Raiders tighten grip on Cup | Northern Rivers Horses | Horse Riding, Horseback in Northern Rivers

30th October 2008

flickr.com/Luciano Bello

THE international raiders tightened their stranglehold on the Melbourne Cup yesterday with news 2007 winner Efficient had been ruled out through injury.

Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams still has Zipping and C’est La Guerre in the Cup but said the injury to Efficient’s off-front leg was devastating for the stable with the grey rated the best chance of upsetting the Europeans.

“It’s a tragedy for us but more so his personal attendant Angie Hill who has been looking after him for 51 weeks getting him ready for this event and she got within six days and this is what has happened,” Williams said.

“I feel sorry for Angie.”

Efficient’s withdrawal has further cemented the claims of Irish stayer Septimus, which is the solid $4.50 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of English horse Mad Rush ($5.50), New Zealander Nom Du Jeu ($11), Godolphin’s Caulfield Cup winner All The Good ($11) and Irish mare Profound Beauty ($13).

Zipping and C’est La Guerre lead the Australians at $16 with bookmaker Sportingbet Australia offering $1.30 that the Melbourne Cup winner will not be trained in Australia.

“We are currently betting $1.30 that the winner will not be trained in Australia and that actually still looks value,” chief executive Michael Sullivan said.

Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of Septimus, has no doubt he deserves to be favourite.

“Septimus is a horse that tries extremely hard,” O’Brien said.

“Honolulu and Alessandro Volta, they save a little bit, they’re lazy and they only give what they need to.

“But Septimus, when you ask him, he gives it all.”

• Daily newspapers
• Bundaberg News-Mail
• Coffs Coast Advocate
• Fraser Coast Chronicle
• Gladstone Observer
• Grafton Daily Examiner
• Gympie Times
• Ipswich Queensland Times
• Lismore Northern Star
• Mackay Daily Mercury
• Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
• Sunshine Coast Daily
• Toowoomba Chronicle
• Tweed Daily News
• Warwick Daily News
• Community newspapers
• Ballina Shire Advocate
• Biloela Central Telegraph
• Byron Shire News
• Coolum & North Shore News
• East-Ipswich Satellite
• Emerald Central Queensland News
• Gatton Star
• Gold Coast Mail
• Ipswich Advertiser
• Logan Reporter
• Noosa News
• The Northern Rivers Echo
• Whitsunday Times
• Other publications
• Surat Basin News