The Money’s on Efficient

NZ-bred horse Efficient has been dubbed “racing’s next big thing” in the Australian press after winning the AU$1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington. The three-year-old gelding’s win earned him the right to enter the Melbourne Cup, but trainer Graeme Rogerson was forced to pull him from the race after he strained a knee during the morning warm up. The last horse to complete the Derby-Cup double was Skipton in 1941. While not trained in NZ, Efficient was bred there, is trained by an ex-pat Kiwi, and is part-owned by four NZers (the managing owner is Australian multi-millionaire and former Crown Casino head Lloyd Williams). “This horse can really level out, he makes [the rest] look second rate,” said jockey Michael Rodd in the Age. “It’s just unbelievable what this horse has done.” Efficient has won five of just six starts in his career to date.


Tags: Age (The)  Australia  Crown Casino  Efficient  Flemington  Graeme Rogerson  horse racing  Lloyd Williams  Michael Rodd  New Zealand  Skipton  The Melbourne Cup  Victoria Derby  

One Point Closer to Hall of Fame for Lydia Ko

One Point Closer to Hall of Fame for Lydia Ko

New Zealander Lydia Ko has started her new season in style with victory at Florida’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions on the LPGA Tour, Mike Hall reports for the UK…