'We got what we thought he would get' - Willie Mullins satisfied with Vauban's Melbourne Cup weight

There were no nasty surprises for Willie Mullins at the announcement of the weights for the Lexus Melbourne Cup with ante-post favourite Vauban being allocated 55kg, a burden the jumps supremo said he was "happy enough" with.

The 2022 Triumph Hurdle winner has made a seamless transition from jumping to the Flat and his relentless victory from the front in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot shot him to the summit of the Melbourne Cup market. He qualified for the race by winning the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes at Naas last month and is now generally 4-1 to win Australia's most famous race. 

A maximum field of 24 can take part in the Melbourne Cup and Vauban sits 16th in the weights after they were released on Tuesday. He will bid to provide Mullins with a first win in the historic race and the trainer said it is a case of so far so good with his preparation. Vauban is due to fly to Melbourne next week and will not have a prep run before the big day on November 7.

Mullins said: "We are happy enough with the weight Vauban has been allocated. We got what we thought he would get. 

Willie Mullins: satisfied with the weight Vauban received Credit: Edward Whitaker

"Everything is going well at Newmarket at the moment. He's in quarantine and he passed his second veterinary test with flying colours this morning [Tuesday] so we're very happy with him. He will fly over to Australia some time next week."

When asked whether he intends to run Vauban in a prep race over in Melbourne before the big day, Mullins replied: "No, I don't think I'd want to upset him. He's going straight to the race."

Vauban's stablemate Absurde, guaranteed a run following victory in the 'win and you're in' Ebor at York last month and therefore exempt from the ballot, has been allocated a weight of 53kg. A final decision on his participation has yet to be made. 

The King and Queen's St Leger third Desert Hero, whose trainer William Haggas said he could head for the Melbourne Cup on Monday, has been given a weight of 51.5kg, while the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained West Wind Blows has been allocated 54kg.

Broome, trained by Aidan O'Brien and last seen finishing third in last Thursday's Doncaster Cup, would race off joint-second top weight of 56.5kg alongside Alenquer – a Group 1 winner in Europe when trained by Haggas but now with Michael Moroney. The O'Brien-trained Tower Of London was allocated 50.5kg.

Last year's winner Gold Trip will bid for back-to-back successes off a top weight of 58.5kg, but no horse has carried more than 58kg to victory since Think Big did so in 1975.

At the release of the weights, Racing Victoria's head of handicapping David Hegen said: "Gold Trip presented the biggest challenge in terms of where he sat in the weights. We have effectively lifted him 2kg from his true weight last year, which is less than the penalty afforded other Melbourne Cup winners in recent times. However, we are mindful that it is 48 years since a horse has carried 58.5kg to victory, so a significant challenge awaits."

Soulcombe, winner of last year's Melrose at York for William Haggas and the 8-1 second favourite, has been given 53.5kg.

The weights were also revealed for the Caulfield Cup, which takes place on October 21, with Gold Trip also allocated top weight of 58.5kg and West Wind Blows, who could be the only British-trained runner in the line-up in the 1m4f Group 1, given 54kg.

The second acceptance stage for the Caulfield Cup closes on September 26, while the first acceptance stage for the Melbourne Cup takes place on October 3.

Read the Lexus Melbourne Cup weights here

4.00 Flemington, November 4, Lexus Melbourne Cup
Sky Bet: 4 Vauban, 8 Soulcombe, 10 Francesco Guardi, 12 Desert Hero, Tower Of London, 14 Just Fine, Lunar Flare, West Wind Blows, 16 Breakup, Goldman, Without A Fight, 20 bar

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