The 4yr-old, owned by outgoing Otago Racing Club president Dean Lawrence, held a Derby nomination last season and showed staying qualities when finishing second over 2000m at Omakau on January 3.
He resumed after a short spell with a second at Wingatui on March 23 before being put aside for the winter.
His last 200m were his best at Wingatui yesterday, overpowering Alitron close to the line to win by 1 lengths.
Co-trainer Shane Anderton said Gallant Defender was likely to start his season with a run over 1200m or 1400m at Wingatui next week.
One horse who will not start at Wingatui is the winner of the second heat, a 3yr-old Red Giant filly out of Savabeel mare Suriyan.
Her trainer, Steven Prince, is taking in the Cox Plate in Melbourne next week, and suggested a start at Gore on October 30 was more likely.
Prince is happy with The Lion Queen, who ran second at Winton on Sunday, and has a rating 65 2000m at Riccarton on November 14 as the mare's medium-term spring goal.
The third place getter in the Red Giant filly's heat, a Jimmy Choux-Habitual juvenile filly will head to the paddock for six weeks, her trainer, Terry Kennedy, said.
Wingatui trainer Dale Horrell had two winners on the day. Velvet Rose got the bob in over All Jokes Aside, and Royal Dollar galloped the 800m in 48.53sec to beat Ivanskavinskyskvar.
Steve Tyler produced Shantav to win the third 1000m maiden heat in 1.03.30, three lengths clear of So Gallant. Quartet was 0.15sec quicker winning the 1000m open for trainers Brian and Shane Anderton.
Results
Weather, fine/windy; track, dead.800m maiden: Velvet Rose J Lowry 1, All Jokes Aside 2, Embroid 3. Six started. Time: 48.80. hd, 2L. Trainer: D Horrell.800m maiden: 3f Red Giant-Suriyan S Prince 1, 3f No Excuse Needed-Magic Happens 2, 2f Jimmy Choux-Habitual 3. Five started. Time: 49.62. Ns, hd. Trainer: S Prince.800m open: Royal Dollar J Lowry 1, Ivanskavinskyskvar 2. Two started. Time: 48.53. hd. Trainer: D Horrell.1000m maiden: Commix C Barnes 1, Twizel Guru 2, Young Issy 3. Five started. Time: 1.05.69. 2L, 2L. Trainer: S Prince.1000m maiden: Gallant Defender S Muniandy 1, Alitron 2, Lydia 3. Five started. Time: 1.03.80. 1L, 2L. Trainers: B & S Anderton.1000m maiden: Shantav R Roy 1, Conceal 2, Itemize 3. Six started. Time: 1.03.30. 3L, 1L. Trainer: S Tyler.1000m open: Quartet S Muniandy 1, Gallant Dan 2, Avow 3. Five started. Time: 1.03.15. 1L, lg nk. Trainers: B & S Anderton.
