Jockey Damien Oliver gets a good feel of Americain at Werribee as he prepares to ride the 2010 winner in the big race next Tuesday. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
Jockey Damien Oliver to warming to the prospects of his ride Americain in the Melbourne Cup. Source: Getty Images
AMERICAIN is the horse to beat in Tuesday's Emirates Melbourne Cup, according star jockey Craig Williams.
Williams will attempt to guide Dunaden to successive Flemington triumphs, but the renonwed feature race specialist is wary of 2010 Cup winner Americain.
The French stallion was in sparkling form, working over 2000m in 2min17sec, surging over the final 600m in 35.7sec.
The work predictably pleased Americain's jockey Damien Oliver - and also reaffirmed Williams's belief that Americain will be tough to topple at Flemington.
"I've got a lot of respect for Americain," Williams said.
"He meets us better at the weights after the penalty (a 1kg rehandicap for winning the Caulfield Cup) and he's obviously going well.
"I'm very happy with my horse and, with luck in running, I think he can win.
"He's got a big weight (59kg), but I think he is a better horse than last year."
Oliver, beaming after riding Americain for the first time, believes he is on target for a third Cup success - 10 years after the emotional win on Media Puzzle, only days after the death of his brother Jason.
"It would be a nice anniversary," Oliver said. "It would be a great feeling to win another Melbourne Cup.
"He's (Americain) in great form. I was really pleased with him.
"He's really bright and he's actually he's more imposing (being) on him than from afar.
"He's an amazing horse, obviously a Melbourne Cup winner.
"He's in great condition, he's in great form. It's a great opportunity."
Oliver said Americain's work was excellent.
"I was really taken by his athleticism today. He's really light on his feet and he's got great acceleration," he said.
"Even through the line today was the best part of his work.
"Even after the line, he just wanted to keep going.
"As we know, he's a great two-miler (3200m). When he gets to Flemington on a big track, that's going to be his biggest asset."
Oliver said he completely surprised after being offered the Americain ride after the decision to sack Gerald Mosse.
"I was actually driving home from Ballarat and I nearly ran off the road," he said.
"It was really exciting and it's a great opportunity."
Oliver rates Caulfield, Melbourne and Geelong Cup winner Dunaden as the hardest to beat on Tuesday.
"I think probably Dunaden obviously and probably a few of the horses that didn't run in the Caulfield Cup," he said.
"Some of the internationals, if they do get into the field.
"I still respect Dunaden and probably the horses that ran well in the Caulfield Cup.
"Usually the first five home is a good lead up to the Melbourne Cup."
Americain was a luckless fourth in the Caufield Cup, spending much of the 2400m trip three-wide.
"I thought it was a terrific run. Probably Caulfield is not an ideal track for him," Oliver said.
"He's got good form at Flemington. I think you can expect that to be an even bigger bonus for him."
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