Racing Victoria stewards will depend on the goodwill of owner Lloyd Williams after it was confirmed Melbourne Cup favourite Efficient is facing an uphill battle to be fit for next Tuesday.
It appears more than likely that for the third time in four years injury will keep the 2007 Melbourne Cup winner out of the $5.65million race after veterinarians found heat in his off foreleg yesterday.
The six-year-old had been the centre of rumours that he had not worked since his win in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 3 and stewards finally sent a team of vets to inspect him at the Macedon stables of John Sadler yesterday.
Racing Victoria vets Paul O'Callaghan and Geoff Hazard, as well as equine specialist Chris Whitton from Melbourne University, had concerns about Efficient's off foreleg but deemed stablemates C'est La Guerre and Zipping suitable to race after a three-hour visit.
''We are monitoring the situation [with Efficient],'' chief steward Terry Bailey said.
''The stable has assured us that they will not accept for the [Melbourne] Cup if it's not in the best interests of the horse.''
Betting agencies were quick to push out Efficient's odds after the news, with many putting the ''unlikely'' tag next to his name. On ACTTAB Sportsbet Efficient has eased to $8, with last year's winner Viewed the $5.50 favourite ahead of Alcopop at $6.
Bailey indicated Racing Victoria vets would inspect Efficient again before Tuesday but would not be drawn on where or when. It is believed he is scheduled to have a final gallop tomorrow.
''I haven't got a crystal ball and we have not set a time or date to have another look at the horses again but it will be before Tuesday,'' Bailey said.
''We will be in touch with stable's vets twice a day and as I said we are monitoring the situation and I can't say much more.''
Williams had earlier this week declared there was nothing wrong with Efficient but the vets reported that the stable had been managing the off foreleg for the past 18 months.
Efficient has been a central player in the Melbourne Cup for the past four years.
He was a race morning scratching with knee soreness in 2006 after being entered following his Victoria Derby win on the Saturday.
He won in 2007 to give Williams his third Melbourne Cup as an owner and was favourite last year before being forced to withdraw six days before the race with the same injury which threatens his 2009 cup quest.
In other Cup news, Godolphin's Kirklees was the undoubted star of the morning work at Sandown yesterday.
Kerrin McEvoy was in the saddle as the imported stayer moved off from the 1400m and steadily increased his tempo, running the last 1200m in 1:16 and sprinting home the final 400m in a respectable 24sec.
''It was good work and I think he has improved since the Caulfield Cup,'' McEvoy said.
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is expected in Melbourne this morning to oversee the final lead-up work of Kirklees and Crime Scene.
Hong Kong-based Zac Purton will return to take the ride on Munsef after regular jockey Eddie Ahern told trainer Ian Williams he would be unable to make the English stayer's weight of 53kg.