Irish trainer Willie Mullins hopes for breakthrough Melbourne Cup win with Vauban, Absurd

Irish head trainer Willie Mullins has brushed off talk of a Melbourne Cup buyback, saying Vauban is his best chance of winning the race that stops the nation.

Mullins has unfinished business at Flemington after Vauban was named favorite last year but finished in the back half of the field.

His stablemate Absurde was also highly respected and had a better performance, finishing in seventh place.

Vauban is currently second favorite for Tuesday’s $8 million at $7, behind the Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo ($6) and Absurde ($10) on the fifth betting line.

Mullins has attempted to win the Cup many times, closest to this point being Max Dynamite finishing second to the 100-1 shot Prince Of Penzance in 2015 and third to Rekindling two years later.

“As we know, you don’t just show up and collect the prize,” Mullins said.

“Last year a lot of people gave us marks for it, but I think the preparation of our horses this year was good.

“Vauban has been very good all season and he brings a lot of depth to the race.

“Absurd hasn’t done anything wrong and I think he’s a horse that’s growing in his mind all the time.”

Asked about choosing one of his two runners, Mullins said: “Vauban’s form stands out.

“But I don’t know how good the other horse is – he continues to improve.”

Top weight Vauban (55.5kg) and champion British jockey William Buick will jump from barrier 11, while three-time Cup-winning jockey Kerryn McEvoy will ride Absurd (52.5kg) from barrier seven.

“Very, very pleased (with the draw). I don’t think we can blame it on barriers or anything like that,” Mullins said.

“The weather forecast looks good. I think it’s 25 or 26 degrees and sunny – we can handle it.”

“Last year was a tough year for Irish horses, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees.”

Mullins is desperate to win the race, which he first witnessed live in 1993 when compatriot Dermot Weld won the cup in the first year of the international race with Vintage Crop.

“This is probably the biggest race in the world that I can win with the horses we buy,” said the 68-year-old trainer.

“That’s why we would really like to win this race.

“We came back and tried to win. I hope this year will be our year.”

Mullins disagreed with suggestions that the 2024 Cup line-up will be softer than last year.

“I don’t really know, but people tell me it is,” he said.

“There’s a very good favorite (Buckaroo), but he probably doesn’t have the best draw in the race.

“But he’ll be hard to beat.”

AARP