French-trained stayer Americain became one the great Geelong Cup winners and a leading Melbourne Cup contender when he shouldered the highest weight to victory in 44 years.Ridden by champion French jockey Gerald Mosse, the striking six-year-old looked as if he would never get a run on Wednesday, snookered on the rails with 58kg on his back, but got through a gap in the straight to score by a long head in a memorable finish.The $11 chance held off a late finish from Warrnambool galloper Moudre ($

French-trained stayer Americain became one the great Geelong Cup winners and a leading Melbourne Cup contender when he shouldered the highest weight to victory in 44 years.

Ridden by champion French jockey Gerald Mosse, the striking six-year-old looked as if he would never get a run on Wednesday, snookered on the rails with 58kg on his back, but got through a gap in the straight to score by a long head in a memorable finish.

The $11 chance held off a late finish from Warrnambool galloper Moudre ($5.50 fav) to score by a long head with Exceptionally ($6.50) a half-length away third.

Dual Australian Cup winner and 1965 Caulfield Cup third placegetter Craftsman (1966), who carried 60.5kg, is the only horse to carry a bigger weight to victory in the Geelong Cup since it became a spring race in 1947.

Americain is now one of the Melbourne Cup favourites firming from $18 to the third line of betting at $11 with TAB Sportsbet.

Part-owner and Jayco boss Gerry Ryan said Americain, who hadn't raced since the end of August, was expected to need the hitout in the Geelong Cup and that the win was "a great surprise".

"We never had this (win) marked down," Ryan said.

"This is a bonus.

"He (Mosse) was just out give him a good hitout today and if there was a chance he could win it he would go for it.

"It was a fantastic ride.

"He did a lot of work and we did back him. A lot of people didn't.

"I think there is a bit of improvement in him, hopefully in two weeks time."

The Geelong Cup has became a terrific Melbourne Cup guide in the last decade but only Media Puzzle (2002) has won the Geelong-Melbourne Cup double in the same year.

American bred by Dynaformer, Americain is the third horse Ryan and another leading businessman Kevin Bamford have bought in the quest to have Melbourne Cup runner.

"We had a bit of bad luck with the first one when he ran through a fence and the second one could run three miles but there weren't three-mile races for it," Ryan said.

They bought Americain after he lost form when he campaigned in America and he has won his last four starts for them including the Listed Du Carrousel (3000m) and the Group Two Kergorlay (3000m) from Manighar who was a close fifth in last Saturday's Caulfield Cup.

Ryan said trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre would arrive from France in the days leading up to the Melbourne Cup to polish Americain up for the 3200 metres.

Mosse said he was confident Americain would run well at Geelong and thrilled with his performance.

"This is the first time he has participated in Australia and he showed me that he has huge ability," Mosse said.

He said it was a rough race but Americain weathered the buffeting and dashed through the gap when it came.

"I wait for my time and when I get through (it was) no race," he said.

"He is a beautiful animal and is in perfect shape. He will be strong (in the Melbourne Cup)."

Luca Cumani, who trained 2008 Geelong Cup winner Bauer, ran out of luck with Drunken Sailor who pulled up with a blood-soaked near-front hoof.

The same hoof cause him to be scratched from the Caulfield Cup and jockey Brett Prebble said it attributed to his downfall at Geelong with him finishing 11th.

"I thought he was going to win the race at 650 metres but he was the first horse beaten after that," he said.

"His foot was in a terrible way with a lot of blood coming out of it.

"He wasn't that comfortable coming back."