Americain (USA) burst into calculations for the Melbourne Cup when he surged through a gap in the straight to score a G3 victory in the Geelong Cup on Wednesday. Jockey Gerald Mosse extricated the former French stayer from a pocket to win in a punishing finish from Moudre (Blevic) and Exceptionally (Ekraar).
TAB Sportsbet reacted by promoting Americain to $11 in its Melbourne Cup market behind equal $5 favourites Shocking and So You Think.
Americain (6h Dynaformer – America by Arazi) is raced in partnership by Jayco Caravans owner Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford. Ryan has built a substantial bloodstock folio in recent years at Limerick Lane in Victoria.
“This is a bonus,” Ryan said at Geelong. “He was just here for a good hit-out. There’s a bit of improvement in him, hopefully in two weeks time.”
Before relocating here, Americain won six races for the Aga Khan from 1400m to 3100m including G2 victories at Longchamp and Deauville. The Geelong Cup result reinforced his value on the stallion market and it would be a tremendous boost for the local industry if he stood in the Super VOBIS State.
His sire Dynaformer (Roberto) is from the same sireline as Red Ransom and has built a dynasty of his own since retiring to Three Chimneys in Kentucky. His stud record includes 16 Group 1 winners among 110 stakes winners. His latest at the elite level arrived on October 16 when Harmonious won the Queen Elizabeth 11 Cup at Keeneland.
Dynaformer had sired three other Australian starters before Americain without much success. Impetuous Amour and Pimpala Power were provincial winners while Bugatti Royale hasn’t been seen since falling in a Sandown hurdle in July.
Dynaformer was a G2 winner up to 2000m at Gulfstream and Aqueduct. Like Danehill, he is out of a mare by His Majesty and is a half-brother to successful sire White Bridle (Seattle Slew).
His half-sister Alvear (Seattle Slew) is the dam of Darley stallion Offlee Wild (Wild Again) who was North America’s Champion 2YO sire with his first crop in 2009.
Another half-sister My Annette (Red Ransom) is the dam of US Ranger (Danzig) now covering his first Australian book at Rangal Park Stud.
Americain’s dam America won races at Longchamp (3) and Maisons-Laffitte when trained by Criquette Head. She has also thrown winners by Gone West, War Chant and Red Ransom. She has an unraced 2yo colt named Allemand (Red Ransom) and a yearling filly by Monsun.
America is by Independent Stallions resident Arazi and is a half-sister to successful French sire Majorien (Machiavellian) who was a G2 winner at Longchamp before retiring to stud.