Melbourne Cup’s French Connection
- November 2nd, 2010
- Posted by EUEditor
The Australian classic race this year went to an American-bred horse, called Americain, trained in France, with a French jockey.
The six year-old stallion beat the favourite, So You Think, into third place, with Maluckyday second in the 3200-metre event – an unofficial half-holiday that stops the nation on the first Tuesday of November each year.
Australian business partners Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford bought Americain in France, where it had starts at Deauville and Clairefontaine.
Jockey Gerald Mosse sported appropriate silks in a mixed red-white-and-blue pattern, part tricolor and part stars-and-stripes.
The win in this 150th Melbourne Cup was billed as a first for a French-based horse and rider.
Other international stayers had courted the prize, with frequent success – English, Japanese and New Zealand included.
Trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre, Americain was owned in France by the Wertheimer brothers, from the House of Chanel perfume company.
Odds this day for Americain were posted at 12-1.
Flemington race course saw a burst of fickle Melbourne weather, with a heavy downpour in the midst of the festivities; not enough to dampen the party, again featuring, as tradition requires, people in large hats, and this year many girls in short skirts.
A human crowd of 100000 took part, to see the final field of 24 go around.
Reference
Punters Paradise, “Americainâ€.
http://www.puntersparadise.com.au/horses/Americain_87838/, (2.11.10).
Radio Australia, Melbourne, “French team triumphs in Melbourne Cupâ€, 2.11.10.
http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201011/3055116.htm?desktop, (2.11.10).
The Guardian, Manchester, “French celebrate historic victory as Americain lifts Melbourne Cupâ€, 2.11.10. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/nov/02/americain-melbourne-cup-gerard-mosse, (2.11.10).
Victorian Racing Club, Melbourne, Melbourne Cup -2010, (home).  MelbournVhttp://melbournecup.racingandsports.com.au/, (2.11.10).
Pictures bbc, jenibmillinery