Williams acknowledged the last few months had been quiet for his team but with the prospect of better-class horses running over the next few months, he’s confident his luck will turn around.

“It’s a tough caper training horses,” Williams said.

“It’s a hard slog. Owners want winners and that’s what it’s all about. We’ve got our best-class horses running over the next few months. 

“I’m hoping things are starting to turn around. I’m looking at Reigning Meteor to lead the way.

“I’ve got a good opinion of Reigning Meteor.

“I thought his effort to run fourth at Flemington the other day was excellent. 

“He’s lightly raced and taken time to mature but he’s shown us promise since day one.”

Reigning Meteor scored a narrow win at Ararat two runs ago after an unlucky run at Morphettville in September.

“He just over-raced at Morphettville,” he said.

“He failed to run out a strong 1250 metres at Morphettville because of his antics. 

“We did a lot of work with him at home to get him to switch off and it appears to have worked going by his run at Flemington.

“Hugh Bowman, who rode him at Flemington, was impressed with his effort. 

“Flemington was probably the first time on race day that he’s shown on race day the turn of foot that he shows us at home in his gallops on the course. 

“Hugh can’t ride him today so we went back to Damien Thornton, who rode him so well at Ararat. 

“We want him to settle in the first 400 metres today and let him find his rhythm. I reckon he should be finishing the race off hard.”

Reigning Meteor, a $140,000 purchase at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale is rated 3/1 favourite in early betting markets for the 1100-metre race. 

The three-year-old has won three of his seven starts.

Today’s Ballarat Cup meeting carries metropolitan status as the feature race meeting in Victoria. 

Darren Weir’s Warrnambool satellite stable will have a strong representation with six runners. 

At First Sight and Hurdy Gurdy Man are in the $200,000 Ballarat Cup, while Profit Share, Vain Attraction, Our Hand Of Faith and Corporate Takeover contest minor races. 

Shenzhou Steeds, trained by Warrnambool’s Mitch Freedman, is an emergency for the $200,000 Ballarat Cup. 

Symon Wilde accepted with Mannopoly and Jahan in races on the big 10-race program. 

King Of Dudes is a 100-1 chance to win a 1600-metre race for Aaron Purcell. 

Last-start Mornington winner Monte Carlo is third emergency in a 2300-metre race for Geoff Withers and Saddle The Stars, from the Chris Ryan stable, is second emergency in the same race.