FRA: Saint-Cloud Return For Cup Hero Americain

Tuesday, 5 April 2011: Americain is due to resume in France in a campaign aimed at winning back-to-back Melbourne Cups.

The Alain de Royer-Dupre-trained stayer is due to make his debut in the Listed Prix Right Royal at Saint-Cloud over 1m7½f on Friday as part of a long campaign aimed at winning back-to-back Cups.

Owner Gerry Ryan outlined the plans for Americain  after another of his horses, two-year-old Cash Bound, won at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

"Normally (in Australia) they'd step out (first-up) in a 1400 or 1600-metre race and we're going to find it a little bit strange, but that's how they train over there," Ryan said.

"We've got a little programme worked out for him built around coming back here (to defend his Melbourne Cup).

"With horses that age and that size they keep ticking them over with long walks and letting them stride through the Chantilly forest.

"He may be heading to England for a Group 1 at (Royal) Ascot, that's one choice, and there's a Group 1 in France.

"We've got to make sure the weight is not too great so he can come back (for the Melbourne Cup).

"He spelled well and looks very well. Kevin (co-owner Kevin Bamford) was over there two weeks ago and had a great report. He came back very excited."

Americain is unbeaten in two starts in Australia winning the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) and the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last spring beating Maluckyday, So You Think and Zipping.

Cup-winning jockey Gerald Mosse will again ride American when he returns to racing.

Ryan said he raced Moonee Valley winner Cash Bound's dam, Fasliyev mare Southern Bound, in Ireland and later on with Flemington trainer Nigel Blackiston.

He said he had an interest in his sire Dash For Cash with Adam Sangster whose Swettenham Stud stands the stallion.