Following two failed attempts to hand Willie Mullins an elusive Melbourne Cup success, Vauban’s chance at landing Australia’s most coveted prize appeared to be over. Trailing home in 14th when sent off as favourite in 2023, he fared only marginally better when 11th in the 2024 edition.
Behind stablemate Absurde on both occasions, Mullins appeared to rule out a third crack at the prize for his dual-purpose star. Earlier in the week, all the talk had centred around the likelihood of a return to hurdling in the current season, with a possible tilt at the Stayers’ Hurdle touted as a long-term goal. However, things can change quickly in the racing world.
Vauban – the A$2 million Horse
Despite those Melbourne Cup disappointments, Vauban’s reputation appears to remain intact, certainly in the eyes of Australian Bloodstock and the training duo of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. Undeterred by those Flemington flops, the powerful forces pooled resources to shell out A$2 million (£1.02m) to purchase Vauban from Rich Ricci.
Speaking on behalf of Australian Bloodstock, Jamie Lovett confirmed the purchase and outlined his hopes for the future, when stating, “I’ve always been very forgiving of any horse that comes down and doesn’t always perform off the aircraft as it’s not easy to do. We’re just hoping we can have him return to the form he showed in the northern hemisphere last season, and we’re excited to see what lies ahead.”
What lies ahead may include a third outing in the richest two-mile turf handicap on the planet, with Lovett adding, “…he could show up in a number of races in the Sydney autumn, and then the Melbourne Cup is the goal. He’s had two tries at it, so he’s going have to defy history third time around, but we feel very confident he’s the right horse.”
Why So Much?
A price tag of A$2 million is no small change for any horse, particularly a gelding such as Vauban, who offers no residual value as a stallion. So, what persuaded the new owners to break the bank to secure his services? Put simply, if we ignore those no-shows at Flemington, the son of Galiway is a seriously talented performer. In 21 career starts, the six-year-old has picked up three wins over hurdles and five on the flat, with highlights including:
- Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle (2022)
- Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle (2022)
- Grade 1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (2022)
- Copper Horse Handicap (2023)
- Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes (2023)
- Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (2024)
When taken together, Vauban’s 21 appearances at the track have produced over £840,000 in total prize money. If he continues in the same vein in the coming seasons, he may go some way towards repaying the faith of his new connections. And he is certainly in the right hands to do so.
Success Could Be Coming in 2025
In Gai Waterhouse, Vauban joins one of the most legendary trainers in the history of Australian racing. Since gaining a licence in 1992, Waterhouse has picked up a staggering 160 Group 1 winners, including the 2013 edition of the Melbourne Cup. Rather than jetting in from Ireland, Vauban will now have all the time in the world to become familiar with the sun on his back. Will it be a case of third-time lucky in 2025?
