Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michael Rodd was feeling confident and enjoying the race as he headed towards the home strait on four-year-old gelding, Efficient.

"I was feeling very confident," Mr Rodd told ABC Television.

"I was able to get outside the favourite, Master O'Reilly, and when I travelled up to him as easy as I did, I thought, I'm going to enjoy this," he said.

Rodd said he did not think he had won until he was about 50-metres from the Flemington finishing line.

"I still had to pick off Purple Moon and (jockey) Damien Oliver and I thought it wasn't going to be easy," he said.

Rodd said the 3,200-metre long race took its toll.

"I could honestly tell you that I regard myself as being quite fit.

"I ride probably four days a week and a lot of races. But that race took so much out of me.

"When I got to the 1,000-metre mark my first time around I actually felt physically sick.

"It does take a lot out of you because the horse is pulling so hard. Even now I'm still feeling it."

Owned by businessman Lloyd Williams, Efficient breezed past race leaders Purple Moon and Mahler to win the Melbourne Cup.

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