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| Staff Writer |
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Willie Mullins' Melbourne Cup challengers Vauban and Absurde are thriving at Werribee as they gear up for Australia's most prestigious race on November 5. The Irish pair, fresh from their quarantine stint ending Sunday, are maintaining their base at the international centre ahead of the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
The US$5.8m contest has seen illustrious winners including Vintage Crop (1993), Delta Blues (2006), and last year's victor Without A Fight, who went on to land the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup. Mullins' 20-year pursuit of the trophy has yielded two placings with Max Dynamite (2015, 2017), while his first attempt came with Holy Orders (17th) in 2003.
David Casey, assistant trainer, is overseeing the preparations following last year's experience where Vauban (14th) and Absurde (7th) failed to fire. "Both took the trip well. They lost a little weight, which is normal, but had put it all back on by the next day, which was good," Casey reported.
The stable has implemented crucial changes this season, particularly with Vauban's programme. The 6YO enters the race battle-hardened after finishing third in the Curragh Cup, claiming the Lonsdale Cup, and running second in the Irish St Leger. Meanwhile, Chester Cup victor Absurde has been partnering with the Ciaron Maher-trained Playoffs in trackwork.
Casey elaborated on last year's learning curve: "We had to get him qualified, and we were so keen to get him here, that once he was qualified, we left him alone. It was a long time between races, three months or so, and we had to do a good deal of work with him, whereas this year we decided to make a plan, come out later and give him more runs into the race."
The maestro Mullins is expected in Melbourne this week for a brief visit before returning for race day. "He's coming out to see them both working and then come for the racing," Casey confirmed.
"Hopefully he likes what he sees, and at the moment we're very happy and hopefully everything will be OK."
The Irish contingent will step up their preparations in the coming days, having enjoyed a steady first week at Werribee. "They've been eating and drinking and have taken all the work that we have given them so far, but we haven't done anything strenuous yet," Casey added.
Last year's tactical approach is being revised after the team's reflection. "On the day, we gave our jockeys wrong instructions. We rode them too handy, and, on the day, it looked like you had to be dropped out. All-in-all, those little things told against us and hopefully we get a better result this year."