John Thompson is hopeful Galizani can emulate Maluckyday by winning Saturday’s $250,000 Lexus Stakes (Gr 3) over 2500m at Flemington.

Like last year’s Melbourne Cup runner-up Maluckyday, Galizani won the Tattersall’s Club Cup (Listed, 2400m) at Randwick before coming to Melbourne for The Lexus which Maluckyday had to win to gain a Cup start and did so impressively.

Galizani is in a similar position this year as she is 39th in the order of entry into the Cup and must win the Lexus to gain exemption from the Melbourne Cup ballot.

The Galileo (Ire) mare has been patiently handled and has developed with age, winning the Epona Stakes (Listed, 1900m) at Rosehill and runner-up to Hawk Island in the JRA Plate (Listed, 2000m) at Randwick last Autumn. She was spelled after running fifth to My Kingdom Of Fife in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Randwick and had taken a couple of runs to find her fitness before her last-start win.

Galizani (5 m Galileo – Zahani, by Zabeel) arrived in Melbourne last week and the forecast rain will only help her prospects. Thompson took the opportunity to gallop Galizani on the course proper at Flemington on Tuesday morning. “We wanted her to have a look around the track and she had no trouble galloping on the other leg, she wasn’t out to do a lot and I was satisfied with the way she handled the track.” he said, adding that the forecast rain will only help her prospects “She’s fit and well and she’s a mare in form now so we’re hoping she holds it.”

Apprentice Tim Bell, who rode Galizani to win last start in Sydney, retains the mount on the 5yo who drew the outside gate (16).