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Americain wins the Melbourne Cup

By surging past Australian champion So You Think, Americain has dashed Bart Cummings’ hopes for a remarkable 150th Melbourne Cup, becoming the third horse trained in Europe to claim victory in Australia’s premier race.

At the 300m mark, So You Think, the heavily favored dual Cox Plate winner at odds of $3, seemed poised for victory. However, Gerald Mosse executed an outstanding ride on Americain ($12), maneuvering to the outside of the favorite to secure a win by two and three-quarter lengths.

Maluckyday ($9) demonstrated his potential despite inexperience, finishing second, half a length ahead of So You Think, who couldn’t handle the two-mile distance and came in third. Veteran horse Zipping finished in fourth place.

This marks the first occurrence of a European-trained horse winning the prestigious handicap since 2002, with Alain De Royer Dupre now joining Dermot Weld among the race’s victors.

Although the six-year-old is trained in France and bred in America, he is owned by Australians Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford, who must be thrilled with their investment in him.

Mosse’s exceptional riding was instrumental, as he skillfully tracked Shoot Out and then So You Think through the field down the straight, ultimately bringing Americain home strongly. He even managed to blow a kiss to the crowd while cruising to victory.

The race’s pace was initially set by Once Were Wild, who led by as much as four lengths down the back straight before the intensity increased around the 800m mark.

During that stage, Arnold’s main concern regarding So You Think was his earlier behavior, where he got his head up and over-raced. Once he reached the outside at the top of the straight, he appeared to have a good chance to charge past Once Were Wild and Harris Tweed.

So You Think hit the front 300m from the finish, but Mosse had perfectly gauged his timing. While So You Think expended effort, Americain maintained a comfortable position. Maluckyday, who needed to navigate closer to the rail, would have struggled to challenge the winner, even with a clear passage.

Zipping showcased remarkable resilience, marking his fourth time running fourth in the Cup, while Harris Tweed took fifth, followed by Holberg and Manighar.

Descarado was withdrawn after sustaining an injury shortly after the turn for home, and Zavite brought up the rear, finishing last.

Where they finished

1. Americain 2. Maluckyday 3. So You Think 4. Zipping 5. Harris Tweed 6. Holberg 7. Manighar 8. Precedence 9. Illustrious Blue 10. Mr Medici 11. Once Were Wild 12. Tokai Trick 13. Shoot Out 14. Monaco Consul 15. Master O’Reilly 16. Campanologist 17. Profound Beauty 18. Shocking 19. Red Ruler 20. Buccellati 21. Linton 22. Zavite Descarado failed to finish.

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