Melbourne Cup winner Efficient will have just two runs leading into this year’s famous Flemington race.

The Lloyd Williams owned grey, prepared by John Sadler, was one of more than 20 horses from the Williams team in jump-outs at Flemington on Friday.

Efficient will resume in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes at his home track next month and then go through the Turnbull Stakes before the Melbourne Cup on November 4.

“He had a jump-out on Friday morning and went quite well,” Williams told Sport 927.

“He’ll run in the Makybe Diva then he’ll run in the Turnbull. They will be the two runs he’ll have. We already known he can run two miles so we don’t have to prove it to ourselves.

“He’s a stronger horse and certainly hasn’t been overraced. He’s in good order.”

New acquisition to the Williams team, New Zealand Derby winner Cest La Guerre, is likely to run in the Memsie Stakes but according to Williams may not be seasoned enough for this year’s Melbourne Cup.

Bought by son Nick, Cest La Guerre has won five of his nine starts, including the New Zealand Derby by four lengths. The form from the race was then franked in Sydney during the autumn when Nom Du Jeu and Red Ruler, the fourth and eighth placegetters, went on to quinella the AJC Australian Derby at Randwick.

“Cest La Guerre is a lean mean New Zealander,” Williams said. “He doesn’t carry any condition and probably needs to build up. He looks as if he’s a horse that probably needs another 12 months but I hope I’m wrong.

Williams said a run in the Memsie would probably be followed by an Underwood start before assessing how he’s going.

He added Zipping wouldn’t be running in another Melbourne Cup and would instead be aimed at the shorter Caulfield Cup.

In early Cups betting Sportingbet has Efficient an $11.00 favourite, while Cest La Guerre is on the third line of betting at $17.00.
(Source: Racing & Sports)