Former Willie Mullins-trained galloper Vauban will make his Caulfield debut on Saturday as he embarks on his third Melbourne Spring Carnival campaign, this time under the care of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Previously trained in Ireland, Vauban went straight into the Melbourne Cup (3200m) on both prior visits, but after finishing 11th last year, he was purchased by Australian Bloodstock and transferred to the Waterhouse–Bott stable. The team has him on another path toward the Melbourne Cup, but this time he’ll take a different route, lining up in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) as his lead-up.
Vauban’s previous Melbourne appearances were filled with expectation — sent out favourite on debut and third favourite last year at $8 — but both times he failed to settle, melting under the big-race pressure. Since joining Waterhouse and Bott, his handlers have worked to calm his pre-race behaviour, and signs suggest they’ve turned the corner.
Vauban broke through with a win at his first start for the stable earlier this year and has since raced consistently without much luck. Waterhouse believes that luck may finally turn at Caulfield, especially with Blake Shinn in the saddle.
“His coat is gleaming. He’s a very happy horse,” Waterhouse said.
“Blake rode him the other day and was over the moon with him.
“It’s a hard race. They’ve all got their chance, and they’ve all got their reason for being there. They’ve been in the right races leading into the Cup to be competitive.
“But Vauban, he’s really happy, he’s healthy and he’s sound. He’s ready to pounce.”
Waterhouse said the draw of barrier 13 was ideal, allowing Shinn to keep Vauban in clear running and avoid traffic issues that have plagued him in the past.
“I don’t think he’s had the right positioning in races. He’s been in the wrong place at the wrong time, but that’s just life sometimes,” she said.
“Saturday’s race will suit him well. There will be good pace on. Blake will understand that, and he was my jockey in Sydney for a long time.”
While some believe Caulfield can be tricky for horses racing there for the first time, Waterhouse isn’t concerned.
“He’s a horse that has travelled the world, so why won’t he handle Caulfield,” she said. “He’s there to win, but it will also set him up nicely for Flemington.”
Punters can back Vauban in the Caulfield Cup or futures markets for the Melbourne Cup via Australia’s top betting sites, ranked among Google’s most searched destinations for spring racing odds and bonuses.