The first southern hemisphere foal for Melbourne Cup winner Americain has the pedigree to suggest she might be better than a long-shot chance to emulate her dad’s triumph in Australia’s greatest race.

The bay-coloured filly, sporting a prominent white marking on her forehead and similar features on her legs, was born at Swettenham Stud in Victoria in the early hours of Friday morning.

Her arrival reinforces Americain’s impact on the Australian racing scene since his 2010 Melbourne Cup victory.

And it won’t be a surprise to thoroughbred breeding buffs if the filly follows in Americain’s hoofsteps and is a Melbourne Cup contender before the end of the decade.

Boosting her potential to be a Melbourne Cup runner are the bloodlines of her dam, Whipping.

Whipping was unraced but she is a half-sister to Zipping who finished fourth on three occasions in the Melbourne Cup besides winning the Australian Cup and Turnbull Stakes at Group One level.

“She is a very, very good-looking foal and if that is an indication of what Americain is throwing in the southern hemisphere then we’ll be very happy,” Swettenham’s Brian Gorman said.

“It’s always an exciting time of year but certainly the anticipation and expectations with the Americains makes it even better.”

Trained by Frenchman Alain de Royer-Dupre, Americain defeated Maluckyday and So You Think in the Melbourne Cup in the first of what turned out to be four Australian racing campaigns.

Raced by Australian interests, Americain was retired to stud after finishing midfield behind Green Moon in the 2012 Melbourne Cup.

He stood his first season at stud at Calumet Farm in the United States and his first northern hemisphere foals were born in January.

Americain was one of Australia’s most popular first-season sires last year, getting cosy with more than 150 broodmares.