The Everest slot holders have 'more money than sense'

Ben Dorries - Friday September 29

Manny Gelagotis reckons slot holders in The Everest have more 'money than sense' with dual Group I winner Malaguerra snubbed for a spot in the elite field.

Manny Gelagotis reckons slot holders for The Everest are throwing money away with some of their picks

Malaguerra will resume in Friday night's Group I Moir Stakes (1000m) with connections incredulous there has been no serious interest in their horse for an Everest slot.

Trainer Peter Gelagotis and his racing manager, brother Manny, have now conceded defeat in trying to get an Everest slot and will instead target Malaguerra at the Group I Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.

Manny Gelagotis didn't hold back when asked by Racenet how he felt about last year's Group I Darley Classic winner being ignored by Everest slot holders.

Gelagotis didn't want to comment on the credentials of confirmed Everest runners, but it is clearly a sore point that lesser performed horses such as Brave Smash have won a slot.

"Some of these slot holders have more money than sense, and you can quote me on that," Manny Gelagotis said.

"With some of the horses they are picking up, I wouldn't have realised they (slot holders) had so much money to lose.

"Malaguerra is a nominee for sprinter of the year and I would say on best form he is easily in the best five or six sprinters in Australia.

"I think the Everest is a great concept but I find it extremely strange that we are not in that race.

"We were cherry ripe to go first-up into The Everest, but nothing came out of it, and we would now be out of contention.

"It is what it is – it is a sport based on opinions – but if it was a ratings race then Malaguerra would easily get in."

Malaguerra, who flies fresh with five wins from six first-up starts, is a $10 chance on Ladbrokes and Sportsbet for Friday night's Moir Stakes.

Connections were delighted with a recent trial at Cranbourne but his task on Friday night has been complicated by barrier 13.

Manny Gelagotis is confident the gelding will hit the line strongly and said punters should forget about his two most recent runs.

He insisted Malaguerra didn't handle the heavy Randwick track when beaten 5 3/4-lengths by Chautauqua in the Group I TJ Smith in April and said the gelding "had come to the end of his prep" when he ran 16th in the Group I Goodwood Handicap in May.

With The Everest disappointment bubbling away in the background, Malaguerra is a horse with a point to prove on Friday night.

"There were clear excuses for both of his most recent runs, and we are convinced the horse is back," Gelagotis said.

"It is a tricky barrier draw for him in the Moir but at least we will be back and look like getting a clear run at them.

"He will find the line very strongly and if he does that then it is all systems go for the Manikato."

Advertisment
More Reading...
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.