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Who Gai Waterhouse would be backing in the Melbourne Cup
SENTrack & RSN • September 10th, 2025 3:05 pm
Stablemates Sir Delius and Vauban both performed impressively in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on the weekend, running second and third respectively.
The legendary Gai Waterhouse, who trains the duo with Adrian Bott, joined SEN & RSN’s Giddy Up to discuss her Melbourne Cup plans around those horses.
Sir Delius is the current favourite to win the Melbourne Cup at $8 with Sportsbet, while Vauban has been wound in to third favourite at $12.
“He (Sir Delius) is really an exciting horse,” Waterhouse said on SENTrack & RSN’s Giddy Up.
“Don’t take anything away from Vauban. He was breathing down (Sir Delius’) neck (in the Chelmsford). A very, very good horse.
“He’s proven over the distance. He’ll be (about) 20-1 and the other horse will be a short-priced favourite.
“I’d have to have something on both of them, I really would.”
In preparation for the Cup on the first Tuesday in November, Waterhouse announced which races the pair will compete in.
“Vauban stays in Sydney for the Kingston Town in about two weeks,” Waterhouse revealed.
“Sir Delius comes down and goes to the Turnbull, then he’ll head on a path towards the Cox Plate. The preparation for Sir Delius is very much that of Fiorente (who won the 2013 Cup for Gai).
“Hopefully they’ll be there on the day and can run the quinella.”
Vauban, who was formerly trained by Willie Mullins, has started as the favourite in the past two Melbourne Cups, but underperformed in both years.
Waterhouse has affirmed that the Waterhouse & Bott team have done everything they can to acclimatise Vauban to the Flemington track where they have a small stable.
“He’s going to be living at Flemington, he’ll have plenty of exposure to Flemington,” Waterhouse said.
“I couldn’t tell you the amount of hours we’ve put in with the gelding to get him acquainted so he feels relaxed when he goes into a mounting enclosure.
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