Vauban’s odds shorten for the Melbourne Cup
Irish trainer Willie Mullins says Vauban is his best chance and possibly the best he will ever have to win the Melbourne Cup.
Vauban came up with barrier three in the draw for Tuesday's Group 1 Handicap over 3200m and has shortened into $3.20, firming from $3.50 with betting sites before the final Melbourne Cup field was declared on Saturday.
Mullins' first assignment after flying in from Ireland on Saturday was to head to the Werribee International Horse Centre to watch over Vauban and stablemate Absurde do their final piece of fast work before Tuesday's race.
"I'm very pleased with both of them," Mullins said.
"Both horses seem good and well and sound.
"I think he's as good as Max Dynamite, maybe better, but we'll find that out on Tuesday.
"He's our strongest chance and may be my strongest chance ever."
Max Dynamite has been Mullins' best finish in the Melbourne Cup, running second to Prince Of Penzance in the 2015 edition.
Vauban heads the betting on the Melbourne Cup ahead of last year's winner Gold Trip at $4.40 after the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained galloper drew barrier two.
Besides Gold Trip, Maher and Eustace will be represented by Right You Are, Ashrun, Future History and Interpretation while the Chris Waller, who won the Cup with Verry Elleegant in 2021, will have four runners – Soulcombe, Sheraz, Magical Lagoon and More Felons.
Vow And Declare, the 2019 Cup winner, will line up for his fourth shot at the race and drew barrier 19.
He came from gate 21 when successful.
Damien Oliver, chasing a fourth Melbourne Cup in his last ride, will partner Alenquer , who drew barrier nine and is a $51 chance to give the champion jockey a fairytale result.
Trainer Mike Moroney said it will be special moment to be associated with Oliver at his last appearance in The Cup.
"It would great to be a part of his fairytale," Moroney said.
"I think this is his 32nd ride, I've had 24 runners, so we're both seasoned, you could say."
Moroney said this year's Cup looks a bit stronger than last year's edition having finished second with Emissary behind Goold Trip.
More Racing News
Sargent hoping Casual Connection can earn a Brisbane Cup berth
John Sargent is crossing his fingers that Casual Connection’s narrow victory at Randwick will give him a sufficient ratings boost to squeeze into the field for the Brisbane Cup. A renowned trainer of stayers, Sargent saddled up two runners in the two-mile race last year, Essential Sky who finished fifth and Outlandos ninth, and...
Scarlet Oak wins Roses to earn G1 Queensland Oaks favouritism
Chris Waller has labelled Scarlet Oak a “rising star” after the lightly raced filly staked her Group One Queensland Oaks claims with a classy win over stablemate Mare Of Mt Buller in the Doomben Roses. The filly has come a long way in a short time, making a winning debut in New Zealand in...
The Black Cloud descends on Randwick rivals
Having begun the day questioning how well The Black Cloud had come back this campaign, Joe Pride ended it by labelling her a stakes-class horse in the making. The Proven Thoroughbreds filly took her record to three wins from four starts with a rousing first-up victory in Saturday’s Taylor Construction Handicap (1000m)...
Le Ferrari leads home Lindsay Park quinella at Sandown
A return to Sandown has paid a dividend for Lindsay Park galloper Le Ferrari who led home a one-two finish for Ben, Will and J D Hayes. Le Ferrari over-ran stablemate Rheinberg to claim the Thoroughbred Club Of Australia Handicap (1400m) on Saturday. Ridden by Ben Allen, Le Ferrari ($10) overhauled Rheinberg ($7.50) in the final...
Queensland tilt among the options for Neasham 2YO
A belated shot at the Brisbane winter carnival is among the options for lightly raced filly Aemelius after she upstaged a handy field of two-year-olds to win the opening race at Randwick. Having just her second start, the Annabel Neasham-trained youngster, who started at $12 with betting sites, went back to last...
Bois D’Argent upsets rivals in G1 Doomben Cup
Trainer Annabel Neasham has landed a second victory in the Doomben Cup with a horse she said was well over the odds. Imported galloper Bois D’Argent held off a late bid from New Endeavour to follow the win of Zaaki for Neasham in 2021 in the Group 1 2000m weight-for-age contest. Ridden by Blake...
Trip test next for Lady In Pink
A return to Sandown has brought out the best in the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained Lady In Pink who will now be stepped up in trip for a race at Flemington. Lady In Pink took out the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1600m) on Saturday and will head to Flemington for a 2000m...
Timely Sandown double for Dan O’Sullivan
The Ballarat stable of Dan O’Sullivan is enjoying a purple patch of form in the metropolitan area which has included a race-to-race double at Sandown. O’Sullivan welcomed back to the winner’s enclosure Way Up High in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Handicap (2400m) before Matriarch Rose took out the Stow Solutions Handicap (1600m) on Saturday. The...
Resolute reason for Waller filly to come up Roses
It carries Group Two status, but The Roses will have a distinct Group One feel for trainer Chris Waller as he prepares to saddle up the first Australian runner for John Stewart’s Resolute Racing. The American business tycoon created headlines earlier this year when he announced his intention to make an audacious...
Final roll of the dice for Classic prospects at Randwick
An 1800-metre three-year-old race at Randwick is set to have a bearing on the upcoming Classic races in Queensland with the majority of runners holding a nomination for either the Oaks or Derby. Seventeen horses, four of them emergencies, have been accepted for Saturday’s Wilson Asset Management Handicap and only Invincible...