<h2>Vauban Teams up with Waterhouse for 2025 Melbourne Cup – Trifecta Summary:</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>- &nbsp; Gai Waterhouse saddles up Vauban for his third consecutive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/horse-racing/australia-nz/flemington/race-7-9797762?utm_source=huddle&amp;utm_medium=banner&amp;utm_campaign=melbourne_cup_2025_ab">Melbourne Cup</a> tilt after transferring from Willie Mullins' stable</p> <p>- &nbsp; The UK import has been based in Australia for 12 months following disappointing 11th place finish in 2024</p> <p>- &nbsp; Waterhouse seeks her second Melbourne Cup victory, 12 years after Fiorente delivered her maiden triumph in 2013</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Waterhouse Eyes Second Melbourne Cup Glory</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Racing royalty Gai Waterhouse stands on the cusp of potentially capturing her second Melbourne Cup triumph, with UK import Vauban representing her sole chance in the 2025 edition of Australia's most prestigious race.</p> <p>The first lady of Australian racing, who boasts an extraordinary 163 Group 1 victories, last tasted Melbourne Cup success in 2013 when Fiorente stormed home under Damien Oliver.</p> <p>Since that memorable victory 12 years ago, Waterhouse has endured near misses and disappointments in the race that stops the nation.</p> <p>Her most recent setback came just weeks before this year's running when Melbourne Cup favourite Sir Delius was ruled out for the remainder of the spring carnival after Racing Victoria officials deemed the horse a heightened injury risk.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Vauban's Australian Transformation</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The spotlight now falls on Vauban, a gelding familiar to Melbourne Cup punters having contested the previous two renewals.</p> <p>His form at Flemington reads modestly - 14th in 2023 and 11th in 2024 - but significant changes have occurred behind the scenes that could unlock improvement.</p> <p>Following his disappointing 2024 Melbourne Cup performance under legendary UK trainer Willie Mullins, Vauban made the permanent switch to Waterhouse and co-trainer Adrian Bott's operation.</p> <p>Crucially, the gelding has spent the past 12 months acclimatising to Australian conditions, a factor that could prove decisive in his third Melbourne Cup assault.</p> <p>"He's got the ability — it's a matter of him putting his best foot forward," Waterhouse told the media this week. "He's a bit like the girl with a curl — you never know which side of the bed he's going to get out of."</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Vauban Factor in Melbourne Cup Betting</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Waterhouse's colourful assessment highlights both the promise and unpredictability surrounding Vauban's chances.</p> <p>The trainer's candid evaluation reveals a horse with genuine ability but questionable consistency - traits that create intriguing possibilities for Melbourne Cup betting markets.</p> <p>The extended Australian preparation represents a significant departure from Vauban's previous Melbourne Cup campaigns, when he arrived as a fresh European import.</p> <p>This localised training approach mirrors successful strategies employed by other international raiders who have conquered Flemington.</p> <p>Waterhouse's experience in the Melbourne Cup remains invaluable. Her tactical acumen, combined with Vauban's proven ability to handle Flemington's unique challenges, positions the combination as a compelling proposition despite the gelding's mixed recent form.</p> <p>"He's unusual for a gelding, he's got lots of personality and he's very capable of running a very big race," Waterhouse added, suggesting confidence in her stable star's capabilities.</p> <p>For Waterhouse, the opportunity to add another Melbourne Cup to her exceptional training record represents the perfect culmination of a remarkable career spanning decades at racing's pinnacle.</p> <p>Vauban's journey from European campaigner to Australian-trained Melbourne Cup contender embodies the international appeal and competitive depth that continues to define the race that stops the nation.</p>