Adding a second consecutive victory in the $350,000 G3 ATC Sky High Stakes (2000m) to his record, it’s interesting to note that if his current owners hadn’t stepped in and purchased Vauban (Fr) from his international connections, we may well have seen him contesting races at this year’s Cheltenham Jumps Festival.
A multiple winner over the hurdles before heading to Australia, on this very weekend three years back the gelding finished fourth in the local G1 Champion Hurdle Trophy (3298m) behind the outstanding jumper Constitution Hill (GB) who has been spoken about as a possible Melbourne Cup contender this year.
Winning for the second time in Australia under the care of the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, interestingly with his first being first up in the Autumn last year in this race, the 8yo gelding continued his quality first up record, jumping away the second elect in the small seven horse field.
With stablemate and noted leader Just Fine (IRE) going forward to take up the running, Tim Clark settled Vauban in the prime position tracking the leader, with the pair keeping the one-two pattern throughout, leading into the home turn full of running.
While Wootton Verni (Fr) came to the outside of Vauban and looked as if he would make a race of it, Clark and Vauban set out after Just Fine where the Australian Bloodstock-owned gelding took the lead with 150m to run.
Vauban pulled clear to win by just under a length from Soul Of Spain (IRE) who worked home extremely well just like he did the start prior in the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes, with Just Fine holding on for third while River Of Stars (IRE) was a further two and a half lengths back in fourth at her first run this time in.
Adrian Bott was full of praise for the gelding post-race.
“He's such a remarkable horse, he really is,” enthused Bott. “Australia has really got behind him and so has the ownership group. He's been a great ride for them, he's back here on the back of a Melbourne Cup campaign and he looks as good as ever.”
“Really proud of the horse and hopefully set for a nice preparation. He gives you such tremendous satisfaction this horse.
“I think it was a different type of energy today. He seemed a bit nervous previously but today he looked happy, like he was really excited to get out there. Wasn't at all concerned by the parade and I thought he looked in great shape.
As for where Vauban will race this campaign, Bott felt the campaign hasn’t been completely mapped out as yet.
“Not sure about the Sydney Cup. I would like to go through the Tancred like we did last year. Arguably he's come back better this year and it looks to be a lovely race for him.
“He's obviously going to be better suited as he gets deeper into the preparation, over a little bit further as well."
Having not ridden Vauban on race day since October last year, Clark felt the gelding has really improved in the last few weeks.
“It just feels like the last couple of weeks he's really blossomed,” said Clark. “He's got that spring in his step, he's shown that in a couple of his bits of his work of late.
“He feels like a spring three-year-old so it's great to see.
“Once I was able to get to the position I got to I was pretty confident from that point onwards. I thought he let down really well and he's started his prep off in good style."
“I think that was a better win than this time last year, so hopefully he's in for another good preparation."
Clark is looking forward to a clash with Dubai Honour in the Tancred Stakes.
“A little bit of unfinished business in a couple of weeks time, in the Tancred. It just went a little bit wrong last year, it might have been one that got away. So, hopefully in two weeks time we can redeem ourselves.”
Taking his overall record to ten wins and nine placed efforts from 30 starts with earnings of $ $2,376,743, Vauban is well fancied in the G1 Tancred Stakes (2400m), and also holds nominations for both the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and G1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
Vauban is the highest prizemoney earner for Galileo stallion Galiway who has been represented by 16 individual stakes winners, highlighted by two G1 winners.
Bred to stay all day being the second winner, and lone stakes winner out of Waldfest, a Hurricane Run mare that won at 2750m, Vauban is from the family of Arc winner Waldgeist and St Leger winner Masked Marvel.
