SYDNEY // The American-bred, French-raced, Australian-owned six-year-old Americain won the 150th Melbourne Cup today by two and 3/4 lengths.
Americain, which had won over 2,900 metres and twice over 3,000 metres in France this year, finished first in the 3,200-metre (two-mile) race ahead of Maluckyday and the heavy favourite, So You Think.
So You Think had won five races in a row and was the sentimental favourite thanks to its trainer, the 12-time Melbourne Cup winner Bart Cummings, who is 82. But So You Think had not won a race over 2,040 meters.
Americain is trained by Alain de Royer Dupre and was ridden by Gerald Mosse, who said: "The job is so easy when you are in the best race and have the best horse. I took my time off the straight, I ran well at the right time. I knew he was very strong over the final 250 metres."
Americain won the 2,400-meter Geelong Cup on October 20 in his Australian debut.
Dupre said: "Before, it looked difficult to come from France and be competitive. But I was confident today."
The English horse Bauer, which finished second in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, was a late scratch because of a foot problem. The Luca Cumani-trained stayer had a veterinary inspection on Tuesday morning and was deemed unfit to run, reducing the field to 23 runners.
