Vauban (Fr)

Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), the beaten favourite in last year's G1 Melbourne Cup, is reported to have settled in well at the quarantine facility in Werribee as he warms up for a second assault on the race on Tuesday, November 5, with connections hoping the busier campaign he's had in 2024 will ensure that he arrives at Flemington in peak condition. Trained by Willie Mullins, Vauban was having his first start for three months when finishing down the field behind Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in 2023, but this...

Aidan O'Brien is always on edge when Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}--Polished Gem {Ire}, by Danehill) is at the races, but the mighty stayer proved yet again that there is no real cause for concern with a typically straightforward success in Sunday's G1 Irish St Leger at The Curragh. Back in peak form as he had been when first capturing this in 2022, the Moyglare homebred and colour-bearer was the 2-5 favourite to erase the memory of his runner-up placing 12 months ago when not fully recharged following his major injury....

Ten stayers will line up in Thursday's G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, with the 2022 title-holder Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) looking to regain his crown having missed out through injury 12 months ago. He will be Aidan O'Brien's sole runner, while John and Thady Gosden saddle a trio in Wathnan Racing's Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), Godolphin's Trawlerman (Ire) (Golden Horn {GB}) and Normandie Stud's Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Willie Mullins has booked Colin Keane for the ride on the Riccis' Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), while...

Friday's G2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup was all about Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), as last year's winner returned in rude health to dominate for the repeat on York's Knavesmire. Readily reversing the form of his latest fifth to Tower Of London (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup, the Marco Botti-trained 5-year-old who started at 7-2 cruised to Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) two out and bounded into the clear for a 4 3/4-length success under Oisin Murphy. Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) was a further 3/4 of a length...

The weights for the 133 horses still in the running for the Nov. 7 G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup were released on Tuesday and early 4-1 favourite Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) was assigned 55kg, 3.5kg below highweight and 2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}). The Willie Mullins-trained 5-year-old former hurdler, who won the G3 Ballyroan S. at Naas last month after taking the Listed Copper Horse H. at Royal Ascot in his first flat attempt in June, sits sixteenth on the weights list. Vauban's stablemate and Ballyroan runner-up...