Melbourne Cup ‘definitely the plan’ for Vauban after Royal Ascot run

Vauban, unplaced in the Melbourne Cup last year as favourite, is set to return for another crack at Australia’s greatest race.

Owner Rich Ricci has declared “Melbourne is definitely the plan” for Willie Mullins-trained stayer Vauban.

Vauban finished fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup (4000m) overnight at Royal Ascot behind champion Kyprios.

Vauban, unplaced in the Melbourne Cup last year as favourite, loomed to win the Gold Cup at the top of the straight but could not go with the extreme stayers.

“It’s encouraging for the season, we know now the extreme trip he doesn’t get, and we’re definitely going back to Melbourne, 100 per cent,” Ricci told Sky Sports Racing.

“Melbourne is definitely the plan and we’ll see what we do from here.”

* Five stars in contention for Horse of the Year

Kyprios regains his Gold Cup crown! @Ascot#RoyalAscotpic.twitter.com/j5R3iEbW0x

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 20, 2024

The Mullins-Ricci combination placed in the 2015 and 2017 Melbourne Cups with Max Dynamite.

Vauban was all the rage last year, especially after a dynamite Flemington track gallop seven days out from the Cup, but the stayer punctured on race day.

A hard dry track and hot conditions were attributed to the lacklustre performance.

American Ricci has unfinished business in Melbourne.

Vauban (second from right) runs fourth behind Kyprios (right).

* Hat-trick contender Who Dares returns to Flemington

“We do, we’ve been second, third, sixth, nowhere… we learned a lot last year, we’re going to change things up a bit this year,” Ricci said.

Vauban could spearhead a three-pronged Mullins assault on the Cup with Belloccio, winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot last Tuesday, and Absurde in line to travel to Australia.

Originally published as Melbourne Cup ‘definitely the plan’ for Vauban after Royal Ascot run