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.com.au.
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 Odds & Results
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
11. Knight's Choice (5)
J: Robbie Dolan 51.5kg
T: J G Symons & S Laxon |
||
|
2nd
4. Warp Speed (2)
J: Akira Sugawara 54.5kg
T: N Takagi |
||
|
3rd
12. Okita Soushi (9)
J: Jamie Kah 51kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
4th
14. Zardozi (3)
J: Andrea Atzeni 51kg
T: James Cummings |
||
|
5th
9. Absurde (6)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 52.5kg
T: Willie Mullins |
||
|
6th
3. Circle Of Fire (23)
J: Mark Zahra 54.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
7th
17. Fancy Man (18)
J: Ron Stewart 50kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
8th
8. Land Legend (17)
J: Zac Purton 53kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
9th
2. Buckaroo (20)
J: Joao Moreira 54.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
10th
5. Kovalica (16)
J: Damian Lane 53.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
11th
1. Vauban (10)
J: William Buick 55.5kg
T: Willie Mullins |
||
|
12th
13. Onesmoothoperator (11)
J: Craig Williams 51kg
T: Brian Ellison |
||
|
13th
16. Valiant King (21)
J: Craig Newitt 50.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
14th
15. Sea King (1)
J: Hollie Doyle 50.5kg
T: Harry Eustace |
||
|
15th
18. Interpretation (13)
J: Teodore Nugent 50kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
16th
6. Sharp 'N' Smart (14)
J: Michael Dee 53.5kg
T: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson |
||
|
17th
24. Trust In You (4)
J: Mark Du Plessis 50kg
T: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley |
||
|
18th
20. Mostly Cloudy (15)
J: Karis Teetan 50kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
||
|
19th
19. Manzoice (7)
J: Declan Bates 50kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
20th
21. Positivity (19)
J: Winona Costin 50kg
T: Andrew Forsman |
||
|
21st
23. The Map (22)
J: Rachel King 50kg
T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray |
||
|
22nd
22. Saint George (8)
J: Tyler Schiller 50kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
23rd
7. Just Fine (12)
J: Jye McNeil 53kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
Data retrieved: 05/11/2024 03:06:27 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
*Note: 2024 Melbourne Cup odds are correct at time of publish, provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, and subject to change without notice.
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Race comments
The Melbourne Cup. Plenty of betting angles as usual, with one being whether BUCKAROO (2) will run 3200m strongly. Gelded this campaign, he's been outstanding in defeat at his past two starts, nosed out by Via Sistina in the G1 Turnbull Stakes before charging into second in the G1 Caulfield Cup. That looked a perfect Cup trial, the gamble is whether that translates to two miles. VAUBAN (1) returns to Flemington having started favourite in this race last year and failing. He's coming off a tough second to a superstar in Kyprios and if he handles the occasion, he'll just about win. INTERPRETATION (18) has a sense of timing. He's flown home at his past two and was excellent from a long way back here last year. KOVALICA (5) is very interesting out to a trip, which we haven't seen since his G1 Queensland Derby win. He's got the ability. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (13) and SEA KING (15) were both excellent at their local debuts and come here with genuine chances.