Already one of the favourites for this year’s Melbourne Cup, the Willie Mullins trained stayer Vauban secured his place at Flemington when scoring a powerful win in the Group III Ballyroan Stakes (1m4f) at Naas in Ireland overnight.
A Listed winner in France at three, Vauban then won a string of top class jumps races before switching back to flat racing to win a handicap race at Royal Ascot by seven and a half lengths.
He lived up to that form in his first try at a Group flat race, racing to a length and a half victory under Colin Keane as a short priced favourite.
“I wasn't worried about the drop in trip for Vauban as he'd won a Listed event in France a couple of years ago over a mile and a half and, although further suits him better, we were confident enough it wouldn't pose a problem. Colin (Keane) said it was straightforward. They went a nice even gallop, which suited him and a little bit of juice in the ground suited him well and he picked up well in the straight,” said assistant trainer David Casey.
“He had to run in the first three today to tick that box to pass the ballot for the Melbourne Cup, so he's done that now. Willie will decide in the next few weeks what he's going to do with him.”
Vauban is one of 13 stakes-winners by Galileo stallion Galiway and is bred to stay all day being from Waldfest, a Hurricane Run mare that won at 2750m and is from the family of Arc winner Waldgeist and St Leger winner Masked Marvel.
