Irish trainer Willie Mullins declares Vauban and Absurde ready for the 2024 Melbourne Cup

Irish trainer Willie Mullins made a lightning visit to Werribee to view Vauban and Absurde and left a happy man as the pair gears up for another shot at the Melbourne Cup.

“We’re ready”.

Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins made the declaration after seeing Melbourne Cup contenders Vauban and Absurde at the Werribee quarantine centre on Tuesday morning.

Bad weather in Europe delayed Mullins’ trip to view his two travellers for a day, leaving him less than 24 hours in Melbourne before heading home to Ireland.

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Mullins liked what he saw after Vauban and Absurde had a light workout on the synthetic track.

“I think both horses are ready this minute to run,” Mullins said.

“That’s the way I wanted them.

“It’s just biding time now from here until Tuesday week.

“I think we’re ready. We’ll just keep the lid on.”

Mullins said lessons learned from last year’s Melbourne Cup disappointment spawned a rethink of the stayers’ preparations for their next shot at Australia’s greatest race.

Vauban started as the $5.50 favourite but finished 13 lengths from the winner Without A Fight in the 2023 Cup while Absurde finished seventh as a $9 chance.

Mullins said he decided to race Vauban through the European summer, running the seven-year-old against top stayers such as Kyprios and Tower Of London.

Dave Casey riding Vauban during trackwork at Werribee as he prepares for next month’s Melbourne Cup. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

According to Mullins, that approach ensured Vauban arrived in Melbourne much fitter than he did last year.

Vauban has come down here much fitter this year than last year.

“We had a different program for the summer and raced him all the way through, reckoning that I would have to bring him down here and just freshen him up and give him a blow out for the Cup,” Mullins said.

“I was easy on him last year thinking I would get him down here and get him ready down here.

“I didn’t see any benefit from it, especially on race day, as he’d been away from home far too long.

“We’ve decided to completely change tactics this year, hopefully it will work.”

Ciaron Maher’s Playoffs and Willie Mullins pair Absurde and Vauban stretch the legs out at Werribee this morning.

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Mullins said Absurde had matured since his last visit to Australia.

The son of Fastnet Rock had three hurdle starts in his homeland before embarking on his flat program, which included a last-start win in a Listed race in England in August.

“I think he’s in the right place as well,” Mullins said.

“I’m much happier with him this year because he seems more mature in his mind, watching him on the gallops this morning.

“He’s doing things of his own volition these days, so I’m really happy with him.”

Ladbrokes has Vauban on the third line of Melbourne Cup betting at $9 while Absurde is a $17 chance.

Originally published as Irish trainer Willie Mullins declares Vauban and Absurde ready for the 2024 Melbourne Cup