can only be described as a most remarkable horse and just to add to a story that appears far from finished, his first-up win in the 2000 metre Group III Sky High Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday as a seven-year-old came in the shortest race he’s ever contested.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes
Derby Day! It's the race day for purists, when the biggest and best pedigrees tend to be on show, and their merits are tested over all distances.
Yulong Purchase into Star Kiwi Trained Filly
Yulong has purchased a 50 percent share in outstanding prospect Well Written with welcome news that she will remain in the care of Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh for the rest of her racing career.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Four heats for juveniles run at Warwick Farm on Friday and we saw winners by Trapeze Artist, Tassort, Exceed and Excel and first season sire Wild Ruler, while from a pedigree perspective a Godolphin filly that ran second was the obvious highlight.
Tabitha Ridley-Thomas Joins Magic Millions Bloodstock Team
Australia's leading thoroughbred auctioneer Magic Millions has boosted it's impressive Bloodstock Team with news Tabitha Ridley-Thomas has this week joined the company.
MRC locks in leadership as Tanya Fullarton named CEO and Jonathan Munz joins as Vice Chairman
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed two major leadership appointments, naming Tanya Fullarton as Chief Executive Officer and leading business person, owner, and breeder Jonathan Munz as Vice Chairman.
One To Watch – Wyong
With her half-brother Private Eye set to line up in Saturday's $3m ATC Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick, 3yo Shalaa (IRE) filly Confidentiality broke her maiden on Thursday at Wyong at just her second start for trainer Joe Pride.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 30
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.