Connections of reigning Melbourne Cup winner Americain have confirmed the galloper will return down under on the first Tuesday of November to defend his crown in the 2011 Melbourne Cup.

The 2011 Melbourne Cup, the showcase event of the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, is scheduled to run as Flemington Race 7 on Tuesday November 1.

Americain on his way to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup

Dynaformer six-year-old Americain claimed an upset win in the 2010 Melbourne Cup storming home to defeat a gallant Maluckyday by three lengths in the $6 million Flemington feature while superstar So You Think finished off last year’s winning Melbourne Cup Trifecta running third as the beaten favourite.

Americain’s Melbourne Cup success came on the back of their narrow first-up Australian run in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2406m) on October 20.

After scoring victory in the world’s richest handicap, Americain travelled to Hong Kong and ran a game third in the $2.5 million Group 1 Honk Kong Vase (2400m) at Sha Tin on December 12, ridden by his Melbourne Cup winning jockey Gerald Mosse.

A truly international racehorse, the American-bred and Australian-owned Americain is trained in France by Alain De Royer Dupre.

This year Americain will also be aimed at the 2011 Caulfield Cup on October 15.

Early 2011 Melbourne Cup betting markets have last year’s runner-up Maluckyday as the pre-post favourite.

Zabeel four-year-old Maluckyday will have his first barrier trial of the year at Rosehill Gardens this morning taking on Doncaster Mile champion Rangirangdoo in a 900m hit out.

For the best Melbourne Cup 2011 odds make sure you have an account open with leading online bookmaker Luxbet.

Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography