Weight not the only problem for Efficient

Wed 1 Sep

Weight is only a secondary problem for 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient lining up to contest this year's race.

Chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said he believed the Lloyd Williams-owned Efficient, who he rates as the "benchmark stayer in the southern hemisphere" over the last three years, was the first ever Melbourne Cup topweight not to have passed the first ballot clause.

Carpenter allotted Efficient 58kg in the Melbourne Cup and he is equal topweight with former European star stayer and stablemate Alandi.

While not passing the first ballot clause doesn't preclude Efficient from running in the Melbourne Cup, it jeopardises his chances of gaining a start.

"He is topweight on overall performances and he could still get into the field but to make sure he is right at the top of the ballot preference he will have to fulfil that first balloting clause," Carpenter said.

Carpenter said he supports the Melbourne Cup conditions and the balloting clauses as they stand.

"It was something that was reviewed again this year and it is probably fair to say that I don't think any rule should be changed to suit a specific horse," Carpenter said.

"You have to look at the overall concept."

He said the first ballot clause provided for horses who have a performance of significance of over 2300 metres or further since August 1, 2008 to be at the top end of the ballot.

"Efficient's most recent start in that distance range was his victory in the 2007 Melbourne Cup and therefore he has not passed the ballot criteria as yet," Carpenter said. - aap

Image by aap