Royal Ascot and Cheltenham Competition winner Vauban is about to stay in Australia having been bought by Australian Bloodstock, in partnership with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, for a charge within the area of AU$2m (£1.02m).
A 3-time Grade One winner over obstacles a few years in the past, together with a Cheltenham Competition success within the Triumph Hurdle, the six-year-old reverted to the Flat final season and landed the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Naas.
He disillusioned as favorite for final yr’s Melbourne Cup, however having returned to type this time period with a Group Two victory within the Lonsdale Cup earlier than chasing residence star stayer Kyprios within the Irish St Leger, hopes had been excessive forward of his return to Flemington earlier this month. Nevertheless, he was once more properly crushed, this time ending eleventh underneath William Buick.
Mullins not too long ago recommended Vauban might develop right into a Stayers’ Hurdle contender, nevertheless it has now emerged he’ll stay within the southern hemisphere to be educated by Waterhouse and Bott, with a 3rd crack on the ‘race that stops the nation’ on the playing cards.
Talking on Nick Luck’s Every day Podcast, Australian Bloodstock’s managing director Jamie Lovett stated: “We’re clearly delighted to be teaming up with Gai. Gai was very eager on the horse and the horse clearly speaks for himself.
“We simply had the chance to group up with Gai and Adrian Bott on this explicit horse and he isn’t one that’s laborious to determine.
“I’ve at all times been very forgiving of any horses that come down and do not at all times carry out off the plane, it isn’t straightforward to do. We’re simply hoping we will have him return to his type that he confirmed within the northern hemisphere final season and we’re excited to see what lays forward.
“The Melbourne Cup is obviously the goal. He’s had two tries at it, so he’s going to have to defy history to do it third time around, but we feel very confident that he’s the right horse.”
