John Gosden believes ATR blogger William Buick's previous experience of riding in the Emirates Melbourne Cup will stand Gatewood in good stead when the pair team up at Flemington on Tuesday.
Gosden arrived in Australia on Thursday morning to supervise Gatewood's final preparation, with the seven-year-old no stranger to the Melbourne Spring Carnival having landed the 2012 Geelong Cup.
The son of Galileo missed the cut for the big race that year and subsequently spent a spell with Chris Waller before rejoining Gosden last autumn.
He has been resurgent since then, winning Listed races at Goodwood and Ascot earlier this year before striking in Group company in Deauville during the summer.
Gosden said: "He is a little on the light side but otherwise I am very happy. He has been busy this year but he has held his form and he came here two years ago and won the Geelong Cup.
"It is lovely to get a horse in the race and being part of it is something I have always wanted to do. Peter Walwyn said there are two things you have got to do before you die - see the Victoria Falls and have a runner in the Melbourne Cup, so we are going to get one of them done.
"This is a race which stops a nation. The Derby used to do that 100 years ago but doesn't do that now.
"William has ridden in the race before (sixth aboard Lost In The Moment in 2011) so knows the rhythm of it. You come here and understand the way the race is run and fit in like a chameleon."
Gatewood carries the colours of American soup magnate George Strawbridge, but is partially owned by OTI racing, who are due to have four runners in this year's renewal.
"I think he has been under the radar and is the pick of our four," said OTI's Terry Henderson. "I know people think he needs the ground soft but he can race on good ground, as we saw when he won the Geelong Cup."
