Reigning champ out of Melbourne Cup

Published: 1:45PM Wednesday October 29, 2008 Source: AAP

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The international raiders' grip on Tuesday's $5.5 million Melbourne Cup tightened further on Wednesday when last year's winner Efficient was ruled out of the race with a strained fetlock.
  
Efficient had been third favourite behind the Aidan O'Brien-trained Septimus, who is now the clear $4.50 top pick with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Luca Cumani's Caulfield Cup fourth placegetter Mad Rush at $5.50.
  
Godolphin's Caulfield Cup winner All The Good shares the third line of betting at $11 with AJC Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu, while two-time Cup winner Dermot Weld's Irish mare Profound Beauty is in to $13.
  
Efficient's owner Lloyd Williams will still be represented by New Zealand Derby winner C'Est La Guerre and last week's Cox Plate runner-up Zipping who are both at $16 following the withdrawal of their stablemate.
  
Williams told Melbourne radio station Sport 927 that Efficient suffered the injury after working at his Mount Macedon property on Tuesday.
  
"I really feel for the people involved with Efficient who have been working with the horse for 51 weeks since last year's victory," he said.

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