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There’s a sting in the bite of Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban.

Just ask trainer Willie Mullins’ travelling foreman David Casey, who has the task of brushing Vauban’s coat each day.

Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban bit his travelling foreman David Casey.Credit: Damien Ractliffe

Vauban’s a ticklish customer. He doesn’t like when it’s time for Casey to run the brush over him.Casey learnt the hard way earlier this week, when the six-year-old gelding took a nip at him.

“Outside on track, he’s very laid back,” said Casey, displaying a large purpling bruise above his right hip.

“In the stable, he doesn’t like being brushed; I’ve got a couple of war wounds where he’s bitten me and tried to kick me.

“It’s an episode, it’s a battle. Most days, not as bad as that, but he’ll have a go most days. I’m ready for him most days now. He likes being patted, but on track, he’s very relaxed and very good.”

Punters continue to pile into Vauban, who has shortened from $4.50 into $3.50 favouritism for Tuesday’s Cup. Makybe Diva, in 2004, is the last horse to win the Cup at $3.50 or shorter.

Deauville Legend was beaten into fourth last year at $4.40, while Incentivise ran second in 2021 when he started a $2.90 favourite.

But Casey said the odds meant very little.

“I don’t know about markets or whatever,” he said.

“The horse doesn’t know he’s favourite, it wouldn’t make him run faster anyway.

Vauban zipped around Flemington on Tuesday, impressing opposition trainer Mick Price.Credit: Getty Images

“We think we’ve got two horses that can be competitive in the race, and we’re happy with where they’re at, at the moment, and the work they’ve been doing. You need a lot of luck … so a lot is still to happen. If we can get them there in one piece in the form they’re in, we’d be delighted.”

Vauban’s stablemate Absurde – who ran second to Vauban at Royal Ascot when he won by 7.5 lengths in June – is a $21 chance with the TAB, and Casey said the gap between the two horses shouldn’t be as significant as it is.

Absurde has since won the Ebor Handicap at York in August.

“I suppose maybe because Vauban has been favourite for so long, and everyone’s looking at the Ascot race, maybe,” Casey said, when asked why they were so far apart in the market.

“I think Absurde is probably a better horse than he was at Ascot now, and he’s getting a couple more kilos [off Vauban] now, so I can’t imagine him being as far off as he was at Ascot.”

As for comments by opposition trainer Mick Price, who described Vauban’s hitout at Flemington on Tuesday as “staggering”, Casey said it was a normal piece of work for his horses.

“I think it was getting blown out of proportion,” Casey said.

Vauban (right) and Absurde (left) worked at Flemington on Tuesday.Credit: Getty Images

“Mick Price, [his horse Lastotchka] didn’t do much less than we did. It looks like she went a mile, and we went 2400 metres, and she quickened up. But he’s trained enough winners, so if he said he’s happy with what he saw [from Vauban], then I’m happy.

“We just try and keep it to the routine at home, as close as possible as we can … so it doesn’t unsettle them too much. Thankfully, at the moment, they seem to be enjoying it.”

Casey said it was important his two horses got a look at Flemington on Tuesday, a week out from the Cup.

“Flemington’s different to any other racetrack; obviously the tunnel leading into the mounting yard, and then the seagulls on the track and rows of bushes,” he said.

“It’s good to get both of them away for the day, get their blood up for the day and let them see and have a look at the place. Both handled it very well, and [I] was delighted with what they did on the track. Both have come home sound and well and seem very happy and healthy since.”

Mullins is due to arrive in Melbourne over the weekend, ahead of the Cup.

Meanwhile, prominent owner Ozzie Kheir has confirmed Valiant King, who ran sixth in the Caulfield Cup for trainer Joseph O’Brien, will take his place in Tuesday’s Cup. Zac Lloyd has been booked to ride.

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