When Vauban arrived in Melbourne for his first Cup mission in 2023, he’d raced fourteen times for seven wins, including three over hurdles. His two runs prior to embarking for Australia had resulted in emphatic wins - a 7.5 lengths drubbing of stablemate Absurde over 2816m during the Ascot carnival, and a comfortable victory over 2414m at Naas. It appeared he lacked a turn of foot of any significance, but what could you expect of a former hurdler getting ready for a two mile handicap down under. Few overseas contenders have commanded the fanfare afforded Vauban in 2023. Perhaps the fact that he was trained by Irish whiz Willie Mullins had something to do with the hype.
It’s now history that Vauban’s trademark pre-race nerves were clearly on display in the parade yard, but that wasn’t enough to deter punters from sending the chestnut out a pronounced $5.50 favourite. Those punters must have been on good terms with themselves when he enjoyed a cosy trip on the fence in sixth spot to the 600m where Ryan Moore nudged him out to miss the heels of the rapidly tiring Serpentine. To that point everything had gone Vauban’s way. The pace had been hot, there hadn’t been a single hiccup and the gelding looked ominous as he swept around the leaders to strike the front on straightening. Just when his army of supporters were expecting him to power away from his rivals, Vauban threw in the towel and dropped out to finish 14th, a disappointing 13.35 lengths from Without A Fight. When the disgraced Irish raider flew out of Melbourne a few days later, there seemed little likelihood that he’d ever visit Australian shores again.
Vauban looked bright and alert cantering to the barrier before the 2023 Cup with Ryan Moore. He started favourite but was never a chance - courtesy Racing Photographers.
In typical European fashion Vauban made his return to racing six months later in the 2816m Yorkshire Cup, finishing a creditable second to Giavellotto. Four weeks later he finished fourth about 9 lengths behind Kyprios in the Ascot Gold Cup of 4023m and followed up with a strong third in the 2816m Curragh Cup. With another Melbourne Cup tilt firmly in mind Willie Mullins continued to put the miles into Vauban’s legs. Next came a win over 3319 metres in the Lonsdale Cup at York, followed by a 2.3 length second to the hugely talented Kyprios in the Irish St Leger of 2816m. The decision was made to give Vauban the opportunity to redeem himself in Australia. He was fitter than he’d been the year before and would have the benefit of an earlier arrival.
One interested spectator at Flemington last Melbourne Cup day was Australian Bloodstock Director Luke Murrell. Already well known as the man who’d engineered the acquisition of Melbourne Cup winners Protectionist and Gold Trip, Luke had been quietly monitoring Vauban’s progress. He’d been impressed by what he’d seen on video of the gelding’s most recent runs and had formed the opinion he was gradually becoming sharper in his races.
The horse’s parade yard nerves hadn’t improved since the previous year, but once again he was solid in the market at $8.00. William Buick on Vauban got going from a rearward spot at the 800m to find himself shunted right off the track on the corner. The Irish horse was never going to win but stuck on far better than he had the previous year to wind up officially 11th, five lengths from winner Knight’s Choice. This time he’d shown some dash when circling the field from the 600m. Luke commenced negotiations almost immediately dealing initially with trainer Willie Mullins.
Australian Bloodstock co-founder and director Luke Murrell was delighted to accept the trophy on behalf of many owners after Cristal Breeze's win in the Provincial Championship Final 2021 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
“We made an offer which was soon bettered by a prominent member of the Sydney training ranks,’ said Luke. “A quick investigation revealed that Gai Waterhouse was the leader of the opposition. At first we were probably resigned to defeat but on reflection a merger made good sense. We teamed up with Gai to make a further offer to owner Rich Ricci who was happy to let the horse go pending the result of an intensive veterinary inspection. When Vauban passed that test with flying colours a deal was struck with Gai regarding syndicate shares. We provided twelve owners, while she came up with six. Most of Vauban’s eighteen owners were at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.”
Most of Vauban's large ownership syndicate were at Rosehill to cheer him home in the Gr. 3 Sky High Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Following a good spell the seven year old former hurdler began his new life at Tulloch Lodge, with special emphasis placed on his race day parade yard manners. He was taken to trials and race meetings without actually competing, an old time trick used to break the habit of horses thinking they had to race every time they went away from home. Vauban competed in two official trials finishing seventh of eight behind Broadsiding at Warwick Farm and fourth of ten, less than two lengths behind Yabby Pump at Randwick. On both occasions he showed signs that a touch of dash was starting to emerge.
Perhaps Gai and Adrian Bott are using European style methods more than any other Sydney trainers. For time immemorial the practice has been one or two barrier trials followed by a progression in race distances until the horse in question reaches its preferred trip. To see Vauban resume in the 2000m Sky High Stakes on Saturday, was something rarely seen in Sydney racing. “The horse didn’t know what hit him when the temperature climbed to 36 shortly before his race,” said Luke. “The combination of the heat and his pre-race antics saw him break out in a muck lather. It wasn’t surprising to see him start at $9.00. Amazingly he started shorter in his two Melbourne Cups than he did on Saturday at Rosehill. The fact that he was contesting the shortest race of his career may have also been a contributing factor.”
Despite feeling the oppressive heat Vauban was bright as he cantered to the barrier before the Sky High Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
As the field turned to the back in Saturday’s Gr 3 event, odds on favourite Lindermann led at a leisurely speed from Circle Of Fire with Land Legend handy on the inside of Arahapo followed by Vauban and Kinesiology. For a few strides at the 1000m mark Vauban was actually last of the six and obviously unsuited by the dawdling pace. Jockey Tim Clark started to chase him up from the 600m, but he was still a clear last five lengths off Lindermann on straightening up. At the 200m he was gathering momentum and looking likely to finish a nice third. At the 100m Lindermann called it a day and Arapaho fleetingly looked the winner. Vauban fairly flew in the last 50 metres to nail Arapaho on the post and was going far better on the line. “He wasn’t entitled to win off such a slow pace,” said Luke Murrell. “That was the work of a pretty classy horse.”
The trademark style of Tim Clark as he pushed Vauban's head down to beat Arapaho right on the line - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Vauban is one of many success stories for Australian Bloodstock, a company founded twenty one years ago by good friends Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett. Luke spent his early working life in stockbroking and financial planning, all the while nurturing a great passion for racing. He later became fascinated with the art of bookmaking and spent much of his spare time under the tutelage of Rob Waterhouse. He seriously considered applying for a licence but was discouraged by the noticeable decline in Sydney race crowds, and the massive financial commitment of securing the bond required to gain that licence. Luke decided to appease his racing aspirations by going into thoroughbred syndication.
The Australian Bloodstock colours have been carried to victory by 953 individual winners including an impressive 19 Gr 1 triumphs. A pair of Melbourne Cup winners are obviously glowing testimony to the company’s tried and tested skills in identifying the right horses at home and overseas. Australian Bloodstock currently manages the careers of 240 horses spread between a select group of eight trainers. It’s significant that Vauban is the first horse to be trained for the company by Gai Waterhouse in her own right, or in her current partnership with Adrian Bott.
A press conference at Crown Casino the day after Protectionist's win in the 2014 Melbourne Cup. From left Jamie Lovett, Luke Murrell, and German trainer Andreas Wohler. The Cup trophy was the centre of attention.
Vauban’s next assignment will be the $1.5 million dollar Tancred Stakes over 2400m at Rosehill on April 12th. A win in that race would guarantee him a start in the Sydney Cup on April 12th but his connections are not thinking that far ahead. “Nothing has been finalised yet but there are some wonderful races for him over the Brisbane carnival,” said Luke. “Obviously a third Melbourne Cup start is very much on the radar. Wouldn’t it be something to finally realise the goal that brought this lovely old horse to our shores in the first place. He’s sound, he’s slowly becoming fully acclimatised and hopefully we can get on top of his race day adrenaline rush. He’s old enough to know better.”
(Banner image - Vauban in the Melbourne Cup parade 2023. He looked calm enough when this was taken but became stirred up soon after - courtesy Racing Photos.)