Vauban ticks Melbourne Cup 2024 boxes for William Buick

Posted by RS NewsWire at 8:36pm on November 4th

Jet-setting jockey William Buick has ridden two winners of the Melbourne Cup, but not on the day they were successful.

Buick is about to embark on his sixth ride in the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday and has labelled Irish galloper Vauban his best chance of winning the race.

Vauban is the $7 equal favourite in Melbourne Cup odds, sharing the top line with Buckaroo.

Buick partnered Cross Counter the year after the Charlie Appleby-trained then three-year-old won the Cup in 2018 while he partnered last year’s Cup winner Without A Fight when 13th in 2022.

On a high having scored in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Sunday (Australian time), Buick flew into Melbourne on Monday morning.

“I’ve had good rides in the race, but they haven’t materialised whereas I think Vauban is the classiest horse I’ve ridden in the Cup so far,” Buick said.

Buick loves coming back to Melbourne for the Cup, adding the race is one that he would dearly love to win.

He said Vauban, for whatever reason when ridden by Ryan Moore last year, did not run to his true form, but believes he is the class runner of this year’s field.

“He’s a high-class horse,” Buick said.

“They knew, and everyone involved with the horse knew, that he is better than the running he gave and when he came into the Cup last year, he had a fair level of form.

“This year, he’s stepped up again. He’s carrying the weight for it, but his form is rock-solid in the UK and Ireland and the two miles is his optimum trip.”

Buick has ridden Vauban in three of his five starts this year and believes the stayer is the right horse to finally give him that Melbourne Cup victory.

“I think it’s his pace, his adaptability,” Buick said.

“He reacts to different circumstances and scenarios which is what you need in a race like the Cup.

“He has that tactical speed to get a position, he relaxes and has that finishing kick over two miles.

“I’ve never won the Melbourne Cup, but in my experience that ticks a lot of boxes.”

While Buick has been impressed by the wins of Onesmoothoperator and Sea King in the Geelong Cup and Bendigo Cup respectively since their arrival in Australia, he believes Vauban would have them covered if the race was in the UK or Ireland.

“He’s competed against the best stayers we have,” Buick said of Vauban.

“But Onesmoothoperator and Sea King are coming off good wins over here leading up to the Cup.

“I have huge respect for them, but Vauban has the best form.”

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th