Melbourne Cup winner Americain could attempt a unique Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-Melbourne Cup double next year.The prospect was flagged by Chantilly trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre at Tuesday night's post-Cup celebrations when he suggested the six-year-old could be good enough to give the trainer his third win in the Arc.Gerry Ryan and his co-owner Kevin Bamford want Americain to run in next year's Melbourne Cup but will rely on Royer-Dupre to guide them with the horse."Last night he (Royer-Dupre)

Melbourne Cup winner Americain could attempt a unique Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-Melbourne Cup double next year.

The prospect was flagged by Chantilly trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre at Tuesday night's post-Cup celebrations when he suggested the six-year-old could be good enough to give the trainer his third win in the Arc.

Gerry Ryan and his co-owner Kevin Bamford want Americain to run in next year's Melbourne Cup but will rely on Royer-Dupre to guide them with the horse.

"Last night he (Royer-Dupre) said that (the Arc) could be in the program," Ryan said.

Royer-Dupre, 66, won his first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with Dalakhani in 2003 and won it again with Zarkava (2008).

As for Americain's chances of running in France's world famous event, Ryan noted "it is a classic race".

"Really it is up to the trainer to give advice and give us some options and will we sit around some French champagne and make a decision," he said.

Ryan said the logistics of running in the Arc and the Cup could prove difficult.

The Arc is run in September and Americain needs to do five weeks quarantine before the Melbourne Cup.

"We probably have one or two days grace for quarantine and that is the biggest hurdle to get over," Ryan said.

He said coming back and winning a second Melbourne Cup was important to him and Bamford and it would settle the tenancy issue of the $150,000 Melbourne Cup trophy.

"We need another Cup so we can have one each," Ryan said.

"For now we will work out a little time-share program."

Ryan said there was consideration given to Americain staying in Australia but it was felt that it was best for the horse to return to France via next month's Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin.

"He is a very temperamental horse and we want to keep him to a strict training routine," Ryan said.

"He will go to the Hong Kong Vase which the trainer and jockey won last year with one of the Aga Khan's fillies (Daryakana)

"They think this is a far superior horse so hopefully there is another win in him and then he can go back to France."

Once Royer-Dupre had an understanding of the Melbourne Cup he was decisive in his approach to it.

His one stipulation was that Americain had to be competitive.

"He is a very cautious man," Ryan said.

All along the Geelong Cup was to be Americain's lead-up race and not the Caulfield Cup. The Geelong Cup was better - with 13 days to the Melbourne Cup.

He said Royer-Dupre didn't talk about running in the Melbourne Cup until after Americain beat Manighar in the Group Two Kergorlay in France in August.

"We sat down to have a celebration drink and he said `now tell me more about the Melbourne Cup. What are the lead-up races and what weight would he get'.

"We said he would get about 54kg and he was very surprised. He then made the decision he was coming."