After a second year of unfulfilled hopes in the Melbourne Cup, trainer Willie Mullins is considering a switch back to hurdling for his horse Vauban, potentially eyeing the Stayers’ Hurdle as the next challenge. Last season, Vauban entered the Flemington race as the favourite but fell short. This year, he returned to Australia with fresh confidence after a victory in the Lonsdale Cup at York and a second-place finish behind the top-stayer Kyprios in the Irish St Leger. However, Vauban struggled once more, placing 11th out of 23, while his stablemate Absurde managed a solid fifth.
Looking ahead, Mullins plans to send Absurde back to the Melbourne Cup in 2025, but for Vauban, the future might lie over hurdles. Mullins told Racing TV that, despite seemingly favourable 25-degree weather on race day, Vauban didn’t seem to settle well in Australia. While Absurde showed promise with his strong performance, Mullins remarked that Vauban might not be suited to the long journey down under, indicating that Absurde will likely return next year.
With Vauban set to return soon, Mullins has a few options on the table. He mentioned a potential race in Saudi Arabia, though he’s also considering a shift to the jumping circuit with a possible Stayers' Hurdle entry if his owner, Rich Ricci, supports the idea. Mullins observed that although Vauban might not be quick enough for a Champion Hurdle and has shown some inconsistencies in his jumping, a slightly slower pace over a longer distance could play to his strengths, giving him a chance to shine in the staying hurdle category.