Melbourne Cup contenders Americain and Manighar have fought out the finish of the Group Two Prix Kergorlay at Deauville.Americain, from the Alain de Royer-Dupre yard and ridden by Gerald Mosse, held off the late charge from the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar at the end of the 3000 metres.The Racing Post reported De Royer-Dupre, who won the Kergorlay with the Mosse-ridden Kassani in 1996, would send Americain straight to Australia for the Melbourne Cup on November 4."He did it very well. He had a p
Melbourne Cup contenders Americain and Manighar have fought out the finish of the Group Two Prix Kergorlay at Deauville.
Americain, from the Alain de Royer-Dupre yard and ridden by Gerald Mosse, held off the late charge from the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar at the end of the 3000 metres.
The Racing Post reported De Royer-Dupre, who won the Kergorlay with the Mosse-ridden Kassani in 1996, would send Americain straight to Australia for the Melbourne Cup on November 4.
"He did it very well. He had a problem getting out to challenge, but got out well," de Royer Dupre said.
"He's marked down for the Melbourne Cup and I don't think I can get another run into him before quarantine."
Americain's previous best performance was his victory in the Group Two Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May last year.
Manighar, also a Group Two winner when previously trained in France, produced his best effort for Cumani.
The Newmarket trainer, who also saddled Contredanse to claim second in the Prix de la Nonette earlier on the card, said: "It's a touch of seconditis for me today.
"It's the best he's run for me and he will now go into quarantine for the Melbourne Cup."
Cumani has also experienced seconditis in Australia's most famous race with Purple Moon in 2007 and Bauer at year later.