THE Irish-bred pair of Gallante and Libran finished first and second in Saturday’s Sydney Cup though it was the former that spoiled the Chris Waller party. A Group 1 winner of the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris in 2014 when trained by André Fabre, Lloyd Williams purchased Gallante but had seen no return from five starts in 2015.

Gelded, his fortunes began to turn with a third in the Group 3 Manion Cup to Libran leading into Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 over 3,200 metres. With Kerrin McEvoy and a handicap of 51.5kgs, Gallante had little trouble overcoming the widest barrier in the 11 horse field to take up the running.