The international Cox Plate challenge had an unorthodox finishing touch applied on race eve when the English runner Side Glance turned in a stirring piece of work.

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The gelding, who is to be ridden by Craig Williams in Saturday’s $3 million race, galloped strongly over 1200m with his regular track rider in the saddle.

“We just needed to get the buzz out of him,” said Anna Lisa Balding who is supervising the horse’s preparation for husband Andrew Balding.

“He’s a fresh horse, we don’t want him bolting.

“That was a good leg stretch, it’s normal for him.”

The gallop was Side Glance’s second for the week and followed another serious piece of work on Wednesday with Williams up.

That gallop revealed some of Side Glance’s various idiosyncrasies with Williams declaring it of vital importance that he get to know before race day.

“He’s not that straightforward, but he’s a very nice horse,” he said.

“He can be quite keen so I’ll be looking for a bit of cover, so the inside gate should help.”

Side Glance is a 50-1 chance in the Cox Plate, but on his best and most recent form he is entitled to consideration .

Last time out Side Glance finished third in the Arlington Million in Chicago and three runs back was fourth in the Dubai World Cup.

He is the winner of two Group Three races in England, the best of them the Diomed Stakes (1700m) at Royal Ascot last year.

The other international contender in the Cox Plate, Mull Of Killough, had an easier time on Friday, trotting for 2000m and then walking the same distance.

The New Zealander It’s A Dundeel holds favouritism for the race at $4.20, ahead of Puissance De Lune at $5 and Fiorente at $6.