"Gerald always said this was just a hitout to see how he's feeling. He hadn't been on the horse for quite a while. He hadn't been on the horse for four months. He was pleased with what he saw yesterday morning.
"We'll leave tonight knowing that we have a serious horse.
"Last year we had a champion [So You Think] to beat but this time they have to beat him."
The 7-year-old carried top weight of 58kg under the set weights and penalties conditions of the race. And he will carry the same weight under the handicap conditions of the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington tomorrow week after chief handicapper Greg Carpenter announced the horse would not be penalised for the win.
Tullamore meets Americain 5kg better at the weights in the Melbourne Cup, while Illo will be 3.5kg better off.
Americain firmed from $7.50 to $5 favourite for the Cup with TAB Sportsbet after the victory.
"It looks like he really enjoys Australia, like me," Mosse said.
"I'm quite happy about the acceleration he gave to me today with 58 kilos. I think it's a nice preparation and we look forward to seeing a big race from him [in the Melbourne Cup]."
Tullamore came in from $26 to $17 for the Cup, but the big firmer was Illo, firming from $41 to $11.
Cummings said Illo was "in with a show" of giving the master trainer his 13th Melbourne Cup success.
"Never say die. He goes down in weight," he said. Jockey Luke Nolen described Illo's run as "an excellent Melbourne Cup trial".
Nash Rawiller was delighted with the effort of his mount, the runner-up Tullamore. "My bloke's going tremendous. To be quite honest, I haven't had a horse go that good and get beat," he said.
"The winner was probably pitchforked in at the weights and all jokes aside, he's an international freak and I couldn't be happier with my bloke. He'll be better suited over the 3200m."
Chris Symons, who rode Shewan (fifth), said the gelding ran as good as he could with the weight (57kg).
"He probably didn't have the turn of foot that he had last start but that was due to the weight," he said.
"He attacked the line OK."
Americain holds the top line of betting for November 1 at $4.80, with the the Mikel Delzangles-trained Geelong Cup winner Dunaden next at $8, followed by the German pair Lucas Cranach ($9) and Illo ($15), with the English runners Jukebox Jury and Bauer next.
* Manawanui came through the Victoria Derby test run with a pass mark and a prediction from both trainer and jockey that the uncharted Derby distance was within his scope.
Manawanui was workmanlike rather than dazzling in the group two Vase, but the purpose of the exercise for the long odds-on favourite became obvious when trainer Ron Leemon announced on race morning that he would be ridden "negatively".
It was all about relaxing and running the 2040m, with the 2500m grand final seven days away.
Bookmakers reacted quickly to Manawanui's Derby hitout, firming him to a hot $2.25 favourite for next week's classic.
Jockey Glyn Schofield surely erased Derby distance doubts after Manawanui ($1.20) strode past Collar ($6) - who had thrown down the gauntlet mid-race - to win by 2 lengths.
"I couldn't pull him up after the line until he got to the 1000m mark again," Schofield told the Herald Sun..
"If that's an indication of how he will go, then that's enough indication for me."
Leemon said the Derby was a lock-in for Manawanui, with one proviso.
"I'd say he's a definite for the Derby at this stage, but we'll see how he does in the feed bin in the next two days. I don't expect there to be a problem.
"Whoever beats him [in the Derby] will win."
Leemon predicted his nemesis Peter Snowden would again be his greatest headache.
Snowden's Helmet nosed out Manawanui in the Caulfield Guineas, and Leemon rates Geelong Classic winner Induna the horse to beat in the Derby.
"Whatever Peter puts up against you, you've got to watch them."
Induna is the $7 third favourite for the Derby with TAB Sportsbet.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Niagara, an unlucky third at Caulfield the previous Saturday, is the $6.50 second favourite.
Schofield said he was happy to resist going forward when Hugh Bowman set Collar off, wide and to the front, mid-race.
"Manawanui popped in behind them and travelled really sweet," he said.
"He was that relaxed, when Hughie took off I didn't want to go after him.
"I knew that was their plan, to make it a proper test, but I was happy because it gave me some indication next week how he'll handle the Derby trip."
Leemon, his eye on next week, was satisfied.
"Quite happy, no problems," he said, adding he was looking forward to taking Manawanui to Flemington for the first time.
"I think it's the best track in Australia. He's bound to be suited by it. It's got a nice long straight; you can bide your time there and he can handle any going," he said.
Schofield said Manawanui appeared to be thriving, despite a busy campaign of three grand finals; the Golden Rose in Sydney, which he won, the Guineas, and now next week's Derby.
"He's thriving in his racing and enjoying Melbourne. Ron's done a great job with him, and on to next week."
- AAP
