Michael Rodd will reunite with Efficient in Saturday’s Sydney Cup at Randwick more than four years after guiding him to victory in Australia’s most famous race.
Rodd has not ridden the Lloyd Williams-owned gelding since that first Tuesday in November and he can’t wait to jump back aboard.
“It is exciting to be back on him,” Rodd said.
“It is the first time since the Cup in 2007 and it is great.
“He’s been a good horse to me in the past and hopefully we can have a bit of luck.”
Rodd has ridden Efficient four times for three wins in the 2006 AAMI Vase and Victoria Derby, along with the Cup the following spring.
His only other ride was a fourth in the 2007 Schweppes Cup at Caulfield.
Efficient’s career since his Melbourne Cup triumph has been thwarted by leg injuries and all up the eight-year-old has raced just 27 times.
His last win was the 2009 Turnbull Stakes but he did finish sixth in the Cox Plate last spring and indicated there was some life left in the old legs with a solid last-start fifth to Manighar in the Australian Cup.
While there are doubts over many of his rivals running a strong 3200m, there are no such concerns for Efficient’s connections.
But the grey will have to gain a veterinary clearance on Friday to start.
Efficient was scratched from the Chairman’s Quality last Saturday week after vets determined he was lame in the off-foreleg following a race day inspection.
Racing NSW chief steward Ray Murrihy has arranged for Efficient to be examined a day out from the race this time to give him every chance to prove his fitness for the Sydney Cup.
“Two vets agreed he had grade one to two lameness last time which is not too serious,” Murrihy said.
“I understand he has gait peculiarities and he will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness. He will be able to warm up and not just be pulled out of the race day stalls.”
While Efficient missed an important run in the Chairman’s, Rodd didn’t believe it would detract from his Sydney Cup chances.
Williams’ trainer Robert Hickmott has successfully adopted a European training style with many of the team and Rodd says it has particularly suited Efficient.
“He hasn’t had an ideal preparation but Lloyd (Williams) can offset that because he has such good training facilities and also the horse is a natural stayer,” Rodd said.
“He is one from one at the distance and he will be a good ride.”
Efficient was at $15 with TAB Sportsbet on Thursday with Chairman’s Quality winner Permit at the top of Sydney Cup betting at $3.60.
