2016 Melbourne Cup Odds Update: Gallante The Value

Proven two miler Gallante has had some friends in the betting and is now marked at $51 for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington today and co-owner Lloyd Williams believes that he is still well over the odds at his current quote.

Gallante led from start to finish to take out the 2016 Sydney Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

Gallante led from start to finish to take out the 2016 Sydney Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

Gallante led from start to finish to win the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick earlier this year and he started his 2016 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with a strong second in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on September before he finished seventh in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) on Cox Plate Day.

His 2016 Melbourne Cup odds drifted significantly after that performance, but Williams told RSN that Gallante was given no chance in the Moonee Valley Cup and is more than capable of bouncing back in the Melbourne Cup.

“I’ve been keen on Gallante,” Williams said.

“I was absolutely so disappointed last week at Moonee Valley because he was given absolutely no chance whatsoever.

“They were running 11 second splits from the 1600 to the 1200 with that horse driving him made on the outside.

“I thought going into the Moonee Valley Cup that he would just win.

“He had a very hard run in the Moonee Valley Cup, but fortunately he has come out of that race very well.

“He went to Bendigo on Saturday morning and you couldn’t be happier with him.

“I said two months ago that he was the horse in my stable that had improved the most.”

The common perception is that Gallante needs a soft track to perform at his best, but Williams does not believe that is the case and he is confident that the Sydney Cup winner will run a much better race than his odds suggest.

“Everybody said that he needs the rain.

“He does run well in the rain, but I don’t think it will affect him.

“I think that he is a hell of a lot better than a 50 to 1 chance and if you saw him work yesterday you would be pretty happy to take 50 to 1.”

Gallante is currently available at 2016 Melbourne Cup odds of $51 with Ladbrokes, while Hartnell ($6) remains a clear favourite from Jameka ($8.50), Oceanographer ($9) and Bondi Beach ($10).

 

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.