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Vauban returns as the favourite for the world’s richest handicap for the second year running but can Willie Mullins’ Irish raider atone for his loss last year and head Tuesday’s 2024 Melbourne Cup results?
The French-bred, Irish-trained Galiway gelding was heavily backed ahead of his Australian race debut in the Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) last November but failed to fire and ran a disappointing 14th some 13 lengths beaten with Ryan Moore in the saddle.
Put a line through that.
He is back and has been outstanding in the 12 months since his Melbourne Cup flop.
Vauban has raced five times since running top four in all including his Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3319m) with 59.5kg back in August.
At his latest he was runner-up in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) in mid-September carrying a hefty 62kg.
This is a far from vintage edition of the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’ and Vauban definitely shapes up as a willing hope for his ever-persistent trainer.
Mullins’ best Melbourne Cup results came with Max Dynamite who was denied by Darren Weir’s $101 shot Prince Of Penzance running second in 2015 and then third when returning in 2017 behind Rekindling.
“As we know, you just don’t arrive and pick up the prize,” Mullins told AAP.
“Last year a lot of people had us marked down for that, but I think our horses’ preparations this year have been good.
“Vauban’s form has been very good all season and he brings great depth of form into the race.”
It could be a case of now or never for Mullins.
So, will Vauban deliver?
Read on for the arguments for and against Vauban!
Click here to bet on Vauban in the Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.
2024 Melbourne Cup Horse Form: No. 1 Vauban
- Barrier: 10 (in from 11)
- Weight: 55.5kg
- Jockey: William Buick
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Owner/s: Mrs S Ricci
- Age: 7YO
- Gender: Gelding
- Breeding: by GALIWAY (GB) from WALDFEST (GB)
- Career: 20-8:5:2
- Win: 40%
- Place: 70%
- Last 10: 11x0x24312
- Prize Money: $1,425,993
- Track: 1:0-0-0
- Distance: 6:2-2-1
- Current 2024 Melbourne Cup Odds*: $7 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
Why Vauban Can Win the 2024 Melbourne Cup and Atone
- Barrier 10 (in from 11) is ideal and last produced a winner with Protectionist (2014)
- Top English rider William Buick is aboard this year and knows the horse well having ridden him for his latest two
- Group 2 Lonsdale Cup winner with plenty of weight two back
- Irish St. Leger 2nd last start and that form looks strong
- Still lightly-raced as a European six-year-old with 20 starts
- Strong Win (40%) and Place (70%) rates
- Has run Top 4 in his last 5 starts
- Genuine two-mile stayers with one of the best 3200m records of any horse in the race (6:2-2-1)
- Comes via a different prep than 12 months ago and brings in strong European form lines
- Trainer is confident
- Punters have done the Melbourne Cup form, forgiven, and he’s likely to start favourite again
Why Vauban Won’t Win the Melbourne Cup Again in 2024
- Disappointed last year and concerns of a repeat
- Carries the 55.5kg topweight which is a half-kilo more than last year
Melbourne Cup 2024 Results
| 11. Knight's Choice (5) J: Robbie Dolan 51.5kg x9005 T: J G Symons & S Laxon | ||
| 4. Warp Speed (2) J: Akira Sugawara 54.5kg 325x0 T: N Takagi | ||
| 12. Okita Soushi (9) J: Jamie Kah 51kg x8021 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 14. Zardozi (3) J: Andrea Atzeni 51kg 65245 T: James Cummings | ||
| 9. Absurde (6) J: Kerrin McEvoy 52.5kg 1x41x T: Willie Mullins | ||
| 3. Circle Of Fire (23) J: Mark Zahra 54.5kg 1x890 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 17. Fancy Man (18) J: Ron Stewart 50kg 0x536 T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | ||
| 8. Land Legend (17) J: Zac Purton 53kg x0613 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 2. Buckaroo (20) J: Joao Moreira 54.5kg 81122 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 5. Kovalica (16) J: Damian Lane 53.5kg x3426 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 1. Vauban (10) J: William Buick 55.5kg 24312 T: Willie Mullins | ||
| 13. Onesmoothoperator (11) J: Craig Williams 51kg 21741 T: Brian Ellison | ||
| 16. Valiant King (21) J: Craig Newitt 50.5kg 6x009 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 15. Sea King (1) J: Hollie Doyle 50.5kg 136x1 T: Harry Eustace | ||
| 18. Interpretation (13) J: Teodore Nugent 50kg 00862 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 6. Sharp 'N' Smart (14) J: Michael Dee 53.5kg x0203 T: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson | ||
| 24. Trust In You (4) J: Mark Du Plessis 50kg 63044 T: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley | ||
| 20. Mostly Cloudy (15) J: Karis Teetan 50kg 2x440 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 19. Manzoice (7) J: Declan Bates 50kg x2307 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 21. Positivity (19) J: Winona Costin 50kg x2178 T: Andrew Forsman | ||
| 23. The Map (22) J: Rachel King 50kg x9056 T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray | ||
| 22. Saint George (8) J: Tyler Schiller 50kg x8495 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Just Fine (12) J: Jye McNeil 53kg 05010 T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
*Note: 2024 Melbourne Cup odds are correct at time of publish, provided by Ladbrokes, and subject to change without notice.
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