Vauban has been heavily backed by horse racing pundits to bounce back from the 2023 disappointment and win this year’s Melbourne Cup.
The seven-year-old from the stable of master Irish trainer Willie Mullins is the bookies’ $6.50 favorite (as of Monday morning) after also entering the race as favorite last year.
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That moniker has been somewhat of a curse in recent years as Vauban finished in the back half of the field twelve months ago to extend the favourite’s run of wins since Fiorente in 2013.
But pundits believe Vauban will be better for the run, that he is in better form twelve months on and could hand Mullins a first Cup (the closest he came was a second in 2015).
Stablemate Absurde also got a lot of love from the expert tipsters, while Onesmootheroperator, Buckaroo, Zardozi and Sea King were all well liked.
Who will win the money on Tuesday afternoon? See who people in the know support.
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Via Sistina will not participate in the Melbourne Cup | 00:28
JIM CASSIDY (foxsports.com.au)
1. SEA KING
2. Interpretation
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Buckaroo
TREVOR MARSHALSY (foxsports.com.au)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Sea King
3. Absurd
4. Interpretation
DANIEL NUTTALL (foxsports.com.au)
1. VOBAN
2. Blacksmith
3. Saint George
4. Athabaskan
SCOTT GULLAN (News Corp)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Buckaroo
3. Interpretation
4. The map
BEN DORIS (News Corp)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Sea King
3. Interpretation
4. The Knight’s Choice
TRENTON ACRES (News Corp)
1. VOBAN
2. Earth legend
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Absurd
CLINTON PAINE (Racenet.com.au)
1. VOBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Absurd
4. Zardozi
MITCH COHEN (News Corp)
1. BUKARU
2. Vauban
3. Fire circle
4. Onesmoothoperator
SHANE O’CASS (News Corp)
1. ZARDOZI
2. Blacksmith
3. Vauban
4. Athabaskan
JET HUTTON (News Corp)
1. BUKARU
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Fire circle
4. Sharp ‘N’ Smart
MICHELLE PAINE (Melbourne Cup winning jockey)
1. ABSURD
2. Vauban
3. Buckaroo
4. Okita Sushi
JAMES LAMB (Punters.com.au)
1. BUKARU
2. Okita Sushi
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Vauban
DANIEL SANKEY (News Corp)
1. ABSURD
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Earth legend
4. Vauban
ANDREW RUHL (News Corp)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Vauban
3. Okita Sushi
4. Absurd
GILBERT GARDINER (News Corp)
1. VOBAN
2. A valiant king
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Sharp ‘N’ Smart
BRAD WATERS (News Corp)
1. BUKARU
2. Sharp ‘N’ Smart
3. Vauban
4. Okita Sushi
MORE MELBOURNE CUP NEWS
DUMMIES’ GUIDE: How to bet on the Melbourne Cup
ULTIMATE GUIDE: How much the winner earns and the horses punters are backing
FINAL FIELD: Who made the cut in 2024?
WEATHER FORECAST: What is the weather forecast for the 2024 Melbourne Cup?
BARRIER DRAW: The race is open after the favorite shocker
GLENN MACFARLAINE (News Corp)
1. VOBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Sea King
4. Onesmoothoperator
CHRIS VERNUCHIO (News Corp)
1. VOBAN
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Absurd
4. Buckaroo
RAY THOMAS (News Corp)
1. ABSURD
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Buckaroo
4. Zardozi
ADAM SHEA (News Corp)
1. VOBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Zardozi
4. Earth legend
FRANCESKA CUMANI (Channel 9)
1. VOBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Absurd
4. Zardozi
SIMON O’DONNELL (Channel 9)
1. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
2. Vauban
3. Zardozi
4. Saint George
DANNY RUSSELL (The Age)
1. VOBAN
2. Okita Sushi
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Buckaroo
PETER RYAN (The Age)
1. VOBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Earth legend
4. Onesmoothoperator
NICK QUINN (Ladbrokes)
1. BUKARU
2. Vauban
3. Blacksmith
4. Onesmoothoperator
GLENN BOSS (Melbourne Cup winning jockey)
1. VOBAN
2. Buckaroo
3. Okita Sushi
4. Onesmoothoperator
KATE BROMLEY (Ladbrokes)
1. ZARDOZI
2. Vauban
3. Onesmoothoperator
4. Sea King
MITCH LEWIS (Betfair)
1. VOBAN
2. Onesmoothoperator
3. Zardozi
4. Buckaroo