Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter says that So You Think's chance to win a Melbourne Cup may have gone.The Bart Cummings-trained champion, who won his second Cox Plate two weeks ago and the Mackinnon Stakes in dashing style last Saturday, was gallant in defeat finishing third to Americain and Maluckyday in the Cup.He carried 56kg but Carpenter said he could expect a lot more if he contests next year's Cup."I think we have witnessed one of the all-time greats this spring and seen h

Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter says that So You Think's chance to win a Melbourne Cup may have gone.

The Bart Cummings-trained champion, who won his second Cox Plate two weeks ago and the Mackinnon Stakes in dashing style last Saturday, was gallant in defeat finishing third to Americain and Maluckyday in the Cup.

He carried 56kg but Carpenter said he could expect a lot more if he contests next year's Cup.

"I think we have witnessed one of the all-time greats this spring and seen him to go from 2040m to 3200m for the first time in a very competitive two-mile handicap," Carpenter said.

"We must remember that he was the horse closest to his weight-for-age mark in the Cup and he's run very bravely.

"If he comes back next year he is going to have carry more weight so maybe the moment of opportunity from a Melbourne Cup point of view has passed him by, but you can't diminish what we have already seen in the spring."

Carpenter said that Americain's Melbourne Cup win served to strengthen Australia's most famous horse race as an international event.

The French stayer became the fourth overseas-trained horse to win the Cup after Dermot Weld's pair Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002), and Japan's Delta Blues (2006).

"Foremost it was another great advertisement for the Melbourne Cup as an international event," Carpenter said.

"We had five internationals runners finish in the top 10 and it was wonderful to get our first French winner of the race.

"I think the horses that have come from overseas have broken new ground this year with a French winner and a Hong Kong horse (Mr Medici) running very well in the Caulfield Cup (sixth) and again today (10th) in the Melbourne Cup."

Global powerhouse Godolphin (Holberg, sixth and Campanologist 16th) and the Cumani stable (Manighar, seventh) were again well represented.

A record nine overseas-trained horses contested the Cup.

English stayer Illustrious Blue finished ninth, Japan's Tokai Trick (12th), and the Weld-trained Profound Beauty (17th).

Looking to the future, Carpenter said Maluckyday, prepared by Team Hawkes, was the horse to watch.

"I think we saw it emerge on Derby Day but no doubt it was reinforced today that we have the likely favourite for next year's Cup in the form of Maluckyday," Carpenter said.

He also noted the performance of Zipping, who was fourth in the Cup for the third time, and Harris Tweed, who ran fifth for the second year in a row.