Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Americain has resumed racing for the season running a credible sixth first-up for 2011 in testing 3125m race in France over the weekend.

Six-year-old galloper Americain is trained in France by Alain de Royer-Dupre but owned by Australian connections.

Co-owners Gerry Ryan and Kevin Bamford cleaned up winning the world’s richest handicap when Americain defeated Maluckyday and superstar So You Think in the $6 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington last year.

The win was just the second start on Australian turf for the son of Dynaformer who made their Aussie debut taking out the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2406m) on October 20, 2010.

After their upset Melbourne Cup victory, Americain was sent to Hong Kong where they ran a game third behind Mastery in the $2.5 million Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on December 12.

Americain has now begun a long-term campaign aimed at defending their Cup title when the 2011 Melbourne Cup takes place on November 1, 2011.

On April 8 Americain resumed in the $25,100 Listed Prix Right Royal (3125m) and was five and a half lengths away sixth behind Kasbah Bliss when carrying a hefty 61.5kg at Saint-Cloud.

This was the heaviest weight Americain had ever carried and he was again ridden by regular jockey and Melbourne Cup winning hoop Gerald Mosse.

De Royer-Dupre did not expect Americain to win.

“He had no room to challenge,” de Royer Dupre said post-race.

“The horse (Americian) won’t be going to Ascot for the Gold Cup and I’m preparing him for the Coronation Cup at Epsom.”