sport news How Aussies are getting the name of the Melbourne Cup favourite WRONG every ... trends now

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This year's Melbourne Cup favourite is the Irish-trained gelding Vauban, and despite the six-year-old horse's enormous popularity, many people are pronouncing his name wrong.

According to some experts Vauban is as classy as any European horse to come down under for the famous $8 million race that stops a nation on Tuesday.

Vauban took out the Copper Horse Handicap over 2,800 metres by seven-and-a-half lengths at Royal Ascot in June to top the Melbourne Cup betting markets and followed it up with a big win in the Ballyroan Stakes at Naas a few months ago.

Since arriving in Australia, most people have been saying the 'Vau' like the start of the word 'vault', and 'ban' to rhyme with 'van'.

Vauban was born in France before being transferred to the stables of master trainer Willie Mullins in Ireland - so the chestnut gelding's name should be said as the French intended.