Kyneton trainer Charles Cassar is hoping the inside barrier will offset an apparent weight disadvantage for Ortayga when he makes a second attempt to win a stakes race at Flemington.Saturday's Listed Straight Six features the return of 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient but his presence has compacted 12 of the 16 runners on the 53kg minimum, including Ortayga."It gets a bit tricky for him as Efficient being there has compressed the weights," Cassar said."If he wasn't in the race a few of the ot

Kyneton trainer Charles Cassar is hoping the inside barrier will offset an apparent weight disadvantage for Ortayga when he makes a second attempt to win a stakes race at Flemington.

Saturday's Listed Straight Six features the return of 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient but his presence has compacted 12 of the 16 runners on the 53kg minimum, including Ortayga.

"It gets a bit tricky for him as Efficient being there has compressed the weights," Cassar said.

"If he wasn't in the race a few of the others would have had to give us two or three kilos but instead we are on the same weight as them."

All horses rated 77 (Ortayga) to 95 (Augusta Proud, Bowhunter and Commanding Hope) will carry 53kg.

The winner of six races from 16 starts, Efficient has only raced three times since his Melbourne Cup win and will carry a massive 63.5kg down the straight.

The grey, who also won the 2006 Victoria Derby, is giving away at least 6.5kg to every runner and is on the comeback trail after a joint injury cut short his campaign last spring.

He hasn't raced since finishing seventh to Littorio in the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4.

Owner Lloyd Williams said Efficient's injury was only minor and that he had been in work since January.

"He seems to have recovered pretty well from his injury," Williams said.

"We will give him a good run down the straight which is a good place to let him start off, and then give a break and then hopefully straight into the spring."

Efficient is at $35 with TAB Sportsbet in an open betting race while Ortayga, who has won four of his 15 starts, is $14.

With the rail back in the true position after being 11 metres out at the last meeting, Cassar is hopeful barrier one will help Ortayga's chances.

At his only previous stakes performance Ortayga finished fourth to Red Element in the Listed Creswick Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in June last year.

"He should have finished second in the Creswick but the jockey held him up for a run and he's a horse you can't do that with," Cassar said.

Cassar has also put winkers on Ortayga for the first time.

"It is a massive step up in class from what he has been racing in lately but it wouldn't surprise me to see him be competitive," Cassar said.

"This is the time to give him a crack at race like this rather than in the spring.

Goodwood Handicap third placegetter Commanding Hope is the $5 favourite ahead of Bocuse ($5.50) who last start was pipped in a photo-finish by Arch Symbol in Warrnambool's Wangoom Handicap.

Augusta Proud finished fourth in the Goodwood and is at $6.50.