RACING:Aidan O'Brien's hopes of claiming the Melbourne Cup with Septimus were boosted today with the news that last year's winner Efficient has been ruled out of the race.
The five-year-old was Australlia's leading fancy to keep the prize at home this time around but has strained a fetlock joint and won't race again in 2008.
Owned Lloyd Williams told The Age: "He has strained the joint but we are not sure how it's happened. He was super on Wednesday. But what can you do? That is racing."
News of Efficient's absence has seen both Septimus and Mad Rush shorten at the heading of the Melbourne Cup betting in Australia.