Americain's adaptability is expected to hold him in good stead when he contests the Zipping Classic at Sandown.Only five runners will line up in Saturday's Group Two feature, presenting a potentially tactically tricky race, but Alain de Royer-Dupre's travelling foreman Stephanie Nigge is confident the seven-year-old will cope, especially with French jockey Gerald Mosse returning to ride him."He's a very easy horse to ride," Nigge said."You can ride him front or back. It is not a big deal with hi

Americain's adaptability is expected to hold him in good stead when he contests the Zipping Classic at Sandown.

Only five runners will line up in Saturday's Group Two feature, presenting a potentially tactically tricky race, but Alain de Royer-Dupre's travelling foreman Stephanie Nigge is confident the seven-year-old will cope, especially with French jockey Gerald Mosse returning to ride him.

"He's a very easy horse to ride," Nigge said.

"You can ride him front or back. It is not a big deal with him."

Americain is the dominant $1.45 TAB Sportsbet favourite for the Zipping and Nigge said the entire hadn't missed a beat since his luckless fourth to Dunaden in the Melbourne Cup.

"He showed us after the Cup that he was fine and that is why we have taken this decision (to run him in the Zipping)," Nigge said.

Americain looked in top order at Werribee on Thursday, working home strongly over the last 400 metres of his morning gallop.

"Since the Cup he has gone a very steady canter to keep him fresh and happy, and just today he did 400 metres a bit quicker," Nigge said.

She said rain this week should also give Americain his preferred surface on Saturday.

"Firm ground he doesn't really like as much," Nigge said.

"Wet, for sure, is better, soft ground will suit him a lot."

Americain needs to run well in the 2400m Zipping to keep the stable's plan alive to run him in next month's Hong Kong Vase over the same distance at Sha Tin.

"We are taking it step by step and will see how he is after Sandown and (then) make the decision (about Hong Kong)," Nigge said.

Americain, the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar, who finished fifth in the Melbourne Cup, and Brian Ellison-trained Saptapadi (16th in the Melbourne Cup), provide a strong international hand in the Zipping.

Manighar ($4) is backing up from the Cup to the Zipping for the second year in a row.

Last year he finished third at Sandown after placing fifth in the Caulfield Cup and seventh in the Melbourne Cup, but this year has slightly better form having finished fourth and fifth respectively in those races.

Travelling foreman Charlie Henson said it may be that Manighar is becoming more adaptable to racing left-handed around tight turns, but concedes the task of beating Americain on four kilograms worse terms than in the Cup will be difficult.

"It is tough, but we will give it a go," Henson said.

"I suppose if you are going to question anything (about Americain) it would be three runs in about three weeks with him, but the way he is training at the moment he looks fantastic and is definitely the one to beat."

Henson said that Manighar looked ready to back up and should run well on Saturday.

"Nothing much has changed," Henson said. "His weight is back and he is fresh and happy."

Manighar was kept up to the mark at Werribee on Tuesday with an easy gallop while on Thursday he cantered twice over 1000 metres, covering the first work segment in around 1:25 and the second in about 1:10.