Americain Takes Top Weight in Caulfield Cup

The current Melbourne Cup Champion and de facto staying horse in Australia and New Zealand is set for the October 15th Caulfield Cup which will serve as a prep for his title defence in the biggest race in the country on November 1st.

Americain, a seven-year-old bay horse by high-profile sire Dynaformer is going to have to shake off a recent disappointment at Deauville that saw him finish a tame tenth in a field of thirteen.

Speaking to the media on Monday, Racing Victoria's chief handicapper Greg Carpenter confirmed what many had already concluded – that Americain would return for a title defence barring anything but injury. “The intention is for Americain to have one lead-up race in Australia on the way to the Melbourne Cup and it is up to the Melbourne Racing Club to convince connections that he should be in the Caulfield Cup.”

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Carpenter also mentioned that the Cox Plate would also be an option but that a tilt at the Caulfield would give Americain an extra week to prep for the 2m race that stops a nation.

Americain is expected to be saddled with an additional 2lb penalty in the Melbourne Cup – something that would certainly add even further credible to his claim of best staying horse on the planet. If he was to top the impressive-looking ante post field for the 2011 Melbourne Cup while carrying a 2lb penalty, it would be a significant coup for the Alain de Royer-Dupre yard.

It is also logical to conclude that connections would be able to command a significantly-higher stud fee for a contender to win back to back Melbourne Cups and one while carrying additional weight.

Americain is sitting in the mix with a rather tricky looking field for the Flemington showpiece and he is not the betting choice by any means. So You Think, who is also being considered for the Breeders' Cup Classic according to a few wild ante post markets, is enjoying a best price of 12/1 – putting him just a shade ahead of Americain, who is priced as low as 14/1 with certain bookmakers showing him trading as high as 25/1.

Shocking is set for a run according to many and commands a price of around 22/1. Shamrocker trades at 16s while Lights of Heaven and Maluckyday get the 14/1 treatment.