This year's G2 Lonsdale Cup winner Vauban (Fr) is set to continue his racing career in Australia, having been purchased by Australian Bloodstock, in partnership with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, for a rumoured fee of around A$2 million (€1.23 million). The news was confirmed by Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett on Wednesday.
Previously trained by Willie Mullins, Vauban had been expected to return to Ireland in preparation for a tilt at the G1 Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the scene of his first major success for Mullins and owner Rich Ricci when winning the G1 Triumph Hurdle in 2022.
However, the son of Galiway (GB) is now set for a spell on the sidelines following his reported sale, before heading into training with Waterhouse and Bott ahead of a potential third start in the G1 Melbourne Cup in 2025. Only fourteenth when sent off favourite last year, he then returned to Flemington to finish eleventh in the latest edition won by Knight's Choice (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}).
Vauban embarks on his new career in Australia as the winner of five of his 13 starts on the Flat, as well as being a three-time winner over hurdles. Successful at Listed level on the Flat in France prior to joining Mullins, he also counted last year's Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot among his big-race victories for that stable, while his final appearance in Europe saw him fill the runner-up spot behind star stayer Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh.
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