Willie Mullins 'disappointed' after Vauban fails to fire at Flemington again - but trainer refuses to give up on Melbourne Cup dream

Willie Mullins remains as determined as ever to win the Melbourne Cup, despite being out of luck in the latest running with Vauban and Absurde.

Vauban was sent off the 9-2 favourite a year ago when he finished 14th and, after being sent off the 7-1 third-favourite this time, he could only go three places better when 11th under William Buick. The Susannah Ricci-owned star came under pressure turning in and finished five and a quarter lengths behind shock 90-1 winner Knight's Choice.

Mullins said: "Obviously Vauban doesn't like conditions down here, which is disappointing. Everything went well beforehand but you could see from halfway that he wasn't enjoying it."

Rich Ricci, who owns Vauban alongside wife Susannah, added: "We're disappointed again. He looked like a picture in the mounting yard and was ready to rock. William said from halfway he was flat out and I think we did well to finish eleventh.

"For whatever reason he just doesn't seem to travel down here well and we're puzzled. Maybe we should stay here, I don't know. I'll talk to Willie and we'll have to figure out what to do as I'm not sure what we can do in Europe with him."

Absurde finished best of the Irish- and British-trained runners for the second year. Seventh last year, he went two places better this time when beaten a length and three-quarters under Kerrin McEvoy.

Absurde (pink cap): fared best of the British and Irish challengers in the Melbourne CupCredit: Robert Cianflone (Getty Images)

A winner of last year's Ebor on the Flat and the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, Absurde's gallant effort has likely booked him another trip to Australia in 2025, with Mullins still eager to add the Melbourne Cup to his glittering CV.

"Absurde ran a cracker considering he got shuffled back further than anticipated and Kerrin wanted to be," he added. "He had to ride the race presented to him and he rode a terrific race to get back up to be fifth.

"Racing is full of disappointments and that's just another one. We'll keep coming back if we have the ammunition and I think Absurde will return. The owners are keen as they've had a wonderful time. We've bought a few new horses that might make into Melbourne Cup horses, so the quest is still on."

Willie Mullins: "We've bought a few new horses that might make into Melbourne Cup horses and the quest is still on"Credit: Vince Caligiuri (Getty Images)

Brian Ellison's Geelong Cup hero Onesmoothoperator was popular with punters and backed into 6-1 before the off, but he never got into contention and finished a five-and-three-quarter-length 12th.

Ellison said: "He just got too far back and then got hampered turning in. Nothing really went right for him but that's racing. We've had a great trip still as he's won.

"The last week hasn't been great with him pulling his shoe off and you want to go into these races at 100 per cent. Even though he didn't miss a lot of work, if you get a cut it still causes some issues."

Sea King finished two places further back under Hollie Doyle in 14th, with trainer Harry Eustace out of luck with his first Melbourne Cup runner.

He said: "He got back when winning the Bendigo Cup but that was a lower class and they didn't go as quick early on, whereas today they went hard to the first bend and by the time he found his feet they were all in front of him.

"You're a victim to luck then. He ran pretty well before petering out in the final furlong, but he'll be fun down here as he's staying."

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