Jockey Steven Arnold is likely to abandon the struggling Efficient and opt for veteran marvel Gallic as his Melbourne Cup mount.
Lloyd Williams, owner of the Melbourne Cup trio of Gallic, Efficient and Zipping, said yesterday he expected Arnold would select Gallic as his Cup ride, especially as the Victoria Derby winner Efficient disappointed on Saturday in the Cox Plate.
"I think Steven would ride Gallic," Williams said. "The jury is out on Efficient at the moment and I thought his run was only just acceptable on Saturday where Gallic was very good in winning the Moonee Valley Cup."
Arnold's shift on to Gallic has opened the path for jockey Michael Rodd to be reunited with Efficient for just the second time since he won last spring's Victoria Derby. Arnold, who partnered eight-year-old Gallic to an impressive victory in the Cathay Pacific (Moonee Valley) Cup on Saturday, said yesterday no decision had yet been made, but Gallic loomed as a likely cup mount.
"He just keeps producing in these longer races and one thing you know about Gallic is that he will run the two miles while many of the others won't," Arnold said.
"Efficient was slightly disappointing. It was an even run without being anything special, although you'd think he'd be better over longer."
Zipping, who carved out the quickest 600-metre sectional in the Cox Plate despite finishing eighth, moved into $9 and third favourite for the $5 million Melbourne Cup yesterday.
Gallic also appeared high on the betting boards at $13 ahead of Efficient, who eased out to $15.
Arnold, like Williams, has a special affinity with Gallic. He won the Bendigo Cup on him last year and then this year partnered him to famous victories in the Adelaide Cup and then Sydney Cup before last the Moonee Valley Cup victory.
"You can't deny his form and he keeps stepping up in these distance races. He's a very good Cup ride I'd think."
For Williams, Gallic is the "love of my life", he said yesterday.
"I see him through rose coloured glasses of course, but what he's been able to achieve with the problems he's had, well, he's my favourite. He keeps coming back."
Gallic has returned to the racetrack from crippling leg injuries and even a broken pelvis, but Williams said yesterday that the eight-year-old's legs were as good as ever.
"I think he was better this morning than he was on Friday," Williams said.
"He and Zipping and Efficient went down to the beach this morning and Gallic was just perfect. So much so, I think I'll run him in the Saab [Quality over 2500m] next Saturday before the Cup."
Williams said Zipping, who will be ridden on Saturday and again in the Melbourne Cup by Dan Nikolic, was likely to have his final run before the Melbourne Cup in Saturday's Group1 Mackinnon Stakes.
But Williams said he was unsure which race to run Efficient in.
"I thought he was ordinary," he said. "He's really got to step up as he hasn't won a race since he was a three-year-old and he's had a big boom on him. There were no excuses on Saturday and maybe he's just one those derby winners that don't go on.
Meanwhile, a decision on whether star mare Miss Finland continues on to the Melbourne Cup is likely to be made this morning.
Managing owner John Messara said he was perplexed by her recent form including her fourth in the Cox Plate for which she was favourite.