Star stayer Americain has been installed favourite for the $1 million Australian Cup in March.

The 2010 Melbourne Cup winner was posted as the $4 TAB Sportsbet favourite on Friday with the 2000m weight-for-age feature to be run at Flemington on March 10.

Americain shot to prominence in Australia when he came from France to claim the Geelong and Melbourne Cup double for trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre in 2010.

He returned from France for the 2011 spring carnival and flashed home for a luckless fourth in Dunaden’s Melbourne Cup in between victories in the Moonee Valley Cup and Sandown Classic.

Americain’s Australian owners decided to keep the stayer in Australia and selected David Hayes as the new trainer to prepare him for his 2012 autumn campaign.

Imports are on the top three lines of betting with Melbourne Cup third placegetter Lucas Cranach at $7 and At First Sight $8.

Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed, who scored a stunning first-up win at Caulfield on Thursday, is next at $9.

TAB Sportsbet also released its Australian Guineas and Newmarket Handicap markets with Helmet and champion Black Caviar the respective favourites.

Helmet was posted at $3.50 for the Guineas ahead of Moment Of Change at $6.

Black Caviar went up at $2 for the Newmarket although she is listed as an unlikely runner with the race being a handicap.

Comeback sprinter Hay List is on the second line of betting at $4 ahead of Sister Madly at $6.