Reigning Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) champion Efficient is a shock scratching from next Tuesday’s great race at Flemington.
Owner Lloyd Williams has confirmed the five-year-old injured a fetlock joint in his offside front leg. The horse galloped well at his Mount Macedon property yesterday morning but was found to be lame this morning.
While the results of scans are still to be known, Williams immediately made the decision to scratch last year’s Cup winner. He’s now left with two Cup runners, Tatts Cox Plate runner-up Zipping and New Zealand Derby winner C’est La Geurre.
While the injury isn’t career threatening, Williams said Efficient will need complete rest for three months and may not be in a position to race again until this time next year.
It’s the second time Efficient has been a shock last minute scratching from the Cup. Two years ago the gelding was scratched on the morning of the race following his impressive AAMI Victoria Derby win the previous Saturday.
