Vauban will bid to start the autumn carnival in exactly the same way he began the last – by winning the Sky High Stakes at Rosehill.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said the stable had opted to follow the same template as 12 months ago, at least for his first two runs.
“It’s the race he won twelve months ago, so we tried to do a similar prep for him,” Bott said.
“He is well placed, and he seems in good shape.”
Vauban took out the Sky High Stakes (2000m) last year before finishing third behind Dubai Honour and Duke De Sessa in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m).
Those two races are again on the agenda, while longer-term, a Brisbane winter carnival campaign will be entertained.
“Last year we went to the Tancred, which he was a touch unlucky in. If he resumes as well as he did last year, all things being equal we will look at that race again,” Bott said.
“If not, there are other targets we can look at.
“He’s not confirmed for a Sydney Cup path this time through, we might just keep him at that 2000, 2400 and then potentially look at some options in Queensland as well.”
Vauban hasn’t raced since finishing sixth in the Melbourne Cup but has had three trials to give him a solid foundation for his return.
While a spring Cups campaigns can be taxing on horses, Bott says Vauban has bounced out of it.
“It’s amazing. He has thrived off the back of it,” he said.
“He has just looked tremendous this campaign, so hopefully that’s a good indication.”
The stable will also have Just Fine in the Sky High and Bott expects him to strip much fitter for his midfield effort in the Parramatta Cup (2000m) when he was beaten three lengths.
That was his first run in 10 months, and the horse has been pleasing with his work at home.
“He’d had a while off the scene so he will be better for that run,” Bott said.
“He finished alongside Campaldino the other day, who then came out and won well.
“I was really pleased with him going into that run, and I still have been.”
Tulloch Lodge is one of only two stables represented in the Sky High Stakes with Chris Waller saddling the other seven runners.
