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Owner Lloyd Williams' obsession with the Melbourne Cup has led to him having three runners in the famous 3200m handicap at Flemington tomorrow, which he is hoping to win for a third time.
Williams was involved in the ownership of the Tommy Smith-trained Just A Dash in 1981 and the John Meagher-trained What A Nuisance in 1985.
His trio of runners this year - Efficient, Gallic and Zipping - all look good chances and a win would be the first in the race for their transtasman trainer Graeme Rogerson.
Steven Arnold's decision to go with Gallic, ahead of last year's Victoria Derby winner Efficient, gives supporters of the 8-year-old a bit of confidence and Williams' son and stable manager Nick agrees.
"It's pretty hard to go past Gallic," Williams said.
"He's won an Adelaide Cup, he's won the Sydney Cup and a Moonee Valley Cup, you know he's going to get the two miles (3200m). He doesn't know he's 8.
"Gallic has been a pretty good hunting ground for Steve so I hope he's a good judge because it would be a fairytale come true."
It would seem the opposite would apply to Efficient with Arnold getting off him despite his brilliant workout at Flemington last Tuesday when he ran the fastest closing section of the gallops on the course proper.
Efficient, a grey, will be ridden by Michael Rodd who steered him to impressive victories in the 2006 AAMI Vase and Victoria Derby.
Efficient, who was not suited in a slowly-run Cox Plate and finished ninth with blinkers on for the first time, will race withoutthem.
"He seems to have hit his straps in the last week," Williams said.
"I've said it before, he's been working the house down, but he's been doing it for some time.
"Whether it's circumstances I'm not sure but he hasn't been putting it together on the race track.
"I hope with a bit of a sharpen up it will switch him on and we can see the real Efficient again.
"He's got what you'd call an x-factor but he's yet to produce it this preparation."
Efficient hasn't won since the Victoria Derby, an unwelcome record he shares with recent derby winners Benicio (2005) Amalfi (2001), Hit The Roof (2000) and Blackfriars (1999).
"That's a hoodoo we were hoping to break. We haven't been able to as yet but hopefully we can on Tuesday."
The last Derby winner to go on and win the cup the following year was the legendary Phar Lap (1930).
Zipping, who ran fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup, emerged as a great chance with his slashing last-to-third in Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes.
"It was a great trial for the Melbourne Cup, but it's a bit hard from that barrier (22)," Williams said.
The Danehill 6-year-old also pleased the stable when he ran on well for eighth in the Cox Plate the week before.
"He certainly got home. His closing sectional was the fastest of the day," Williams said."
Williams' enthusiasm dampened somewhat when Gallic drew the outside barrier (24) with Zipping two inside him and he described those draws as disastrous. Efficient fared much better with gate 10.
Zipping is the best fancied at $8 with TAB Sportsbet with Efficient at $16 and Gallic at $18.
- AAP
