Cup Day: Irish Stayers On Song For Cup

MASTER Irish trainer Willie Mullins believes he has never been in a better position to win a Melbourne Cup after 20 years of trying.

Mullins saddles up Vauban who has been favourite for over two months and is $4.80 with PlayUp and also Absurde who is $10.

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Mullins has been trying to win the Melbourne Cup for 20 years with best finishes of second to Prince Of Penzance in 2015 and third to Rekindling in 2017.

Mullins said Vauban was the best chance he had ever had in a Melbourne Cup.

He also pointed out that this was the first time he had a runner in the Melbourne Cup who had drawn a good barrier with Vauban starting from Gate 3.

Mullins told Racing.Com Vauban’s preparation had been without a problem.

Vauban won at Ascot by 7.5 lengths two starts ago over 2816 metres and followed that with a Group 3 victory at Naas on August 7 in the Ballyroan Stakes.

The only worrying aspect going into the race Mullins could find was a query on the heat at Flemington.

Mullins also said Vauban’s stablemate Asburde was also a good each-way chance.

Sam Freedman believes Without A Fight is primed to become the 12th horse to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double.

The stable received a boost when Mark Zahra elected to stay with Without A Fight in preference to last year’s Melbourne Cup winner.

THE TIPS

WITHOUT A FIGHT ($6.50 PlayUp):

He was very strong to the line in the Caulfield Cup which indicated he’s looking for 3200 metres. He defeated a smart galloper in West Wind Blows and Gold Trip who finished third. It’s significant Mark Zahra has stuck with him. From barrier 16 he should be able to find a nice mid-field position.

BREAKUP ($19):

He didn’t fire in the Caulfield Cup in the closing stages but his trainer said he has improved and will be better suited at Flemington. At his last run over 3200 metres he finished fourth in the Tenno Sho which is good enough to win this.

GOLD TRIP ($7) :

If there’s any rain about he will be the horse to beat. He’s racing as well if not better than last year. He’s good enough to win with 58.5 kilos.

FUTURE HISTORY ($20):

He’s the horse on the minimum who possesses the right form to win a Melbourne Cup. He followed his Bart Cummings win with an unlucky third in the Moonee Valley Cup. He will have the services of Holly Doyle and horses with his profile who carry 50 kilos generally run well.

BEST ROUGHIE: SERPENTINE ($40):

He didn’t have a lot go right for him when he finished third in the Bart Cummings. He drops seven kilos on that run and from barrier one he should get an energy conserving run.