The 10yr-old gelding will line up in the open handicap at Wingatui at the Melbourne Cup meeting on the course.
Gallant Boy, the winner of 13 races, won the same event a year ago but has not raced since late February when he won an open handicap, also at Wingatui.
Shane Anderton, who trains at Wingatui in partnership with his father Brian, said Gallant Boy was set for some autumn racing but Covid-19 hit and there was simply no option but to turn him out and wait.
He was looking at putting him in the Canterbury Gold Cup before lockdown but it went the way of so many things and was canned, which pushed Gallant Boy into a spell.
Anderton said the horse was as good as the team could get him without actually racing.
Gallant Boy had a couple of encouraging trials and Anderton was happy enough with how he was going.
At the veteran stage, Gallant Boy would just keep racing in the foreseeable future and there was a possible start for him at the White Robe Lodge champions day in February.
‘‘He seems happy in his work and he has done everything I have asked of him.
‘‘We had him lined up for a pretty busy autumn but it didn’t eventuate so there is now no use getting him out there too early,’’ Anderton said.
Gallant Boy will start from gate 4 and is the top weight in what should be a competitive race. Apprentice Rahul Beeharry is on board which will be an advantage.
Also in with a chance is Killarney, an 8yr-old gelding trained by John and Karen Parsons at Balcairn.
He finished fourth in his last start at Ashburton on August 18 and appears to be running into some form.
Anderton said it was good to be back racing and he had about a dozen horses lining up today. The new programme was coming on stream and horses were back in work.
The track today should have a bit of give in it which should suit most horses, he said
Anderton fancied the chances of his charge Swampman in the opening maiden race today. The 5yr-old gelding has raced twice for a second and third and may be about to break out of maiden ranks.
High cloud and fine weather is forecast today.
