Australian Bloodstock confirms Vauban purchase

A third tilt at the Melbourne Cup is back on the agenda for Vauban after confirmation the gelding had been sold to Australian Bloodstock in partnership with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

The Rich Ricci-owned star has failed to shine in the past two Melbourne Cups, finishing a disappointing 14th when sent off favourite for the race in 2023 before only bettering that by three places when midfield at Flemington last week.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding was booked to return to Ireland, with the Closutton-based handler mooting a potential campaign geared towards having a crack at the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

But Vauban’s status with Racing Australia, which remains listed as ‘active’, has already been changed to being stabled with Waterhouse and Bott at Flemington.

Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett confirmed in an interview with Nick Luck overnight that the son of Galiway would be set for a third tilt at the Melbourne Cup, a race Australian Bloodstock has previously won with imports Protectionist and Gold Trip.

“We’re obviously delighted to be teaming up with Gai,” Lovett said on Luck’s Daily Podcast.

“Gai was very keen on the horse and the horse obviously speaks for himself.

“We just had the opportunity to team up with Gai and Adrian Bott on this particular horse and he’s not one that is hard to identify.

“I’ve always been very forgiving of any horses that come down and don’t always perform off the aircraft, it’s not easy to do.

“We’re just hoping we can have him return to the form that he showed in the Northern Hemisphere last season, and we’re excited to see what lies ahead.

“The Melbourne Cup is obviously the goal. He’s had two tries at it, so he’s going to have to defy history to do it third time around, but we feel very confident that he’s the right horse.”

The most recent horse to win the Melbourne Cup for the first time at their third attempt was Empire Rose, who finally tasted success in 1988 after fifth and second placings.

Vauban, who will be considered an eight-year-old in Australia when next year’s Melbourne Cup is run, has had 21 starts for eight wins, the biggest of which was the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3319m) at York the start before his Irish St Leger second placing.