Gippsland: Crunch time for Moe's sprint stars
By Damien Donohue, March 22, 2017 - 7:25 AM

It looms as another huge couple of weeks for the Gelagotis brothers — trainer Peter and racing manager Manny — as they chase Group 1 glory in two states with a couple of the stars of their boutique Moe stable.
Rising sprinter Illustrious Lad will target Friday night’s $500,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley while established Group 1 winner Malaguerra will tackle Saturday week’s $2.5 million T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Illustrious Lad hasn’t race since the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m, March 11), where he finished down the track, after being heavily supported off the back of an outstanding first-up fifth in the Lightning Stakes, both races down the Flemington straight.
Regular jockey Anthony Darmanin was suspended last Sunday riding stable favourite Mourinho into an unlucky third in the Yarra Valley Cup. He will be replaced on Friday night by the man who occupies racing’s hottest seat, Hughie Bowman, who has piloted champion mare Winx to 16 straight victories.
Bowman, a winner of 58 Group 1 races, has combined successfully with the Gelagotis stable at Moonee Valley before, winning on Mourinho and Hvasstan.
Malaguerra, who gave the brothers their biggest win in the Group 1 Darley Classic over the Flemington spring carnival, tuned up with a soft trial on Monday at Cranbourne, finishing third in a fast-run 800-metre heat (45.88) won by the Robert Smerdon-trained Spreadeagled.
Malaguerra should take plenty of benefit from that trial, having been freshened and had a stint at the beach since finishing unplaced in the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m, February 11) at Caulfield. That followed a dominant win first up at Moonee Valley in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m).
Elsewhere, Peter Gelagotis will accept for Saturday’s listed $300,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) with last-start Stony Creek Cup winner Youl Dash For Cash.
The lightly raced, Scott Emery-owned five-year-old is a winner of five of his 17 starts, and races best on rain-affected tracks, which could be a bonus following heavy rain in Victoria this week.
Manny Gelagotis is hoping for a wet track at Mornington.
“The addition of the blinkers certainly switched him on last time, but he really does need the give in the ground,” he said. “When he gets it, he’s always hard to beat.
“He will get out over more ground, so the 2400 will be ideal.”
Dual city winner Moss ’n’ Dale will resume at Mornington in a BM78 (1200m).
The four-year-old has won five of his 10 starts and is a noted wet-tracker. You can expect him to be competitive in some decent off-season races over the coming months.
The Gelagotis stable has been active at the sales in recent months.
“Thus far we’ve either purchased or secured to train 14 rising two-year olds,” Manny said. “Exciting and busy times ahead, with some well bred youngsters joining our stable.”
The Gelagotis draft includes sons of Dalakhani, Savabeel, I Am Invincible, Denman, Bullbars, So You Think and Magnus as well as nicely bred fillies by Dundeel, Sepoy, Snitzel and Hinchinbrook.
In addition, OTI-owned UK import Hardington has arrived in Australia and joined Team Gelagotis.
The five-year-old son of supersire Fastnet Rock, part of a consignment of the stallion’s stock purchased as young horses by Terry Henderson in the northern hemisphere, has raced nine times in England, winning his last two over 2000 metres at Haydock and Doncaster.
New Zealand stayer Willybe has been with the Gelagotis brothers for several weeks now.
The five-year-old Alamosa gelding has had 13 starts, winning at 1400m and 2100m.
Willybe has been competitive in listed company in his homeland.

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