What Next For Vauban: Where will we next see beaten Melbourne Cup favourite?

It seemed every other poster on social media as the 2023  Melbourne Cup approached had a fancy docket with Vauban - Melbourne Cup written on it. When all was said and done, however, none of this tremendous ante-post value mattered as Willie Mullins' hotpot faded without a fight (sorry, had to) into fourteenth behind the winner Without A Fight.

Still just a six-year-old, this is by no means the end for Vauban in terms of his racing career and despite owner Rich Ricci insisting in the aftermath of the race he wouldn't jump a hurdle again, we've seen with another horse from this team whose name began with VAU to take what he says about targets with a pinch of salt. Billy Grimshaw takes a look at the potential next steps in Vauban's career..

No Rich Ricci Switch Switchy

Despite the tongue in cheek tone of the introductory paragraph, the most likely outcome for the next twelve months for Vauban is certainly a winter break and to be brought back next flat season as a single purpose horse rather than running through the winter over jumps. The riches on offer, and indeed the prestige, on the level dwarf that which can be won over obstacles and Willie Mullins will undoubtedly be itching to have another crack at the big one Down Under with the horse he was adamant represented his best ever chance.

There are already some Australians questioning the great Closutton handler, something we in the Northern Hemisphere would class as heresy, for engaging his two Cup chances in fast work so close to raceday. Undoubtedly Mullins will be frustrated about how poorly this raid went until he is allowed a chance at redemption. As he has proved in recently breaking his Gold Cup and Champion Chase ducks, he is determined to break hoodoos and Vauban will surely be back at the Melbourne Cup in 2024 barring injury. The most likely scenario is that he runs in all the big staying handicaps in Ireland and Britain before the Cup of 2024 is his season's crescendo.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it

Although the end result for Vauban and his connections was thoroughly unsatisfying, going out like a light at Flemington, his season prior to this on the level was spectacular. Perhaps he was simply so well handicapped in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot that he simply had to win, but there must also be a chance he was bouncing after a season training for jumps targets 

If there is a discovery about a specific reason things went so wrong in Australia, perhaps Mullins will reason with himself that this was just a cruel twist of fate and will go about repeating 2022/23 for Vauban, with a break from November potentially until March almost a certainty.

He could be sent off a huge price in a Champion Hurdle, in which he would once again have no chance if Constitution Hill is running, on seasonal debut. He could even start off 2024 in a Cheltenham Festival handicap as a pipe opener to begin his unorthodox dual purpose season, and who knows, if the horse is fresher than most jumping rivals he could even spring a surprise over hurdles at Aintree or Punchestown against tired rivals in a graded race while he builds his fitness.

Time to emigrate?

This is by far the least likely scenario (although I suppose it is more likely than Vauban being sent over a fence as a fanciful poster mused on X in the aftermath of Flemington), but there must be a temptation for Rich Ricci to send his prized flat racing possession for a full season Down Under to thoroughly prep for the 2024 Melbourne Cup.

It has not gone unnoticed, in a year when many of the Australian pundits were pessimistic about the home team's chances, that the first four home were all Aussie based. Those who kept the patriotic faith were rewarded and while there is no hinting from Ricci that he is remotely dissatisfied with anything Mullins has done in terms of preparation for Vauban here, the banker may recognise that for all Mullins' genius, he cannot simply plonk Closutton Down Under for the sake of a few Cup hopes per season.