KING CHARLES and the self-titled 'maddest f***er on the planet' are set for an epic £2million showdown in the 'race that stops a nation'.
The monarch and larger-than-life racehorse owner and multi-millionaire Rich Ricci look set to lock horns in the Melbourne Cup.
The King and Queen Camilla were at Doncaster last weekend to see Desert Hero, the horse the late Queen bred and left to her son, finish third in the St Leger.
Now trainer William Haggas has suggested a trip Down Under could be next for the three-year-old stayer.
Also on the plane out will be Ricci's former Cheltenham Festival Triumph Hurdle winner Vauban.
A seven-length winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot and Group 3 winner next time out, Vauban has been slashed in the market is now as short as 7-2 fav.
The Melbourne Cup is the race that has always evaded Ricci and trainer Willie Mullins.
They were beaten half a length into second in 2015 with Max Dynamite, while the same horse finished third two years later.
Revenge is definitely on their minds – as is the colossal £2.3million first-place prize, one of the biggest in racing.
It's a massive amount even to the likes of former banker Ricci, said to be worth £100million yet still buying lottery tickets, and the billionaire king.
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Even more than that, though, is the prestige of winning Australia's biggest race.
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The King and Queen are said to be 'very keen' to run Desert Hero, who has been slashed to as low as 7-1 on the back of his Doncaster showing.
Vauban remains rock solid at the head of the market, being clipped into 7-2 with some firms.
The big question is whether Ryan Moore will get the ride.
Aidan O'Brien always has first choice on arguably the world's best jockey and the Ballydoyle supremo still has Broome and Tower Of London entered.
However, it's starting to look unlikely either will run.
Mullins is hopeful rather than confident that O'Brien will grant him use of Moore in the big one.
The Closutton trainer told the Nick Luck podcast: "Hopefully Ryan might be available for Vauban.
"I'm not certain and we'll have to see what Aidan is doing. We have to wait.
"We'd love to have him but it depends on what Ballydoyle are doing.
"Vauban passed his secondary test vet in Newmarket so everything looks good. Vauban is laid back, he's fine."
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The Melbourne Cup is run at 4am our time on November 7.
It's an early alarm, but it might just be worth it for what could be an all-time classic.
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