Trainer David Hayes was pleased with the effort of Americain, although miffed at the ride by Hong Kong-based Frenchman Gerald Mosse.
"He was caught wide three-out then he was held up at a vital stage. How you can do that when you've been three-wide throughout the race I don't know," Hayes said.
Stewards voiced their criticism of Mosse's effort feeling he had an opportunity to get cover early by slotting in behind Scarlett Lady.
Mosse felt he would have been too far back and said Americain's wide barrier limited his options.
"I didn't get a chance to get in. In my mind there's not much sense getting ten lengths back off," Mosse said.
"The pace was not going that fast."
Hayes told stewards the plan had been to track Manighar but the race didn't pan out.
"We were hoping he could jump out and get cover and be in touch with the grey (Manighar)," Hayes said.
Chief steward Ray Murrihy summed it up: "You don't track three-wide in a Group One race and win them.
"For your first ride in Sydney it wasn't one of your best.
"You set the horse too tough a task.
"It's clear to us you should have come back and sat behind Scarlett Lady."
