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Vauban

Can Vauban Salute for Punters in the Melbourne Cup 2024?

Lucy Henderson • November 4, 2024

Can Vauban Salute for Punters in the Melbourne Cup 2024?

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

Vauban is out to atone for his 14th place finish in the Melbourne Cup last year!

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

Flemington R7 - Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1)
Final Race time: 
1st
11. Knight's Choice (5)
51.5kgx9005
J: Robbie DolanT: J G Symons & S Laxon
81.00WIN
18.00PLACE
2nd
4. Warp Speed (2)
54.5kg325x0
J: Akira SugawaraT: N Takagi
26.00WIN
7.00PLACE
3rd
12. Okita Soushi (9)
51kgx8021
J: Jamie KahT: Ciaron Maher
19.00WIN
6.50PLACE
4th
14. Zardozi (3)
51kg65245
J: Andrea AtzeniT: James Cummings
14.00WIN
4.50PLACE
5th
9. Absurde (6)
52.5kg1x41x
J: Kerrin McEvoyT: Willie Mullins
10.00WIN
3.50PLACE
6th
3. Circle Of Fire (23)
54.5kg1x890
J: Mark ZahraT: Ciaron Maher
23.00WIN
6.50PLACE
7th
17. Fancy Man (18)
50kg0x536
J: Ron StewartT: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
81.00WIN
17.00PLACE
8th
8. Land Legend (17)
53kgx0613
J: Zac PurtonT: Chris Waller
14.00WIN
4.80PLACE
9th
2. Buckaroo (20)
54.5kg81122
J: Joao MoreiraT: Chris Waller
6.50WIN
2.50PLACE
10th
5. Kovalica (16)
53.5kgx3426
J: Damian LaneT: Chris Waller
26.00WIN
7.00PLACE
11th
1. Vauban (10)
55.5kg24312
J: William BuickT: Willie Mullins
8.00WIN
2.90PLACE
12th
13. Onesmoothoperator (11)
51kg21741
J: Craig WilliamsT: Brian Ellison
7.00WIN
2.70PLACE
13th
16. Valiant King (21)
50.5kg6x009
J: Craig NewittT: Chris Waller
91.00WIN
18.00PLACE
14th
15. Sea King (1)
50.5kg136x1
J: Hollie DoyleT: Harry Eustace
12.00WIN
4.00PLACE
15th
18. Interpretation (13)
50kg00862
J: Teodore NugentT: Ciaron Maher
21.00WIN
6.00PLACE
16th
6. Sharp 'N' Smart (14)
53.5kgx0203
J: Michael DeeT: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson
51.00WIN
12.00PLACE
17th
24. Trust In You (4)
50kg63044
J: Mark Du PlessisT: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
71.00WIN
17.00PLACE
18th
20. Mostly Cloudy (15)
50kg2x440
J: Karis TeetanT: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
101.00WIN
19.00PLACE
19th
19. Manzoice (7)
50kgx2307
J: Declan BatesT: Chris Waller
126.00WIN
23.00PLACE
20th
21. Positivity (19)
50kgx2178
J: Winona CostinT: Andrew Forsman
101.00WIN
20.00PLACE
21st
23. The Map (22)
50kgx9056
J: Rachel KingT: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
71.00WIN
15.00PLACE
22nd
22. Saint George (8)
50kgx8495
J: Tyler SchillerT: Ciaron Maher
23.00WIN
6.50PLACE
23rd
7. Just Fine (12)
53kg05010
J: Jye McNeilT: G Waterhouse & A Bott
35.00WIN
10.00PLACE
10. Athabascan (2)SCRATCHED:
For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 31/10/2026 12:06:20 AM (Australia/Brisbane)

*Note: 2024 Melbourne Cup odds are correct at time of publish, provided by Ladbrokes, and subject to change without notice.


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