Craig Williams has never lost any sleep over missing the winning Melbourne Cup ride on Dunaden two years ago.

After failing in his appeal to have a careless riding ban reversed, Williams took his family to the movies rather than watch the 2011 race unfold.

On Tuesday he gets the chance to become just the eighth jockey to complete the grand slam - the Melbourne Cup, the Cox Plate, the Caulfield Cup and the Golden Slipper - when he climbs aboard Mount Athos.

"I've been really lucky in my career - lots of ups and downs but it's only made me who I am today," Williams said.

"You have to look forward.

"Whatever it is in the past is in the past - yesterday is in the past to me."

Williams put his hand up for the ride on the Luca Cumani-trained Mount Athos two to three months ago and he has been delighted with the six-year-old gelding's work since he arrived from the UK.

"Hopefully, it was the right decision, but you don't have a crystal ball," he said.

He cringed when Mount Athos drew barrier 22 but, looking on the bright side, he said his horse would be among the last six to be put in the gates.

"Provided he begins well, we're going to have plenty of options," Williams said.

"He's not a push button ride, but just to know his mannerisms and his motor, he's got a great motor."

He says winning the Melbourne Cup would be a life-changing event.

"Imagine my children taking the Melbourne Cup to school," he said.

"In Australia, everyone knows it, it's everything.

"For a jockey, let alone an Australian jockey born into racing, that's what you wrote stories about at school.

"When you took out your licence as a jockey, every morning was preparation for winning the Melbourne Cup."