2024 Melbourne Cup second favourite Vauban settling into Werribee quarantine centre
Lessons learned last year have been put into place as Irish trainer Willie Mullins prepares last year’s beaten favourite Vauban for a second shot at the Melbourne Cup.
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Things will be much different for top Irish stayer Vauban’s second crack at the Melbourne Cup.
Vauban started as the $5.50 favourite before finishing 14th to Without A Fight in last year’s Melbourne Cup but trainer Willie Mullins has changed things for the gelding’s latest tilt.
The jockey will be one of the alterations for the 2024 Melbourne Cup.
Star international rider Ryan Moore rode Vauban last year but William Buick, who has ridden the seven-year-old at his last two starts, will ride the gelding this year.
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Mullins’ travelling foreman David Casey said a tougher lead-up program, comprising Group 1 and Group 2 races could lead to a fitter Vauban for his latest shot at the $8m showpiece.
“With Vauban, we went a bit of a different route,” Casey said.
“He had to qualify last year so he did that after Ascot at Naas and once we got him qualified, we just wanted to make sure we’d get him here.
“It ended up being a long time between runs.
“So we decided to run him more often this year and, hopefully, send him down here a lot fitter than last year with those runs under his belt.
“It obviously didn’t work last year so we thought we’d try something different this year.”
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Ladbrokes has Vauban as the $9 second favourite in Melbourne Cup betting while Mullins’ other runner Absurde is a $17 chance.
Casey said Vauban and Absurde, who finished seventh in last year’s Melbourne Cup, had done everything right as they settled into the Werribee quarantine centre.
The pair arrived with Melbourne Cup favourite Jan Brueghel on Saturday evening and hit the track for a leisurely outing on Monday morning.
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“Both horses seemed to travel very well,” Casey said.
“They’ve been here before and they know what it’s like.
“They ate and drank plenty on the plane and since they’ve arrived at Werribee, both horses have been very good.
“Vauban has put back on everything that he lost and the other guy has put back on most of it.
“They haven’t done a whole lot since they’ve arrived, only a hack and a canter, but we’re delighted with both horses so far.”
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Casey confirmed Mullins had booked Kerrin McEvoy to ride Absurde in the Melbourne Cup.
Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton was aboard the son of Fastnet Rock in the 2023 Cup.
McEvoy has won three Melbourne Cups, starting with Brew in 2000 before winning in 2016 and 2018 on Almandin and Cross Counter respectively.
Originally published as 2024 Melbourne Cup second favourite Vauban settling into Werribee quarantine centre
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