French star set to be a surprise starter in this year’s BMW Caulfield Cup
03 Oct 2012 | Racing Victoria Ltd Champion French trainer Alain de Royer Dupre is leaning towards using the $2.5 million BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) as the final Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) lead-up for Americain.
Racing Victoria's international scout Leigh Jordon this morning confirmed that the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner was a legitimate contender to take his place at Caulfield on 20 October.
The eight-year-old son of Dynaformer was an original entry for the Caulfield Cup, but the initial plan had been to contest the Drake International (Moonee Valley) Cup – which he won last year – on 27 October before returning to Flemington.
A different lead-up to his trip back to Australia has de Royer Dupre favouring giving Americain an extra week between runs.
“The feedback from Alain and connections is that the two-and-a-half weeks between the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup provides a better progression for Americain this year,” Jordon said.
“Last year he had had a few runs in France, so he was fitter and was better equipped to cope with the 10-day back-up from Moonee Valley to the Melbourne Cup.
“Plus, the Caulfield Cup is also worth $2.5 million, which is very, very attractive, so that seems to be the thinking at the moment.”
Americain joins The Mikel Delzangles-trained Dunaden as French-prepared Melbourne Cup winners eyeing this year's Caulfield Cup.
Americain has been $51 into $26 for the Caulfield Cup with the TAB since news broke that he was a legitimate chance to run at Caulfield.
The Andre Fabre-trained Brigantin is another French galloper targeting the world's richest 2400m handicap, with Australian-owned pair Quest For Peace and Jakkalberry other Northern Hemisphere gallopers who have recently arrived heading that way.