Star French galloper Americain could add this month's Caulfield Cup to his spring racing campaign.
Trainer Alain de Royer Dupre is reportedly keen on using the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup as the final lead-in to the Melbourne Cup.
Racing Victoria's international scout Leigh Jordon said the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner was now likely to take his place in the field at Caulfield on October 20.
The eight-year-old had been originally entered for the Caulfield Cup but the plan was to run in the Moonee Valley Cup, a race he won last year.
The change in schedule is to accommodate a different approach to his return trip to Australia, according to Jordan.
"The feedback from Alain and connections is that the two-and-a-half weeks between the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup provides a better progression for Americain this year," Jordon told racingvictoria.net.au.
"Last year he had had a few runs in France, so he was fitter and was better equipped to cope with the 10-day back-up from Moonee Valley to the Melbourne Cup.
"Plus, the Caulfield Cup is also worth $2.5 million, which is very, very attractive, so that seems to be the thinking at the moment."
Americain joins The Mikel Delzangles-trained Dunaden as French-prepared Melbourne Cup winners eyeing this year's Caulfield Cup.
Americain has firmed from $51 into $26 for the Caulfield Cup with the TAB since it was learned he could be a legitimate chance to run at Caulfield.
The Andre Fabre-trained Brigantin is another French galloper targeting the world's richest 2400m handicap.
The Australian-owned pair My Quest For Peace and Jakkalberry are two other recently arrived northern hemisphere gallopers who are set to take the same path.