Williams Writes Off Foreign Force

Newcastle Herald

Monday November 6, 2006

By GEOFF WILSON

MILLIONAIRE racehorse owner Lloyd Williams has dismissed the internationals as potential dangers to his team of three runners in tomorrow's Melbourne Cup (3200 metres) at Flemington.

Williams will have rising superstar and Saturday's Victoria Derby (2500m) winner Efficient, tough stayer Activation and the in-form Zipping in the cup.

And yesterday he was buoyant about his chances of a third Melbourne Cup after being the part-owner of 1985 winner What A Nuisance and Just A Dash (1981).

Williams's claims to the cup became stronger when he elected to pay the late entry fee for Efficient after the colt's demolition job on his rivals on Saturday.

"I like David's horse as our main rival," Williams said of Tawqeet, the import which is now trained by leading Australian trainer David Hayes.

"I have forgotten about the internationals, I can't see them as true dangers.

"If we can't win it then I have no doubt it will be Tawqeet because his Caulfield Cup run was sensational.'

Williams said Efficient won the derby like a superstar and had a vital fact in his favour for the cup.

"Not too many stayers possess the turn of hoof this bloke has," Williams said.

"He is a marvellous stayer and that is why I decided to pay up for the cup."

Efficient is attempting to become the first three-year-old since Skipton in 1941 to win the Melbourne Cup.

"Right now I am 85 per cent certain he will run, but I will leave a final decision until tomorrow night," Williams said yesterday.

"Today Efficient looks bright, he is not jaded and is so healthy and keen.

"He is such an exciting horse that obviously we will look after him, so he will only run if I am 100 per cent happy with him."

Williams revealed that Zipping, which won the Moonee Valley Cup last Saturday week, had two "rousing gallops" at Werribee last week.

"He won last week but he was still fat. He needed two good hit-outs and he has got them this week," Williams said.

"He looks marvellous now and only needed to draw a good barrier to be a wonderful chance.

"He is out wide and needs luck now, but he still looms as a big hope to me."

Williams said Activation had turned in an "eye-catcher" in the Caulfield Cup when fourth.

"He was beaten by the bias that day and his run stamped him as a real cup hopeful.

"All things are looking good and we just need luck on the day now."

Geoff Wilson travelled to Melbourne courtesy of Kerry Phillips Great Events.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home