Vauban unlikely to race before the Melbourne Cup
Willie Mullins, trainer of Melbourne Cup favorite Vauban, has signaled that the talented gelding is unlikely to race again before the prestigious event on the first Tuesday of November.
Vauban secured a spot in the Melbourne Cup after a notable victory in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Naas.
Mullins revealed that jockey Ryan Moore is keen to ride Vauban, and the horse’s connections are supportive of the decision.
“I don’t predict he will want another run… I’d like to go there on what we’ve done now.” Mullins stated on Nick Luck’s podcast.
The dominant nature of Vauban’s recent Ballyroan win caught Mullins by surprise, admitting, “Probably the manner in which he won surprised me.”
The focus now is on preparing Vauban for the Melbourne Cup, with Mullins expressing confidence in the horse’s ability to perform well over the longer 3200-meter distance.
The path to the Melbourne Cup was always in consideration, as Mullins noted, “When we were buying him, we thought he could come back to the flat and be a Melbourne Cup horse.”
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