There is a little nod towards his European upbringing, another to his form in Australia as Vauban lines up in the Doomben Cup on Saturday.
The stayer, who arrived at the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott yard from Willie Mullins two years ago after a couple of Melbourne Cup runs, has been effective fresh at his new home.
So Adrian Bott decided after his third behind Aeliana in the Tancred Stakes in March, to freshen with the 2000m weight-for-age Group 1 a good option.
“We just thought he has been able to run well fresh since he has been with us and it looked a suitable race,” Bott said.
“He has some residual fitness from the autumn, and he can have a couple of runs up there in winter in races where he should be very competitive.”
”He has had a little break and a barrier trial and in the past that fresh run has been very good.”
Vauban has won twice at 2000m first-up since at Tulloch Lodge, including a bold on-speed win in the Sky High Stakes back in March.
His other first-up run was a third in the Chelmsford Stakes behind Lindermann and Sir Delius from last spring, which has aged well.
“He seems to enjoy that freshness in his legs and with the wet track around it will be in his favour as well,” Bott said.
“It is always hard to assess how a race is going to be run with Pride Of Jenni in it because of her style of getting them out of their comfort zone, but he will be strong at the end of strongly run 2000m.”
“What he has done is a little like he would have raced back at home [in Europe] and we are very happy with him.”
“We are finding the right races for him and having him ready for them.”
“It is a good quality race, but he is there ready to run well.”
Vauban is an $8 chance in the Doomben where bookmakers are having trouble splitting Birdman, Half Yours and Pride Of Jenni at the top of the market around the $3.80 quote.
