Melbourne Cup equal favourite Efficient will be the subject of intense scrutiny over the next couple of days with concerns over a recurring leg injury.Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) veterinarians visited owner Lloyd Williams' Macedon property on Thursday to inspect Efficient and stablemates C'est La Guerre and Zipping who are also scheduled to run in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.Zipping and C'est La Guerre passed the inspection while Efficient will be examined again before acceptances are taken on Sa

Melbourne Cup equal favourite Efficient will be the subject of intense scrutiny over the next couple of days with concerns over a recurring leg injury.

Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) veterinarians visited owner Lloyd Williams' Macedon property on Thursday to inspect Efficient and stablemates C'est La Guerre and Zipping who are also scheduled to run in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Zipping and C'est La Guerre passed the inspection while Efficient will be examined again before acceptances are taken on Saturday.

RVL said trainer John Sadler's stable had been managing an old injury which had been present for the past 12 to 18 months.

The stable reassured stewards it would not accept with Efficient for the Melbourne Cup if veterinary advice indicated it was not in the best interests of the horse to compete.

Efficient was scratched from the Melbourne Cup on race eve in 2006, two days after he had won the Victoria Derby.

He came back to win the Melbourne Cup the following year and was the early favourite in 2008 before the injury forced his withdrawal.

Meanwhile, David Hayes told stewards his imported Cup contender Changingoftheguard had not missed any work since his hoof problem 10 days ago and, in his opinion, had done more work than any other horse based at the Sandown quarantine station.

Hayes vigorously defended Changingoftheguard after he failed to catch fellow Melbourne Cup prospect Mourilyan when the Herman Brown-trained international joined him during a vital fast workout at Sandown on Thursday.

The Hayes-trained import, ridden by Glen Boss, had worked over a longer journey and was supposed to catch Mourilyan who worked off from the 800m with his Cup rider Glyn Schofield in the saddle.

However, Changingoftheguard wasn't able to get closer than two or three lengths in the run to the winning post.

"Glen said he got there and when he got there he started to stargaze and I think he'd just had enough," Hayes said.

"They were going out to achieve two different things. If a horse is working 400 metres, it's not relevant to working a mile-and-a-half (2400m).

"But having said that Mourilyan looked great doing it, but he should have. The other horse hadn't done anything and he kicked hard and he kept going."

South African trainer Brown was more than happy with Mourilyan's sharp workout.

"I believe that the racing here is run differently to the racing in Europe where it is more of a grind, an endurance test, whereas here you've got to have dash, so I want to have him a little bit fresh," Brown said.

"He has a good turn of foot. He's keen, enthusiastic and he's moving really well.

"We're happy with the horse. I wish the race was run tomorrow (Friday)."

Schofield was also enthusiastic about the speed the entire showed in the workout.

"It'll be nice to have over the last furlong (200m)," he said.

"He's looking great and he's feeling great. He's a genuine two-mile (3200m) horse, has a bit of speed and a lot going for him.

"The most important thing is that it all arrives on Tuesday. I couldn't be much happier with him and Herman is happy and he knows the horse better than me."

Hong Kong-based Australian jockey Zac Purton has been enlisted to ride another international, Munsef, in the Melbourne Cup after Eddie Ahern informed trainer Ian Williams he would be unable to make the 53 kilograms the horse will carry.

Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor is expected in Melbourne by Friday morning to oversee the final lead-up work of Kirklees and Crime Scene.