Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Americain is set to contest the Zipping Classic

Spring Racing Carnival fans are in for an added treat with popular French stayer Americain set to make another appearance this spring.

The striking entire has come through his unsuccessful-but-gallant Emirates Melbourne Cup defence so well that he is likely to contest the $400,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic at Betfair Park Sandown on 12 November.

“Nothing's a certainty but that is our plans at the moment, to run him in the Sandown (Zipping) Classic,” part-owner Colleen Bamford said on Wednesday evening.

“We had a meeting this morning and everyone was there, Kevin (Bamford), Gerry (Ryan, co-owner), Gerald (Mosse) the jockey, Alain (de Royer Dupre) the trainer and it was actually Alain's suggestion.

“People just love him so much. Yesterday at the races was amazing, everyone was just really barracking for him. He's such a charismatic horse and it's great we'll get to see him race again here.”

Bamford reported that Americain had come through the Melbourne Cup in exceptional order. He ran a brave race to be nosed out of third placing by Lucas Cranach after being pushed wide on the home turn under his 58kg top weight.

“He lost just over one and a half kilos (during the race), which is nothing, and he ate up and he looked beautiful this morning,” Bamford said. “He was walking around as bright as a button.”

Connections will wait to see how Americain goes at Sandown, but the intention is to head back to Hong Kong for the international meeting on 11 December and another crack at the 2400m Vase, in which Americain finished third last year.

It wasn't all good news to emerge from Tuesday's Melbourne Cup for the Bamfords and the Ryans with their other import, the Mark Johnston-trained Jukebox Jury, set for a long stint on the sidelines after suffering a suspected suspensory injury.