Vauban found himself boxed in on the turn for home prior to unleashing his superior staying ability to charge clear and capture the Group 3 $350,000 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens over the weekend.

The veteran ex-Irish hurdler, on the cusp of nine, showed he’s still got plenty to offer by responding with grit when pushed to claim a repeat win in the Sky High Stakes.

“Vauban’s such a remarkable horse, he really is,” said Adrian Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse.

“Australia has really got behind him and so has the ownership group. He’s been a great ride for them. He’s here on the back of a Melbourne Cup campaign and he looks as good as ever.

“I’m really proud of the horse and hopefully he is set for a nice preparation. He gives you such tremendous satisfaction this horse.”

Under Tim Clark’s ride, Vauban ($3.40) became the first to win the Sky High Stakes twice, prevailing by a length ahead of Soul Of Spain ($3.80) and Just Fine ($10) a length farther in third.

Wootton Verni, the $2.80 top pick, was prominent throughout the journey but dropped back to fifth on the line.

Clark described Vauban as feeling like a “spring three-year-old.”

“I just think the last couple of weeks he’s really blossomed, he’s got that spring in his step, he’s shown that in a couple of his bits of his work of late,” Clark said.

“Once I was able to get to the position I got to early in the race I was pretty confident from that point onwards. I thought he let down really well and he’s started his prep off in good style.

“I think that was a better win than this time last year, so hopefully he’s in for another good preparation.”

Bott revealed plans to point the gelding towards the Group 1 $1.5 million Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens in two weeks, ultimately readying for another Melbourne Cup assault.

Vauban’s Melbourne Cup record includes 14th to Without A Fight in 2023 and 11th behind Knights Choice the next year, trained by Willie Mullins.

Switching to Waterhouse and Bott last campaign saw Vauban end sixth to Half Yours in the Melbourne Cup.

“I’m not sure about the Sydney Cup this autumn but we will definitely go for the Melbourne Cup again,” Bott said.

“I would like to go through the Tancred like we did last year. Arguably he’s come back better this year and it looks to be a lovely race for him.

“He’s obviously going to be better suited as he gets deeper into the preparation, over a little bit further as well. We might also look at Brisbane, too.”

Clark senses regret over Vauban’s third placing to Dubai Honour in the previous Tancred Stakes.

“A little bit of unfinished business in a couple of weeks time, in the Tancred,” Clark said.

“It just went a little bit wrong last year, it might have been one that got away. So, hopefully in two weeks time we can redeem ourselves.”

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