Racing: Americain sits nicely for Cup

Campanologist warms up. Photo / Getty Images

A track on the cusp of dead and slow is what's tipped for today's Melbourne Cup.

The 60mm of rain that swamped Flemington on Saturday has essentially been drained away.

Usually we've had international horses that have looked for a bit of rain for the Melbourne Cup. This year five of the nine internationals would prefer firmer footing than they're going to have to contend with.

Campanologist, Illustrious Blue, Tokai Trick, Bauer and Holberg are all at their best on firm footing, although Holberg seems capable of coping with a mid-range rain-affected track.

Americain, Manighar and Holberg appear the best of the nine runners.

Master French trainer Alain de Royer Dupre gave a big push for Americain at Sunday's international press conference.

As best you could tell he seems quietly confident and so are the punters who have shovelled their dollars on Americain since his Geelong Cup victory.

At 54.5kg he sits nicely.

Manighar's fifth in the Caulfield Cup was huge, particularly as the 2400m is less than he prefers.

"The 3200m will suit him better," said trainer Luca Cumani, "and so will the slow track."

Godolphin second string rider Kerrin McEvoy said at the press conference that Frankie Dettori had chosen to ride Holberg at the beginning of the year, but that he was just as happy with Campanologist.

The presence of Godolphin principal Skeikh Mohammed in Melbourne for only the second time in two decades of trying to win the Cup might be significant.