Vauban - A 7yo wins the shortest race he's ever contested

Craig Tompson - Saturday March 15

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.

vauban winning the Sky High Stakes. Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au

It’s a storied career so let’s do it in dot form:

  • June 2021 – won his maiden. In France. Over 1m3f - 2200m.
  • July 2021 – won his first stakes race at start four - Prix Frederic de Lagrange (LR) over 1m4f – 2400m.
  • Feb 2022 won his first hurdle race at start six over 2m – 3200m.
  • March 18, 2022 won the JCB Triumph Hurdle in England at the Cheltenham Festival over 2m1f – 3400m (Yes – nearly 3 years to the day. Over the hurdles!)
  • November 2023 – finished 14th in the Melbourne Cup after starting favourite when overworking himself and sweating up in the pre-race parade.
  • June 2024 – ran 4th to the mighty Kyprios in the Group I Ascot Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
  • November 2024 – finished 8th in the Melbourne Cup as $8 third favourite when overworking himself and sweating up in the pre-race parade.
  • November 2024 – Australian Bloodstock purchase him for $2million to remain in Australia and transfer him to the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable with a record of eight wins from 21 starts – five on the flat, three over hurdles.

In Australia we’ve come to know him as a gun European stayer that falls apart on the big occasion.

True enough given his Melbourne Cup parades and results.

The Waterhouse/Bott team did everything in their power to solve those anxieties, taking him to the races several times just to parade before the crowd and have an exhibition gallop.

You can do more, however on the evidence, as they headed onto the track before the Sky High Stakes it had counted for nought.

On the toe, sweating freely, with one commentator describing him as an ice-cream.

Advertisement

But class is class.

Settling second last and looking uncomfortable, he shifted to last and looked more comfortable.

And that’s where he stayed until the 300m mark, well into the straight, where quality and stamina took a hold, and he hit the line as best as he could. It was enough to nose out Arapaho.

They’ll resume hostilities in the Group I Tancred Stakes on March 29. A race Arapaho won in 2023.

Vauban is now equal favourite at $3.50 with Dubai Honour. Arapaho on the second line at $6.

It'll be keenly watched.

Advertisment

Race Result - Asahi Super Dry Sky High Stakes Gr3 2000m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 2:00.93
1
Vauban
- 7g Galiway (GB) x Waldfest (GB) (Hurricane Run (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
2
0.1
Arapaho
- 8g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Alzubra (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 58
3
1.3
Lindermann
- 5g Lonhro (AUS) x Self Esteem (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: N Rawiller 58
4
3.3
Circle Of Fire
- 5h Almanzor (FR) x Fiery Sunset (GB) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J R Collett 58
5
9.4
Kinesiology
- 4h Study Of Man (IRE) x Kinaesthesia (GB) (Sea The Stars (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
6
11.3
Land Legend
- 5g Galileo (IRE) x Landikusic (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58
More Reading...
G1 Stradbroke Next for War Machine
Hot favourite War Machine made light work of his rivals in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday and it is now all systems go as the four-year-old son of Harry Angel (IRE) heads towards the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.  
Rosemont Thirty for Thirty Launch for Zoustar's Best Son
Rosemont Stud are thrilled to announce the brilliant, all-the-way winner of the $1M Gr.1 W.F.A William Reid Stakes, SCHWARZ has retired & will stand at their Gnarwarre base in 2025.
Antino King of Doomben with Track Record Breaking Victory
Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday in track record time.
Almanzor Keeps Winners Coming for Moody- Coleman
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Roadcone led his rivals a merry dance when winning the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday, bringing up a treble for the stable and jockey Luke Cartwright.
Flashy Grey Kingman Colt Wins Irish 2,000 Guineas
Juddmonte Farms have been firing through spring of the euro flat season and they produced the quinella overnight at The Curragh with Kingman colts finishing one and two in the Group I Irish 2,000 Guineas (1m) and leading the way was Field of Gold, who was purchased as a weanling  for €530,000.
First Season Highlights – These Young Stallions Had Results of Note
At the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale it was Anamoe that made the biggest splash which is as it should be given his profile and he duly did it again at the Gold Coast on Sunday with the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale proving a showcase for his offspring.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 24
Here is the full list of 102 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Philia Highlights Oaks Claims With Tenacious The Roses Win
Successful last time out in the Listed Princess Stakes when becoming the 30th stakes winner for her sire All Too Hard, the David Vandyke trained Philia went four from four this time in, leading through to win the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
Mixed Fortunes for Aussie Connected Sprinters
There were two important sprint races run overnight in the UK and Ireland and both had key runners with strong Australian interest in Zoustar mare Mgheera and the former Waterhouse  Bott trained colt Storm Boy.
One To Watch - Belmont
The Belmont meeting in Perth was abandoned on Saturday after just five races, but that was enough time for punters to get a look at a two year-old by Too Darn Hot (GB) that is the last foal of a sensational WA blue hen who sadly passed away last year.