Australian connections back older model Vauban to drive Melbourne Cup ambitions

Australian Bloodstock director Luke Murrell is not afraid to take a decent punt on overseas stayers in his quest for more Melbourne Cup glory.

Usually, though, the horse is younger than seven-year-old Vauban.

Vauban storms down the outside to win the Sky High Stakes at Rosehill on March 15 with Tim Clark in the saddle.Credit: Getty Images

“We’ve only bought a couple of expensive ones like him at that level, and they’ve always been three or four-year-olds,” Murrell said.

“This one was older, but it’s probably like buying the Camry off the one-owner lady that’s got only 20,000kms on it, even though it’s 10 years old.

“When you look at his record, he’d won eight of 21, and he was always a tough, sound horse, because those VRC protocols are ridiculous, so for him to pass them, he’s very sound.”

Murrell and fellow Australian Bloodstock founder Jamie Lovett have built their syndication company on buying the right horse and giving clients a shot at the Melbourne Cup, and other features along the way.

Protectionist put them on the map with his dominant Cup win in 2014 and Gold Trip, which cost more than $2 million, repaid them with victory in 2022.

Vauban, though, is a new direction for Australian Bloodstock, which went halves with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in a purchase believed to be close to $2 million after last year’s Cup.

Gold Trip takes out the Melbourne Cup in 2022 in the Australian Bloodstock silks.Credit: Getty Images

Under the guidance of champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins, Vauban twice failed to handle the occasion of the Melbourne Cup, finishing 14th and 11th, as favourite. It meant some questioned the gamble of buying him to race on in Australia.

A patient approach, though, helped the French-bred gelding fire first up in the group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) two weeks ago at Rosehill. Despite getting worked up and having to be shoved into the gates by several attendants, Vauban produced a sharp finish to come from last and edge out Arapaho on a day temperatures hit the mid-30s.

He surged into favouritism for the Melbourne Cup and set up a fascinating clash with 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Dubai Honour in the $1.5 million group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) on Saturday at Rosehill.

Murrell was relieved but not surprised by the first-up effort.

“When we bought him, we knew we were buying something with one or two warts, but at the same time, people forget he was rated the No.1 staying horse in the world at stages over the last couple of years,” he said.

“And as it stands, he’s been favourite for the Melbourne Cup for three years. I don’t think any horse has been that, apart from maybe Makybe Diva.

“We copped plenty of criticism for buying him and, obviously, he was a big spruik and hype horse, but what he did didn’t surprise me because he showed that last year, that he could run home in those kinds of sectionals. And I think he will be even better when he gets a proper tempo.

“He’s a group 1-winning hurdler over there [Europe], and he’s obviously a group 1 flat horse, so just an elite horse who, like many of us, has got plenty of head noises.”

The Tancred was the initial target with Vauban, and he was a $4.20 second elect behind Dubai Honour ($3.10) with Sportsbet. Murrell’s only concern was how he would bounce into the run.

“Hopefully it didn’t take too much out of him,” he said of the first-up win. “It was a really hot day and he played up like a pork chop. If he didn’t have the first-up run, I’d say he was a good thing. It’s just how much did that take out of him first up? But this is the one we want to win, so fingers crossed.”

A shot at the Sydney Cup (3200m) in two weeks appears unlikely, but connections have not ruled out a run in the $5 million Queen Elizabeth at 2400m.

“If he runs really well here, there’s every chance he could back up, but in the back of everyone’s mind is you want to try and win a Melbourne Cup,” he said.

“And if we go to the Sydney Cup, then you have to go to the paddock. It’s very hard, especially for older horses, to come back and do a pre-season and have the miles in your legs for a Melbourne Cup.

“But he’s definitely a proper group 1 weight-for-age horse, so there’s plenty of options for us.”

Vauban is the first horse Australian Bloodstock has raced with the Waterhouse-Bott stable

“We were trying to buy him and the other one that come out with him,” he said. “But there had been other interest and through the pipeline we heard it was Gai, so rather than try to outbid each other, we teamed up.

“We were going to have one or two there for a while and things haven’t worked out, but we agreed on this one.”