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There\u2019s a sting in the bite of Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban.<\/p>\n
Just ask trainer Willie Mullins\u2019 travelling foreman David Casey, who has the task of brushing Vauban\u2019s coat each day.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban bit his travelling foreman David Casey.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Damien Ractliffe<\/cite><\/p>\n Vauban\u2019s a ticklish customer. He doesn\u2019t like when it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cOutside on track, he\u2019s very laid back,\u201d said Casey, displaying a large purpling bruise above his right hip.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the stable, he doesn\u2019t like being brushed; I\u2019ve got a couple of war wounds where he\u2019s bitten me and tried to kick me.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an episode, it\u2019s a battle. Most days, not as bad as that, but he\u2019ll have a go most days. I\u2019m ready for him most days now. He likes being patted, but on track, he\u2019s very relaxed and very good.\u201d<\/p>\n Punters continue to pile into Vauban, who has shortened from $4.50 into $3.50 favouritism for Tuesday\u2019s Cup. Makybe Diva, in 2004, is the last horse to win the Cup at $3.50 or shorter.<\/p>\n Deauville Legend was beaten into fourth last year at $4.40, while Incentivise ran second in 2021 when he started a $2.90 favourite.<\/p>\n But Casey said the odds meant very little.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know about markets or whatever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe horse doesn\u2019t know he\u2019s favourite, it wouldn\u2019t make him run faster anyway.<\/p>\n Vauban zipped around Flemington on Tuesday, impressing opposition trainer Mick Price.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cWe think we\u2019ve got two horses that can be competitive in the race, and we\u2019re happy with where they\u2019re at, at the moment, and the work they\u2019ve been doing. You need a lot of luck \u2026 so a lot is still to happen. If we can get them there in one piece in the form they\u2019re in, we\u2019d be delighted.\u201d<\/p>\n Vauban\u2019s stablemate Absurde \u2013 who ran second to Vauban at Royal Ascot when he won by 7.5 lengths in June \u2013 is a $21 chance with the TAB, and Casey said the gap between the two horses shouldn\u2019t be as significant as it is.<\/p>\n Absurde has since won the Ebor Handicap at York in August.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose maybe because Vauban has been favourite for so long, and everyone\u2019s looking at the Ascot race, maybe,\u201d Casey said, when asked why they were so far apart in the market.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Absurde is probably a better horse than he was at Ascot now, and he\u2019s getting a couple more kilos [off Vauban] now, so I can\u2019t imagine him being as far off as he was at Ascot.\u201d<\/p>\n As for comments by opposition trainer Mick Price, who described Vauban\u2019s hitout at Flemington on Tuesday as \u201cstaggering\u201d, Casey said it was a normal piece of work for his horses.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was getting blown out of proportion,\u201d Casey said.<\/p>\n Vauban (right) and Absurde (left) worked at Flemington on Tuesday.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cMick Price, [his horse Lastotchka] didn\u2019t do much less than we did. It looks like she went a mile, and we went 2400 metres, and she quickened up. But he\u2019s trained enough winners, so if he said he\u2019s happy with what he saw [from Vauban], then I\u2019m happy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe just try and keep it to the routine at home, as close as possible as we can … so it doesn\u2019t unsettle them too much. Thankfully, at the moment, they seem to be enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n Casey said it was important his two horses got a look at Flemington on Tuesday, a week out from the Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cFlemington\u2019s different to any other racetrack; obviously the tunnel leading into the mounting yard, and then the seagulls on the track and rows of bushes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Mullins is due to arrive in Melbourne over the weekend, ahead of the Cup.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, prominent owner Ozzie Kheir has confirmed Valiant King, who ran sixth in the Caulfield Cup for trainer Joseph O\u2019Brien, will take his place in Tuesday\u2019s Cup. Zac Lloyd has been booked to ride.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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