Vauban, a highly regarded import, made an impressive debut for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable, winning the Group 3 Sky High Stakes at Rosehill.
Previously, Vauban had contested the last two Melbourne Cups under Irish trainer Willie Mullins. He entered the 2023 race as the favourite and was a leading contender in the previous year, though he did not finish in the top placings.
After last year’s Cup, Australian Bloodstock teamed up with the Waterhouse and Bott stable to acquire Vauban and bring the seven-year-old to Australia. His first outing for his new connections on Saturday saw him showcase his exceptional ability, signaling that he will be a strong contender in the upcoming Group 1 Tancred Stakes.
Despite sweating in the hot weather and exhibiting some nervous energy in the parade ring, Vauban ($9) settled towards the back of the field under jockey Tim Clark. He then powered home with a strong finishing burst, just edging out Group 1 winner Arapaho ($4.60) by half a head.
Race favourite Lindermann ($1.75) finished 1-1/4 lengths further back in third place.
Bott expressed his confidence in Vauban’s ability, acknowledging that while the gelding has some quirks, his raw talent was clear.
“Clearly, he has a few little habits that we’ll work through, but he’s adapting well,” Bott said.
“He’s an older horse and pretty set in his ways, so we don’t want to make drastic changes.
“What he showed today was impressive—coming from the back in a slow-run race and still finishing with power.
“The track may have suited him, but I thought the 2000 metres might have left him a bit vulnerable. This win sets him up nicely for his main target next start.”
Bott was particularly pleased with Vauban’s turn of foot over the 2000m distance and is keen to see how he performs over longer distances. The weight-for-age Tancred Stakes (2400m) in two weeks is the next logical step, followed by a possible tilt at the Sydney Cup (3200m) later in the autumn.
“I wasn’t sure how sharp he would be at this distance, given he hasn’t raced over shorter trips before,” Bott said.
“Trial performances don’t always give us the full picture, so seeing him perform well in the race was very encouraging.”
Clark admitted that while Vauban was a bit worked up before the race, his ability to settle during the run allowed him to conserve energy and finish strongly.
“That was an incredible performance,” Clark said.
“He’s undoubtedly a horse of immense ability, although he does have some unique traits. The team has done an amazing job of keeping him as relaxed as possible. While he was a bit nervous in the yard, that’s likely just part of his nature.
“We’ll get used to it, but once on the track, he delivered a breathtaking win, a real testament to Gai and Adrian’s training.”
Following his victory in the Sky High Stakes, Vauban is now the $3.50 equal betting site favourite alongside Dubai Honour for the Tancred Stakes and is also an early market leader for this year’s Melbourne Cup.
