Efficient, the 2007 Melbourne Cup winner, will have an exhibition gallop at Caulfield on Saturday ahead of a comeback preparation which does not include the Melbourne Cup this spring.
The popular Lloyd Williams-owned grey will appear between races two and three with stablemate Collar, a three-year-old O’Reilly gelding who has had one start for a win at Swan Hill in June.
Now an eight-year-old, Efficient hasn’t raced since winning his third Group One race at Flemington, the 2009 Turnbull Stakes.
The Zabeel gelding had previously won the 2006 Victoria Derby and the Melbourne Cup the following year.
Williams is hoping to have Efficient ready for the Zipping Classic at Sandown on the final day of the spring carnival.
The owner has had a frustrating time regarding Melbourne Cups with Efficient making it to the race only once from four attempts.
He was paid up as a final acceptor as a three-year-old after his Victoria Derby victory but was scratched on the morning of the race.
In 2008 Williams took him out less than a week from the race with a fetlock injury, while in 2009 he was withdrawn three days from the race after the old injury flared up after he won the Turnbull.
Meanwhile, Caulfield plays host to the 2011 National Jockeys’ Celebration Day on Saturday.
Ceremonies will be held around Australia on Saturday and Sunday to pay respect to injured and deceased jockeys throughout history.
Each of the jockeys at Caulfield on the day will gather as a group in the mounting yard at 2.35pm (AEST), prior to the running of race five – the National Jockeys’ Celebration Day Stakes – for a track blessing and then a minute’s silence will be observed.
The 2011 National Jockeys’ Celebration Day ambassador is William Hernan who suffered serious injuries in a fall at Geelong in September 2008.
AAP TURF
