© Image by dreamtemp from Pixabay
Willie Mullins, already an all-time great trainer in the world of horse racing, is heading out to Australia as he targets another huge race to add to his impressive list of achievements.
The Melbourne Cup, acknowledged as one of the world's foremost horse racing events, boasts a mouthwatering prize pool which is equivalent to nearly €5 million. And that pot has certainly played a part in Mullins' decision to target the race, with the Irishman admitting, "As flat racing goes, this is probably as high as we'd go, that or maybe a Gold Cup horse in Ascot or the Prix du Cadran in Paris. The nature of this race [Melbourne Cup] helps us – and there's the small matter of eight million Australian dollars too!"
Mullins, celebrated primarily for his achievements in jumps racing, is a Cheltenham Festival record-holder with an astounding 94 victories at Prestbury Park. Now, he's gearing up to face a new challenge by pitting his stable against Australia's finest flat racing contenders, with Vauban and Absurde the two horses chosen to represent Mullins.
Vauban, much like Mullins himself, has achieved his greatest triumphs thus far in jumps racing. He enjoyed an outstanding 2022, winning the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, followed by another impressive victory at the Punchestown Festival just a month later. The 2023 jumps season didn't quite reach the same heady heights though, prompting Mullins to make a strategic shift, redirecting Vauban to flat racing where his career began.
Mullins, renowned for his astute decisions, immediately saw this transition bear fruit. Vauban and Absurde secured their coveted Melbourne Cup spots with a 1-2 finish in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot. Both contenders have since acclimatised well to their new surroundings Down Under, earning praise from Team Mullins.
Mullins' assistant David Casey said of Vauban, "He travelled well, it seems he's eating and drinking since he came and arrived. He didn't lose a lot of weight and he's put it all actually back on since he came. Delighted with him. It was great that he won at Ascot and backed it up when he won in Naas - we're here and we're delighted to be taking part and obviously hopefully with a horse that can be competitive."
Bookmakers are echoing Casey's optimism, with betting site melbourne-cup.online confirming Vauban is the clear ante-post favourite at odds of 7/2, while Absurde certainly shouldn't be discounted either at 16/1.
The drama of the Melbourne Cup, known in Australia as the race that stops the nation, may struggle to have quite the same effect in Ireland, given it takes place at 4am CET time on Tuesday, November 7th. It would be no surprise though to wake up to news of yet another triumphant night for Mullins and Vauban.
Selected Melbourne Cup odds* according to melbourne-cup.online:
Vauban - 7/2
Soulcombe - 8/1
Just Fine - 14/1
Francesco Guardi - 14/1
Absurde - 16/1
Breakup - 16/1
Without a Fight - 20/1
Gold Trip - 25/1
*Odds correct at 3pm on 6th October 2023
