Americain
Encyclopedia
Americain is an American-bred French trained thoroughbred
racehorse. The six-year-old stayer won the 150th Melbourne Cup
in 2010, ridden by Gérald Mossé
, trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre
and owned by Melbourne businessmen Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford.
Americain was purchased in February 2010 by Ryan and Bamford, after his 2009 season included a Group 2 win in France and a failed campaign in the United States. He headed into the Melbourne Cup with four consecutive wins, including the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay
at his last start in France before heading to Australia, and the Group 3 Geelong Cup at his first Australian start. He won the Melbourne Cup by 2 1/2 lengths, beating Maluckyday into second and champion Australian galloper and short-priced favourite So You Think
into third. He was the first French-trained galloper to win the Melbourne Cup.
Americain followed up his Melbourne Cup win by running third in the Hong Kong Vase
. Returning in 2011, his four runs in France in preperation for his Melbourne Cup defence yielded only one win. However, on return to Australia, he won the Moonee Valley Cup, which made him favourite for the Melbourne Cup despite his 58kg topweight. He ended up running fourth in the Melbourne Cup.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse. The six-year-old stayer won the 150th Melbourne Cup
2010 Melbourne Cup
The 2010 Melbourne Cup, the 150th running of Australia's most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race, was held on Tuesday, 2 November 2010 at 3:00 PM. local time ....
in 2010, ridden by Gérald Mossé
Gérald Mossé
Gérald Mossé is a jockey in thoroughbred horse racing. He began riding professionally in April 1983 and his success during his apprenticeship under Patrick-Louis Biancone led to an offer to ride for renowned trainer François Boutin and his stable of horses belonging to Jean-Luc Lagardère...
, trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre
Alain de Royer-Dupré
Alain de Royer-Dupré is a leading French thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He grew up at the Haras de Saint Lô, a national stud farm in Normandy of which his father was Assistant Director and later Director, responsible for government-owned stallions based at farms in the local...
and owned by Melbourne businessmen Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford.
Americain was purchased in February 2010 by Ryan and Bamford, after his 2009 season included a Group 2 win in France and a failed campaign in the United States. He headed into the Melbourne Cup with four consecutive wins, including the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay
Prix Kergorlay
The Prix Kergorlay is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Deauville over a distance of 3,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
at his last start in France before heading to Australia, and the Group 3 Geelong Cup at his first Australian start. He won the Melbourne Cup by 2 1/2 lengths, beating Maluckyday into second and champion Australian galloper and short-priced favourite So You Think
So You Think
So You Think is a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, now majority owned by Coolmore Stud of Ireland. So You Think came to prominence through winning the 2009 and 2010 Cox Plates, Australia's premier weight for age race. His second Cox Plate win came at just his tenth career start...
into third. He was the first French-trained galloper to win the Melbourne Cup.
Americain followed up his Melbourne Cup win by running third in the Hong Kong Vase
Hong Kong Vase
The Hong Kong Vase is a Group 1 flat horse race in Hong Kong which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Sha Tin, and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid December....
. Returning in 2011, his four runs in France in preperation for his Melbourne Cup defence yielded only one win. However, on return to Australia, he won the Moonee Valley Cup, which made him favourite for the Melbourne Cup despite his 58kg topweight. He ended up running fourth in the Melbourne Cup.