Patrick Mullins has urged punters not to forget
in the Melbourne Cup, despite
appearing to be the stable first string.
Absurde has had a far from traditional campaign since finishing seventh, beaten just over five lengths, in Flemington 12 months ago.
He had three runs over hurdles, culminating in a thrilling success in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, before a wide-margin defeat in the Irish St Leger Trial. However, he got back to winning ways in style in Listed company at Chester.
Vauban, on the other hand, has been mixing with the best and was a fine second to Kyprios last time out having also won the Lonsdale Cup.
“To get two of them back there is fantastic – last year it didn’t work out. We made our tactics before the race and it didn’t work out,” Mullins, assistant trainer to his father Willie, told Sporting Life.com.
“As it turned out, we were using the wrong tactics because all of the horses in the first six were in the second half of the field and our two were in the first half and that’s just how it happened on the day.
“Vauban didn’t handle the really hot weather on the day well either. We’re changing things around, and sending him out a bit later this time around. He would have gone down a lot earlier last year.
“They’re both going there in good form with good runs lately and I think we should just draw a line under last year. I don’t think it means they can’t win it and I think we’ll change our tactics. We’ll certainly change our preparation, and we will go again.”
He went on: “Definitely (there’s unfinished business), we know Vauban is better than that, so we draw a line through that.
“Absurde last year really caught my eye. Of all the horses who raced in the first half of the field, he was one who went the closest. I think we’ll ride him a little bit differently this year as he’s a horse who’s a little bit more bred for the race than Vauban.
“He’s more of a Flat type, and a good ground Flat type as well. I know all the hype is around Vauban, but I wouldn’t forget Absurde, I thought his performance last year was eyecatching.”