Team Williams’ forgotten Cup runner

HE might be the forgotten horse in Team Williams’ Melbourne Cup arsenal, but Gallante will have his final tuneup in today’s Geelong Cup before the big race.

The 2016 Sydney Cup winner has had one run since last year’s Melbourne Cup, resuming in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes on September 23 with a last-placed finish.

Gallante also kicked off last year’s spring in the Naturalism before heading to the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

But with the chance of a wet track in Geelong, Team Williams decided today’s 2400m country cup would be the perfect second-up assignment for Gallante before next month’s Melbourne Cup.

“Is the rain coming,” questioned owner Nick Williams when asked of Gallante’s chances.

“That’s what we need for Gallante.

“He’s in great form, he just needs some give in the track. You’ll see the best of him if there’s give in the track, if there’s no give in the track you probably won’t see him at all.”

The seven-year-old son of Montjeu, who also sired Team Williams’ 2012 Cup winner Green Moon, is unbeaten from two starts on heavy ground, but will not have that today.

He won last year’s $2 mil- lion Sydney Cup on a soft track, however, which would enhance his chances over 2400m.

Katelyn Mallyon retains the ride and Williams threw his support behind the 23-yearold, who was questioned by stewards after Sir Issac Newton bolted in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.

“It wasn’t her fault the horse took off; that’s a problem between the ears of the horse, not the jockey,” Williams said. “She’s a great little rider.” The last time Team Williams had a runner in the Geelong Cup was 2011, when Tanby ran second to subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden.

Tanby franked the form by winning the Bendigo Cup at his next start.

“We love the country cups — Geelong and Bendigo are the two best of them — so it’s great to have a runner,” Williams said.