Americain wins the Melbourne Cup

Americain has upset hopes of a dream 150th Melbourne Cup for Bart Cummings by steaming past Australian champion So You Think to become the third European-trained horse to win Australia’s greatest race.

Dual Cox Plate winner So You Think, the shortest priced favourite in the race for 39 years at $3, loomed as the winner at the 300m mark, but Gerald Mosse rode a superb race on Americain ($12), getting up outside of the favourite to win by two and three quarter lengths.

Maluckyday ($9) belied his lack of experience, working home well to finish second half a length ahead of So You Think, who failed to stay the two miles and finished third. Veteran Zipping finished fourth.

It is the first time since 2002 that a European-trained horse has won the famous handicap with Alain De Royer Dupre joining Dermot Weld as a winner of the great race.

But while the six-year-old may be French-trained and American-bred, he is owned by two Australians, Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford, who will be delighted with their investment in the horse.

They had Mosse to thank for an excellent ride, with the Hong Kong-based jockey tracking first Shoot Out and then So You Think through the pack at the top of the straight and then bringing him home strong. Mosse even had time to blow a kiss to the crowd as Americain coasted to victory.

The pace was set up by Once Were Wild, who ran a bold race in front and led by as much as four lengths down the back, before the pressure came on in earnest around the 800m mark.

At that point Arnold’s only worry on So You Think was his behaviour early in the race where he got his head up and overraced. When he got to the outside at the top of the straight, he looked a huge chance to run home over the top of Once Were Wild and Harris Tweed.

He struck the lead 300m out, but Mosse had timed his run well and while So You Think was working hard, Americain looked comfortable. Maluckyday had to duck and weave closer to the rail but would not have troubled the winner even if he had a clear run.

Zipping was heroic, running fourth in the Cup for the fourth time, while Harris tweed was fifth ahead of Holberg and Manighar.

Descarado was pulled up after suffering an injury not long after turning for home, while Zavite was the last horse home across the line.

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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