Americain has drawn barrier 15 for the Melbourne Cup

Owner Kevin Bamford couldn’t quite work out if Tuesday’s Group 1 $6m Melbourne Cup (3200m) favourite Americain had drawn well or not after the official ceremony was held this evening.

Amercian drew barrier 15, four barriers wider than when he won the Melbourne Cup in 2010.

“I wanted 11 and don’t know what 15 means,”  Bamford said.

”The jockey and the trainer are not here so I can’t ask them.”

Bamford says the French trained galloper had done well in Australia and credited the strapper and stable spokesperson Stefanie Nigge for his progress.

Asked if Americain was better than last year Bamford wouldn’t commit saying we would know better on Tuesday.

Bamford along with friend and fellow Americain owner Gerry Ryan recently a bought 50% share in UK trained Cup hope Jukebox Jury.

“Jukebox Jury the won Prix Kergolay (3000m) and won it easily,” Bamford said.

“Americain was well beaten in that race and he (Jukebox Jury) seemed to be a good horse.

“Alan (Spence) agreed to sell half of him to us and Jukebox Jury then went on and won (deadheated) the Irish St Leger.

Jukebox Jury drew perfectly in six but the Mark Johnston trained galloper, who is yet to race in Australia, remained an $11 chance with TABsportsbet as Americian drifted from $4 to $4.20.

Bookmakers in the main left the betting as is.

The main mover with bookmakers post Derby day racing was Niwot who obtained at Melbourne Cup berth by winning the Lexus Stakes impressively.

He tumbled in from $101 to $17 but that was before the draw.

Head of the team Hawkes – father John Hawkes says the galloper had pulled up in great order after today’s race.

“Niwot is fit and well, it was a great win today and he has a lightweight and a good gate (in the Melbourne Cup) which helps.” he said.

“He lacks a bit of class but can stay and has 51kg.

“He is getting 7kg from Americian, he couldn’t beat him on level weights but that is what a Melbourne Cup is all about.

“I think he is better now than before today’s race.

“Eighteen months ago the vets said he would never race again, it is a great story.”

While Americain’s draw wasn’t great, his nearest rivals in Cup betting weren’t that much better.

Dunaden an $8 hope with Tabsportsbet drew 13 while Lucas Cranach drew 11.

Dunaden’s trainer Mickel Dalzangles was matter of fact about the draw but dismissed the Kergolay form in which his horse also finished well behind Jukebox Jury.

“The race was slowly run and I wouldn’t take a lot of notice of the race.”
The Bart Cummings trained duo Illo and Precedence drew the two inside barriers  but their performances didn’t warrant any major shift in Cup betting.

UK trainer Luca Cumani said Drunken Sailor, in barrier eight,  was favoured by his alley while Manighar needed luck.

He pointed to Manighar’s rider Damien Oliver as the hope of the side to help him overcome barrier 21.