Trainer Nicholas Clement has confirmed that classy French stayer Now We Can is still a chance to come to Australia for the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m) during the 2013 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Now We Can will attempt to replicate the feat of fellow French stayer Dunaden and win the Melbourne Cup. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Now We Can has recorded five wins from his six career starts and passed the ballot for the Melbourne Cup with his victory in the Group 2 Grand Prix De Chantilly (2400m) at Chantilly in June.

The Martillo gelding has not been seen at the races since his first victory at Group 2 level and Clement told The French Daily News that the future plans for the four-year-old are up in the air but a trip to Australia is still firmly on the agenda.

“All options remain open to him,” Clement said.

“If he comes to Deauville he could run in the Prix Kergorlay or the Grand Prix de Deauville, with a preference for the latter.

“He could wait and make his return in the Prix Foy and the aim is to go to Australia for the Melbourne Cup or even to go for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.”

Now We Can has won all five starts since finishing seventh on debut in the Prix Du Dragon (1600m) and was most impressive when recording a five lengths victory in the Prix Du Tandem (2800m) last November and a six lengths win in the Prix D’Alix (2900m) earlier this year.

The four-year-old is owned by Hong Kong Jockey Club chairman Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges and a tilt at the Hong Kong Vase (2400m) for Now We Can is likely if he comes to the Southern Hemisphere for ‘the race that stops a nation’.

Now We Can will join Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) as French-trained winners of the Melbourne Cup if he is successful on the first Tuesday of November.