KEY POINTS:
Even chronic back pain couldn't keep Melbourne-based New Zealand trainer Mike Moroney from the Flemington track each day this week.
He couldn't wait to get there to see his A$1.5 million ($1.72 million) Victoria Derby nemesis Efficient walk by each day.
The grey flecks in Efficient's colouring made Moroney momentarily forget his pain every day.
He is hoping that sign of grey is what will allow his own horse The One to beat Efficient in one of Australia's toughest races, the Victoria Derby this afternoon.
Moroney believes the sign of grey colouring means Efficient is almost certainly genetically inclined not to his sire Zabeel, but to the female line of his family through the dam Refused The Dance.
And that fills Moroney with hope.
"Refused The Dance won up to only 1200m.
"I trained her half brother The Shiner. He was by a staying sire and won 10 races, but couldn't get past 1400m.
"We're hoping that kicks in."
Efficient was hugely impressive in beating The One in the AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
That race is regarded as by far the strongest form pointer this spring for today's race and since then Efficient has been the raging favourite at $2.30 in Australia to take the Derby.
His rider Michael Rodd was full of confidence at yesterday's Victoria Racing Club Derby media conference.
"The only thing that can beat him is bad luck or a bad ride - and that's my job," said Rodd.
Despite looking as though he has a lot of brilliance and class, Efficient, according to Rodd, was only just winding up as he went over the finish line last Saturday.
"It wasn't until after the post that he really started to get going. Perhaps it was the crowd he was looking at. I'm sure if he'd raced at Moonee Valley previously he'd have won by more."
For all that there were a lot of positives in the performance of The One behind Efficient.
He gave the impression he didn't handle the home bend at Moonee Valley that well. He tended to paddle rather than gallop around it, which left him only 150m in which to pick up the winner, who had a much more economical trip around the bend closer to the inside.
Even though the winner was strong on the line, The One was only slightly less so and was not punched right out by Greg Childs.
"Greg said he didn't handle the home bend at Caulfield the start before either," said Moroney.
The vast expanses of Flemington will much better suit The One.
"The Efficient camp might be thinking similar things about our chances. They're probably saying The One is by O'Reilly, who hasn't left a lot of stayers.
"They're probably thinking he's a group three winner at 1200m and has to stretch out to 2500m, but The One is stoutly bred on the dam's side."
The One is a colt and to keep his mind fresh and in focus, Moroney has been varying his training, even schooling the horse at Flemington in the last 10 days.
"He seems a natural at jumping."
Moroney is hoping that beach visits and working on different tracks at Flemington every day this week will keep The One from getting mentally stale.
The One is third favourite in Australia at $7. The second favourite Get Square ($5.50) is looking to end a disappointing streak for trainer John O'Shea, who watched Racing To Win finish down the track in last week's A$3 million Cox Plate.
O'Shea was bullish at the press conference.
"He's got a good draw and he'll be impeccably ridden by Darren Beadman. His sire (Redoute's Choice) hasn't left a group one winner past 1600m, but he's a great sire and I'm hoping this bloke will be his first."
Perth trainer Trevor Andrews is not overawed in producing the Western Australian Egomaniac against the favourites.
"Unlike a lot of others, I don't think it's a shut-the-book race at all. The big, roomy track is going to suit our horse."
Efficient has to prove he can mould his brilliance to suit a race that has traditionally been a 2500m grind that is essentially far too early in the season for horses just turning three.
Moroney, on the surface, has to prove he can overcome his crippling back pain. But he says if The One is within one length of the lead at the 200m today, there'll be no pain.
* In Auckland, Ellerslie will feature 10 on-course races and live coverage from Flemington. There's also a fashion competition and a post-race party. Gates open at 10.30 am, with the Melbourne Cup field set to get away at 5pm.
