"Vauban and Absurde Lead European Charge for Lexus Melbourne Cup - Former Champion Serpentine Among 123 Initial Nominations"
Vauban and Absurde once again lead the European contenders for the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 5.
The Willie Mullins-trained duo competed in the two-mile Group One last year, with Vauban going off as the favourite under Ryan Moore but finishing a disappointing 14th out of 23 runners, while Absurde secured a respectable seventh place.
Vauban earned his spot in this year's race with a victory in the Lonsdale Cup at York last month, and Absurde clinched the Listed Chester Stakes over the weekend. Mullins also has a third entrant in Hipop De Loire, who finished fifth in the Ebor.
Magical Zoe, trained by Henry de Bromhead, secured an automatic Melbourne Cup berth by winning the Ebor and is part of a strong Irish contingent that includes Aidan O'Brien's runners Grosvenor Square, Illinois, Jan Brueghel, Point Lonsdale, The Equator, and The Euphrates.
While there were no British-trained runners last year, Brian Ellison's Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator and the John and Thady Gosden-trained Arrest are entered this time.
Andrew Balding has two possible entries in Night Sparkle and Relentless Voyager, while Jean-Claude Rouget has entered Delius.
Last year's winner, ex-British runner Without A Fight, triumphed for Anthony and Sam Freedman and is among the 123 initial nominees.
Other notable names on the list include Poptronic, now trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after winning on Champions Day for Karl Burke last year, Place Du Carrousel, 2020 Derby winner Serpentine, and Middle Earth, a Group Three winner for the Gosdens earlier this season who will now represent Ciaron Maher.
