Key facts
- Vauban: $51 in the betting at 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026.
- Trainer Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott; jockey Blake Shinn.
- Weight: 56.5kg.
- Vet: Re-examination on Friday morning after a change in gait at the 29 October inspection.
Is Vauban running in the 2026 Melbourne Cup?
Vauban is in the projected field of 24 for the 2026 Melbourne Cup. Vet status: re-examination on Friday morning after a change in gait at the 29 October inspection. The full list of runners and their status is on our Melbourne Cup field page.
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Vauban at a glance
| Detail | Vauban |
|---|---|
| Status | In the projected field of 24 |
| Order of entry | 13 |
| How he got here | Ballot (order of entry) |
| Sex and age | Gelding, 9 years old (Australian age) |
| Bred in | FR |
| Trainer | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| Jockey | Blake Shinn |
| Weight | 56.5kg |
| Odds | $51 (Ladbrokes fixed odds (all-in market), 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026) |
| Vet status | Re-examination on Friday morning after a change in gait at the 29 October inspection |
| At Flemington | Three Melbourne Cup runs: 14th (2023), 11th (2024), 6th (2025) |
| At 3200m | Three Melbourne Cup runs: 14th, 11th and 6th |
What is Vauban's recent form?
Vauban is chasing a fourth Melbourne Cup start. He ran 14th in 2023, 11th in 2024 and sixth in 2025, when he carried 56.5kg from barrier two. He is the oldest horse in the projected field at nine.
What are Vauban's Melbourne Cup chances?
His Cup form has improved each year. Blake Shinn, who won the 2008 Cup on Viewed, rides after his original mount Saint George was scratched. Gai Waterhouse won the 2013 Cup with Fiorente. He must first pass a vet re-examination on Friday morning.
In him favour:
- Cup form has improved each year (14th, 11th, 6th)
- Blake Shinn, a past Cup-winning jockey
Against him:
- Vet re-examination on Friday
- Aged nine
How do Vauban's odds compare?
At $51, Vauban sits among the outsiders in the betting. Prices move quickly in Cup week, especially after the barrier draw on Saturday night and the track rating on Tuesday morning. Every runner's price is on our Melbourne Cup odds table.
Frequently asked questions
Who trains Vauban?
Vauban is trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.
Who is riding Vauban in the Melbourne Cup?
Blake Shinn is booked to ride Vauban. Riders must be declared by 4:30pm on Saturday 31 October.
What weight does Vauban carry in the Melbourne Cup?
Vauban is set to carry 56.5kg.
What are Vauban's odds for the Melbourne Cup?
Vauban was $51 with Ladbrokes fixed odds (all-in market) at 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026. Odds change often, so check before you bet.
Has Vauban passed the Melbourne Cup vet checks?
Re-examination on Friday morning after a change in gait at the 29 October inspection.
How did Vauban get into the Melbourne Cup?
Ballot (order of entry).
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Sources
Who wrote and checked this page
Alexander Korsager
Alexander Korsager is our editor-in-chief. He has spent more than ten years in online gambling and iGaming, including senior leadership roles. He writes every Melbourne Cup guide on this site from official VRC and Racing Victoria sources.
Mark D'Andrea
Mark D'Andrea is a Senior Regulatory Consultant at Gaming Associates, an independent testing and certification laboratory for the gambling industry. He fact-checks our race guides, betting rules and safer gambling information.