Americain is perfect according to trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre

French trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre thinks he may have wasted a trip coming to Australia after watching defending Melbourne Cup champion Americainworking at Werribee this morning.

As the Melbourne Cup favourite was slowing down he turned to part owner Colleen Bamford and said “You don’t need me here, he is perfect.”

“I watch the horse this morning and he looks, very well. I think he looks better than he was last year,” Royer-Dupre said.

The man who has trained Group winners all over the globe believes the hot 2011 Melbourne Cup favourite has had a ideal preparation going into the  Group 1 $6m event on Tuesday.

Americain, like in 2010 has had one start in Australia prior to a Cup, but this year he exchanged a Geelong Cup start for the Moonee Valley Cup which Americain won easily.

“He didn’t have a hard race and he has had a good preparation, I am very happy,” Royer-Dupre said.

While Royer-Dupre wasn’t concerned about the barrier draw (in 15)  he did see the weight as a danger.

“The weight is a great problem because over that sort of distance (3200m) it can make an effect,” he said.

Americain is aiming to become the fifth horse in Cup history to win the race back to back.

With a win Americain would join Makybe Diva (2003-2005, three wins), Think Big (1974-75), Rain Lover (1968-69) and Archer (1861-62).

Royer-Dupre said that while there were a lot of dangers in the Cup, the other French horse Dunaden may be the main threat.

That horse is trained by Mikel Delzangles who was  assistant trainer to Royer-Dupre for ten years before successfully taking out a trainers’ license.

Royer-Dupre has decided to remove the concussion plates Americain wore when winning at Moonee Valley.