Efficient back to back aim
In the midst of a long night of celebrations, the trainer of Melbourne Cup winner Efficient has indicated a repeat effort might be on the cards.
Graeme Rogerson completed his grandest achievement, overtaking his 2004 Cox Plate triumph with Savabeel. The gregarious trainer is known for his bold statements, however it would seem logical for Efficient to be set for another tilt, given he’s only four years old.
“I haven’t discussed that with (owner Lloyd Williams), it’s his decision. I would say for sure (he’ll run again),” Rogerson told Fox Sports News.
“As long as everything goes right.”
Efficient had endured a disappointing spring, capped off with a ninth placing in the WS Cox Plate. A statistic largely forgotten in the lead up to today’s win was the fact Efficient had been competing exclusively in weight-for-age company.
“Once he got out in the clear, he was always going to pick them up and win.”
Rogerson was full of praise for the international contingent, which filled the minor placing’s with England’s Purple Moon and boom Irish youngster Mahler.
“By gee, they ran well. I think Aidan O’Brien (trainer of Mahler) will be back. It’s going to be very hard (for us) to win.”
Jockey Michael Rodd couldn’t believe his luck, and with good reason. The 25 year old from the central coast of NSW discovered the immense pitfalls just weeks earlier, when red hot favourite Maldivian was scratched from the Caulfield Cup at the barrier. Rodd, who rode Efficient to its Victoria Derby win in 2006, only secured this ride when regular jockey Steven Arnold switched to Gallic, while Williams next choice, Brett Prebble, was unavailable.
Arnold’s decision to dump Efficient backfired well before the race, when Gallic was scratched in the morning, after it was discovered there was heat in its near front joint.
“He was going enormous, Gallic,” Rogerson said.
Arnold picked up the ride on Railings when Greg Childs was ruled out for the day after an earlier fall, but the 2005 Caulfield Cup winner ran to its recent form, languishing in 20th.
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