Vauban Bound for Melbourne Cup After Ballyroan Success

[Wandering Eyes]

Flemington beckons for Rich Ricci's Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) after the classy stayer made light of the switch to 12 furlongs in Monday's G3 Ballyroan S. at Naas. A winner of the Listed Prix Frederic de Lagrange before turning into a high-class hurdler, the five-year-old had marked his return to the Flat with an authoritative success from the front in Royal Ascot's Copper Horse H. and took the move to Pattern company in his stride here.

Always comfortable tracking this faster early tempo in third, the 4-6 favourite was sent to the front three out by Colin Keane and remained in command from there to register a 1 1/2-length verdict over the three-year-old Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion).

Trainer Willie Mullins's assistant David Casey said, “It ticked a box, which we were here for today, to get placed to qualify for the Melbourne Cup. I think there is plenty of improvement in him. He had a little break after Ascot and was ready to start back today. I don't know whether he'll have another run or not, or go straight there. Willie will decide that.”

Pedigree Notes

Vauban is the first foal out of Waldfest (GB) (Hurricane Run {Ire}), a daughter of Gifted Icon (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) who is a half-sister to the G1 St Leger hero Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and the G3 Prix Penelope scorer Waldlerche (GB) (Monsun {Ger}). She in turn produced the four-time Group 1-winning Arc hero Waldgeist (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the group winners Waldlied (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and Waldkonig (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Also connected to last year's G3 Gordon S. winner and St Leger runner-up New London (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and to the sire's G1 Deutsches Derby winner Waldpark (Ger), Waldfest has the unraced two-year-old gelding Manigod (Fr) (American Devil {Fr}) and the yearling filly Waldtimes (GB) (Jimmy Two Times {Fr}).

Monday, Naas, Ireland
BALLYROAN S.-G3, €50,000, Naas, 8-7, 3yo/up, 11f 202yT, 2:35.41, sf.
1–VAUBAN (FR), 135, g, 5, by Galiway (GB)
1st Dam: Waldfest (GB), by Hurricane Run (Ire) 2nd Dam: Gifted Icon (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Waldmark (Ger), by Mark of Esteem (Ire)
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Mrs S Ricci; B-Philippe Decouz & SCEA du Bas Bugey (FR); T-Willie Mullins; J-Colin Keane. €30,000. Lifetime Record: SW-Fr, 14-7-3-1, $557,591. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Valiant King (GB), 125, c, 3, Roaring Lion–Assembly, by Candy Ride (Arg). 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Qatar Racing Limited; B-The Assembly Partnership (GB); T-Joseph O'Brien. €10,000. 3–Peking Opera (Ire), 125, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Bugle, by War Front. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Premier Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O=Brien. €5,000.
Margins: 1HF, 4HF, 1. Odds: 0.67, 3.30, 6.50.
Also Ran: Layfayette (Ire), Sunchart (GB), Pivotal Trigger (GB), Safecracker (GB), Gooloogong (Ire).

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