French stayer Americain is the firm favourite to win today’s Melbourne Cup aiming to become only the fifth horse in history to take Australia’s greatest race in consecutive years.

Americain stormed home with a superb finish to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup and although he will be carrying a 58kg handicap today – up more than three kilos from last year – the Alain de Royer Dupre-trained horse remains the one to beat.

The Melbourne Cup is known in Australia as “The Race That Stops a Nation” as people all over the country pause to catch the field of 24 thoroughbreds race 3,200 metres around the Flemington track.

The state of Victoria declares each Melbourne Cup day a public holiday and more than 100,000 people brave the city’s notoriously fickle weather to flock to the course.

Many of those travel across the country and will be relieved by Qantas’s decision yesterday to resume flying after prolonged industrial action led to a cancellation of all flights on Saturday.

There seems no stopping Americain after he impressively won the Moonee Valley Cup on October 22, one of the key form guides ahead of the Melbourne Cup.

“I’m confident,” de Royer Dupre said before conceding the extra weight was making him nervous.

“It’s only the weight, three kilos more is difficult. He looks very well and very fresh, but wait and see.

“Now it’s the job of the jockey, my job is finished.”