Left: Americain stood out from the crowd with a row of plaits running down his neck on Saturday. Last year’s Melbourne cup winner attracted a crowd everywhere he went including stall 65 as he prepares for the Zipping Classic.
By David Nagel
ANY horse that wins a Melbourne Cup has a special place in Australian hearts and that was on full display on Saturday when French galloper Americain came to Betfair Park Sandown.
Last year’s Cup winner has a powerful finishing burst, which he used to full effect to win the $350,000 Zipping Classic but it’s his power to attract people that is even more amazing.
It’s 40 minutes before race time and there are eight people surrounding the exercise enclosure, which provides a last chance for horses to stretch their legs before they get put to the ultimate test.
Steady streams of valuable thoroughbreds pass through this area, their hooves making an almost rhythmic tune as they walk along the bitumen path.
But not one of these horses stands out from the crowd. Some are grey, some are black, some are tall, some are short but none have a distinguishing feature that would clearly identify them until a number was put on their back. Not to the general public anyway.
Then… an imposing figure appears, clearly identifiable by the plats running down the length of his neck and it’d obvious even to the untrained eye who it is… it’s the Cup winner, its Americain.
Within two minutes, word has spread that the champ is stretching his legs and there’s now 46 people surrounding the enclosure, watching the seven-year-old strut around, geez he knows he’s good.
It’s almost like a magnet has been turned on, people are drawn to the enclosure and within minutes it’s impossible to count the heads, without getting half way and having to restart again.
Then, before you know it, seven minutes after it began, he’s off to saddle up for his ultimate aim. The crowd is back to 22 in less than 60 seconds.
Once back at stall 65, Americain is quiet as a mouse as his two carers, Stephanie Nigge and strapper Louise go about preparing him for the big race.
A diversified crowd is assembled, at a guess, aged from two to 80 and everyone of them is fighting for a vantage point, just a chance to see the entire close up for a minute or two.
The adoration doesn’t stop there as Americain is led into the mounting yard for the pre-race parade, every step watched by eyes trying to burn a visual memory into their minds for future reference.
The crowd favourite briefly shares centre stage with the winner of the last four runnings of this race, Zipping, who walks just in front Americain, leading the field onto the track for the race now named in his honour.
The French visitor is cheered onto the track, clearly making an impression on the 11,000 people in attendance.
The race starts and as it enters the top of the Sandown straight, the crowd cheers even louder.
The $1.60 favourite takes his time to grind down Manighar and Mourayan before drawing away to win by three quarters of a length.
Americain and jockey Gerald Mosse receive a rousing reception upon their return to scale; cameras flash as Mosse salutes the crowd, clearly chuffed by the fame he has earned in a foreign country.
The winners rug is placed over the horses back and before too long it’s back to home base, stall 65, where yet another adoring crowd watches the champ prepare for his trip home to Werribee.
It’s hard to explain to anyone else on earth but that Melbourne Cup really does make our hearts go racing.
