French trainer bucks over firm track conditions

FRENCHMAN Gerald Mosse has been told local rules apply after his call for a soft option in the Caulfield Cup tomorrow.

Mosse said it was possible topweight Americain could be scratched from the Cup if the track was too firm, saying he would walk the track at midday today and report back to trainer Alain de Royer Dupre in Paris.

Americain is one of two headline acts who could be scratched from the Cup.

The other is last year’s winner Southern Speed, who could be saved for next Saturday’s Cox Plate.

Luca Cumani’s third emergency Ibicenco was scratched yesterday with a minor problem.

Mosse warned of a possible ‘‘epidemic’’ of scratchings among the handful of international raiders if the track raced firm, although none of the other raiders have expressed concerns over the track.

Mosse said a current weather forecast for clear skies and warm weather concerned him.

Americain has a preference for soft ground.

Caulfield track manager Jason Kerr insisted he would not prepare the track to suit the raiders.

MRC chairman Mike Symons said ‘‘we go through this debate every year’’ and said no runners would be given priority over track conditions.

Symons said the track would start a Dead 4 on Cup day and be Good 3 when the Cup is run at 4.05pm.

Americain, the 2010 Melbourne Cup winner and Caulfield Cup equal topweight with 2011 Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden, is a $ 19 chance in latest fixed odds betting. Southern Speed is a $26 chance to become just the third horse in history to win the Cup in consecutive years.

If both stars come out, much hyped raider Gatewood would creep into the 18-horse field and be a ‘‘prominent winning chance’’, according to leading bookmaker Alan Eskander.