Mullins Eyes Future Melbourne Cup with Absurde

Willie Mullins remains optimistic about his Melbourne Cup aspirations after Absurde finished a commendable fifth in the Flemington feature. Mullins fielded Absurde and Vauban in the prestigious two-mile race, hoping for improvement from both, especially Vauban, who underperformed in last year’s event.

Jockeyed by Kerrin McEvoy, Absurde encountered some trouble early on, finding himself further back than planned. Despite this setback, he made an impressive late surge along the inside rail, finishing just under two lengths behind the winner. Vauban, ridden by William Buick, showed early promise but ultimately faded to 11th, confirming suspicions that the track may not suit him.

“Absurde ran an incredible race from where he was positioned—definitely a run to be proud of,” Mullins told Channel Nine. “Vauban, though, struggled midway. We’ll assess him, but he may not return, whereas Absurde might have another shot here.”

Buick remarked that Vauban’s performance didn’t meet expectations: “He travelled well initially but came under pressure earlier than I anticipated.”

Other European hopes also fell short. Brian Ellison’s Onesmoothoperator, recent winner of the Geelong Cup, finished 12th, while Sea King, trained by Harry Eustace, ended up in 14th. Sea King, who secured his Cup entry with a Bendigo Cup victory, struggled to overcome a slow start from stall one, ultimately lacking the ground to make a meaningful impact.

Reflecting on Sea King’s future, Eustace told Grosvenor Sport, “It’s been a fantastic journey with him. He’ll remain in Australia with Matt Dunn and Aussie owners OTI Racing, who’ll certainly enjoy more great days with him.”

As Mullins looks ahead, he’s hopeful Absurde will return for another Melbourne Cup attempt, confident the horse’s potential and the HOS Syndicate’s support make him a promising contender for future editions.