Dermot Weld has Vauban on top for the Melbourne Cup
Dermot Weld, who began the European invasion towards the Melbourne Cup 30 years ago, has his say on who will win Tuesday’s race.
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Melbourne Cup legend Dermot Weld has identified hot Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban as the clear horse to beat at Flemington on Tuesday, saying he has flown under the radar perfectly.
Weld famously opened the Melbourne Cup up to the world in 1993 when he became the first European trainer to win it with Vintage Crop, beginning what was the start of an invasion of horses.
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The master Irish trainer also won with Media Puzzle in 2002, making him part of Melbourne Cup folklore.
After seeing first hand Vauban’s development in Europe under Willie Mullins, Weld said the horse has been perfectly set for the Melbourne Cup.
“He is a good horse and he will be very tough to beat,” Weld told Racenet.
“I’m telling you, he is very good that horse.
“There are really very few internationals, there are reasons for that and it is mostly because a lot of the good, staying horses are being bought by Australians to race there.”
Weld originally nominated his up-and-coming stayer Harbour Wind for this year’s Melbourne Cup, but opted not to bring him Down Under in 2023.
With international travel now returning to normal, Weld said he was keen to run again in the Cup, where he would look to win for the third time.
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“Covid has been a problem for a few years, but if I get the right horse again, I’d love to come down,” he said.
Vintage Crop’s jockey Mick Kinane echoed Weld’s thoughts, saying Vauban was a clear pick of the international runners.
Kinane enjoyed spring success of his own this year, after buying Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior as a yearling for the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
“What Vauban did at Ascot was amazing,” Kinane said.
“He will be very hard to beat in the Cup if he produces that again.”
Originally published as Dermot Weld has Vauban on top for the Melbourne Cup
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