David Hayes says Americain, who is having his first start for his stable, is in great shape and will be his only runner in the Australian Cup.
David Hayes will rely on favourite Americain in the Group One Australian Cup after delisting three of his stablemates for the weight-for-age feature.
Hayes said Budai, Extra Zero and Largo Lad would all avoid a clash with the former French stayer in Saturday's $1 million race over 2000 metres.
Americain is having his first preparation since joining the Hayes stable in December and was always going to resume in the Australian Cup.
Hayes said the lead-up had gone to plan and he is confident that despite an unorthodox approach he can win.
"Everything is good and I'm looking forward to the weekend," Hayes said.
"He's in great shape and really going well."
The 2010 Melbourne Cup winner is the most decorated stayer in Australia and last raced when he won the Sandown Classic (2400m) in November.
He finished fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup after winning the Moonee Valley Cup and won the 2010 Geelong Cup at his only other start in Australia.
Hayes, with the help of Stephanie Nigge who looked after Americain on his last two Melbourne spring campaigns, has been happy to condition the seven-year-old with strong exhibition gallops at various race meetings in recent weeks.
A striking entire, Americain could give Hayes his third Australian Cup after Better Loosen Up (1991) and Niconero (2009).
He is $3.40 favourite with TAB Sportsbet, ahead of Lucas Cranach ($3.60).
Hayes said it would be an exciting clash with Lucas Cranach, trained by Anthony Freedman to finish third in last year's Melbourne Cup. He won the Group Two Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield when he resumed on February 25.
Hayes said he also has a lot of respect for former English stayer Manighar who finished third in the Young Stakes.
Now trained by Peter Moody, Manighar is $7 for the Cup while the Bart Cummings-trained Illo, who like Lucas Cranach is from Germany, is at $8.
Illo, second in the Young Stakes and a late nomination for next month's Doncaster Mile, and stablemate Precedence, seventh in the Young, are chances to give Cummings his 14th Australian Cup.
Sirmione (2008) was Cummings' 13th winner and nearly his 14th when he was beaten a nose by Zipping in 2010.
Precedence finished fifth in last year's Australian Cup.
Eight of the past 10 Australian Cup winners have contested the Young Stakes.
