MELBOURNE: Buckaroo and Vauban head into Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup as joint favorites in Australia’s “race that stops a nation,” where there will be a record four women jockeys. Carrying 54.5kg, the Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo finished second at the Caulfield Cup over 2,400 meters this year, on the back of two wins earlier in the season. “Buckaroo is the form horse,” said Waller, who trained 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant and has four starters in Tuesday’s race. Foaled in France but Irish trained, Vauban jetted into Australia last year as a hot tip to win but failed to deliver, finishing 14th and struggling in the heat. Michelle Payne is the only woman rider to win the Melbourne Cup after she steered Prince of Penzance to victory in 2015.
