Vauban - A 7yo wins the shortest race he's ever contested

Vauban can only be described as a most remarkable horse and just to add to a story that appears far from finished, his first-up win in the 2000 metre Group III Sky High Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday as a seven-year-old came in the shortest race he’s ever contested.

It’s a storied career so let’s do it in dot form:

• June 2021 – won his maiden. In France. Over 1m3f - 2200m.
• July 2021 – won his first stakes race at start four - Prix Frederic de Lagrange (LR) over 1m4f – 2400m.
• Feb 2022 won his first hurdle race at start six over 2m – 3200m.
• March 18, 2022 won the JCB Triumph Hurdle in England at the Cheltenham Festival over 2m1f – 3400m (Yes – nearly 3 years to the day. Over the hurdles!)
• November 2023 – finished 14^th in the Melbourne Cup after starting favourite when overworking himself and sweating up in the pre-race parade.
• June 2024 – ran 4^th to the mighty Kyprios in the Group I Ascot Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.
• November 2024 – finished 8^th in the Melbourne Cup as $8 third favourite when overworking himself and sweating up in the pre-race parade.
• November 2024 – Australian Bloodstock purchase him for $2million to remain in Australia and transfer him to the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable with a record of eight wins from 21 starts – five on the flat, three over hurdles.

In Australia we’ve come to know him as a gun European stayer that falls apart on the big occasion.

True enough given his Melbourne Cup parades and results.

The Waterhouse/Bott team did everything in their power to solve those anxieties, taking him to the races several times just to parade before the crowd and have an exhibition gallop.

You can do more, however on the evidence, as they headed onto the track before the Sky High Stakes it had counted for nought.

On the toe, sweating freely, with one commentator describing him as an ice-cream.

But class is class.

Settling second last and looking uncomfortable, he shifted to last and looked more comfortable.

And that’s where he stayed until the 300m mark, well into the straight, where quality and stamina took a hold, and he hit the line as best as he could. It was enough to nose out Arapaho.

They’ll resume hostilities in the Group I Tancred Stakes on March 29. A race Arapaho won in 2023.

Vauban is now equal favourite at $3.50 with Dubai Honour. Arapaho on the second line at $6.

It'll be keenly watched.