Australian Bloodstock director Luke Murrell is not afraid to take a decent punt on overseas stayers in his quest for more Melbourne Cup glory. Usually, though, the horse is younger than seven-year-old Vauban. “We’ve only bought a couple of expensive ones like him at that level, and they’ve always been three or four-year-olds,” Murrell said. “This one was older, but it’s probably like buying the Camry off the one-owner lady that’s got only 20,000kms on it, even though it’s 10 years old. “When you look at his record, he’d won eight of 21, and he was always a tough, sound horse, because those VRC protocols are ridiculous, so for him to pass them, he’s very sound.” Murrell and fellow Australian Bloodstock founder Jamie Lovett have built their syndication company on buying the right horse and giving clients a shot at the Melbourne Cup, and other features along the way. Protectionist put them on the map with his dominant Cup win in 2014 and Gold Trip, which cost more than $2 million, repaid them with victory in 2022. Vauban, though, is a new direction for Australian Bloodstock, which went halves with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in a purchase believed to be close to $2 million after last year’s Cup.

Vauban started his new chapter in Australia in fine style when thundering home to win the Sky High Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. On his first start since finishing 11th in the Melbourne Cup for trainer Willie Mullins and owners Rich and Susannah Ricci, Vauban made a winning debut for Australian Bloodstock following his A$2 million (£1.02m/€1.22m) sale shortly after the Flemington feature last November. Almost three years to the day since the now seven-year-old won the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, he was racing in very different conditions to what he is used to, with temperatures soaring to a sweltering 36C in the Sydney suburbs. The 1m2f trip of the Group 3 Sky High was also the shortest distance Vauban has run over in his career, which yielded eight wins in 21 starts in Europe. Despite those challenges, he proved up to the task as he overhauled Arapaho on the line to score by a nose under Tim Clark.

Gai Waterhouse admits her hopes of a triumphant return to the track for former Irish star Vauban were thinning moments before Saturday’s Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill

Former Irish star Vauban will have one more guest appearance in Sydney on Wednesday before a much-awaited mid-March return to the races. The Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 15 is set to feature Vauban in his new Australian Bloodstock colours for his new trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott following a majority part-sale to Australian connections late last year. Vauban was listed to trial at Warwick Farm on Monday, but Bott explained the seven-year-old will benefit more from another day at the races for an exhibition gallop as he and Waterhouse attempt to calm his pre-race nerves. "We just want to get him to the races and parade him around and get him onto the track for a nice gallop and that will top him off well," Bott said. "The plan is the Sky High first-up at 2000 metres on his way to the Tancred Stakes (2400m). "At this stage, it's one run at a time with him. We are keeping an open mind with his campaign. Obviously, we've only had him for a short time and we're learning a lot about him.Vauban has been highly fancied in the past two Melbourne Cups, with strong European form behind him for Irish trainer Willie Mullins, but the gelding has melted in the mounting yard before both races and ran below expectations. Bott said his trials and his appearance suggest he's going to go to the races ready to perform. "I think he's in nice shape and he's a lovely horse to do anything with so we're looking forward to getting him to the races and hopefully he can bring that form we've seen from him," he said. "Everyone knows him well and knows what he is capable of doing." Sportsbet has Vauban listed as an $8 chance for the $1.5 million Tancred Stakes. "We've seen him at home and we've seen him at the public trials and now we're got to see what he does when we take him to the races. "We'll be reactive to that as to how his preparation unfolds, but all we are doing now is a nice building block for the spring." Vauban has been highly fancied in the past two Melbourne Cups, with strong European form behind him for Irish trainer Willie Mullins, but the gelding has melted in the mounting yard before both races and ran below expectations. Bott said his trials and his appearance suggest he's going to go to the races ready to perform. "I think he's in nice shape and he's a lovely horse to do anything with so we're looking forward to getting him to the races and hopefully he can bring that form we've seen from him," he said. "Everyone knows him well and knows what he is capable of doing." Sportsbet has Vauban listed as an $8 chance for the $1.5 million Tancred Stakes. Via Racing.com

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