KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE - The elevation of Efficient to tomorrow's A$5 million ($5.8 million) Melbourne Cup adds extra spice to the annual New Zealand challenge for the race that stops two nations.
Efficient's connections paid a A$132,000 ($153,470) late entry fee to secure their place in the field.
A New Zealand-trained horse has not won the cup since Ethereal for Waikato trainer Sheila Laxon in 2001.
Efficient, brilliant winner of the Victoria Derby at Flemington in Melbourne on Saturday, is not trained in New Zealand, but he was bred here, four Kiwis share 25 per cent ownership, and his trainer, Graeme Rogerson, is a New Zealander.
The 3-year-old jumped into the bookmakers' cup charts after connections decided to run him in the cup - a rare move for derby winners.
The last horse to complete the derby-cup double was Skipton in 1941.
Three New Zealand-trained horses are running in the cup - Zabeat, Kerry O'Reilly and Mandela.
But the Kiwi connection doesn't end there. Rogerson also has Activation and Zipping in the field.
Railings and Headturner, from the John Hawkes stable, are part-owned by New Zealanders Gerard Peterson and Owen Glenn.
Expatriate New Zealand jockey Greg Childs rides Headturner.
Peterson and Glenn also share in the ownership of English raider Glistening.
John Collins, a New Zealander who previously trained at Otaki but has been in Victoria for 10 years, has Brisbane Cup winner Art Success engaged.
The New Zealand-breds in the cup are Art Success, Activation, Kerry O'Reilly, Zabeat, Mandela and Efficient.
Here's a closer look at the three visitors from New Zealand:
Zabeat
Seven-year-old gelding by Rhythm out of Zabeel mare Zabest. Trained by Donna Logan, Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs at Ruakaka, near Whangarei. Has won a Wellington Cup and finished second in this year's Auckland and Sydney Cups, so he can certainly run out the cup distance. But he flopped badly in the 2500m Saab Quality Handicap on Saturday, finishing last. Vets have found no problem with him, so his connections have decided to press ahead. That run sent his odds from $71 to $201. He has to be a major risk on Saturday's run, but at his best he would be competitive in this race. Exuberant French jockey Olivier Doleuze rides him.
Kerry O'reilly
Six-year-old gelding by O'Reilly out of the Grosvenor mare Pegarah. Trained by Jim Gibbs at Matamata in Waikato. Winner of last year's Counties (2100m) and Waikato Cups (2400m), he surprised many with his sizzling finish for second in the Kelt Capital Stakes (2040m) last month. He then warmed up for the cup with a nice run for fourth in the Geelong Cup (2400m). In his only run at 3200m, he ran sixth in the Auckland Cup this year, so there is a query over the distance, but he is a big-striding horse who could be suited to Flemington. Cameron Lammas, 18 months out of his apprenticeship with Gibbs, rides. Odds: $41.
Mandela
Five-year-old stallion by Ebony Grosve out of Sea Anchor mare Wairongoa Belle. Trained by Richard Yuill at Pukekohe. Cost only $1600 at auction, which makes him the cheapest buy in the field. Leapt into cup calculations with an emphatic win in the Geelong Cup (2400m) on October 25, sending his odds plummeting from $300 to $21. Now at $34. Unknown at distance, but leading Melbourne jockey Craig Williams was keen to retain the ride. In form, so rates a solid chance.
Starter's orders: Get your Sweepstake Chart in tomorrow's New Zealand Herald with a special 10-page section covering all the Melbourne Cup action.
Melbourne Cup: Flemington, 5pm tomorrow. Live TV3, Trackside.
- NZPA
