Vauban (FR) ridden by Ryan Moore (GB) on the way to the barriers prior to the running of the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on November 07, 2023 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos)
Owner Rich Ricci is eyeing up another shot at the Melbourne Cup with Vauban following his effort in the Group 1 Gold Cup at Ascot.
Vauban, the Willie Mullins-trained classy dual-purpose horse finished out of the placings as race favourite with betting apps in the Melbourne Cup last year but following his pleasing four-placed effort in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup on Thursday, connections are bidding for redemption.
“It’s a wonderful experience to have a runner here in the big race,” owner Rich Ricci said of the 4000m Royal Ascot feature won for the second time by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Kyprios ($2.05).
“It’s clear to everybody now he didn’t stay. He came to win the race and I was getting jiggy when I was listening to the race and I heard them turn for home. He was right in the mix and I turned round to watch and his run just petered out,” he added
“That’s fine and Melbourne is still the plan.”
Vauban ($6.50) finished 13th in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November and could join stablemate Belloccio on an Australian trip after the six year-old gelding took out the Cooper Horse Handicap (2800m) on Tuesday.
“I would love to win the Melbourne Cup 2024 – and our friends from the Victoria Racing Club are here,” Ricci said.
“We’ll probably run somewhere again in the summer, then we’ll be ready to rock and roll I think.”