Melbourne Cup winner Americain is set to embark on the first steps towards defending his crown when he runs in France next Tuesday night.
Americain is set to resume in the Listed Prix de Reux (2500m), where he is among 21 nominations.
Other nominations include Gentoo, who represented France unsuccessfully in the Group 1 Tenno Sho – Spring (3200m) in Japan in May, and the classy Ley Hunter.
Americain is set to resume in the Listed Prix de Reux (2500m), where he is among 21 nominations - Photo by Steve Hart
He will have one more run in France, where he will try and win his second Prix Kergolay (3000m), before embarking on a Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup campaign in Australia.
Trained by Alain de Royer Dupre, the son of Dynaformer won the Geelong Cup last year before his dominant victory at Flemington.
He then finished third in the Hong Kong Vase, before two substandard runs in France earlier this year.
Royal Ascot plans were shelved with one eye on Melbourne.
Americain is likely to meet another possible returner to Australia, Manighar, in the Prix Kergolay.
Last year, Americain and Manighar ran the quinella in the Kergolay, and trainer Luca Cumani is hopeful he can go one better before another tilt at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Manighar finished fifth to Descarado in the Caulfield Cup and seventh behind Americain in the Melbourne Cup.
With quarantine issues at Newmarket close to a resolution, Cumani is touting four horses for Australia – including three he brought last year.
Manighar, Bauer and Drunken Sailor are expected to return while Chilean Derby runner up Sahara Sun is believed to be a likely visitor.
Manighar is likely to run on Friday night in the Listed Prix du Carrousel (3000m), won last year by Americain.
However, he is also entered for Britain’s Glorious Goodwood festival this week, where a number of potential international Melbourne Cup contenders will run.
Manighar is entered for the Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3200m) on Thursday night, along with possible raiders Harris Tweed, Red Cadeaux, Chiberta King, Lost In The Moment, Mount Athos, Opinion Poll and Overturn.
Harris Tweed and Red Cadeaux are also entered for the Group 3 Glorious Stakes (2400m) on Friday night, with other runners who may come to Melbourne including Campanologist, Claremont, Drunken Sailor and Redwood.
International participation will become clearer after Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate entries are taken next Tuesday.
Written by Andrew Hawkins