The Victorian-based Gelagotis stable has sprung another Randwick raid with Moss ‘N’ Dale scoring in the Group Three Craven Plate.
After surviving a protest to claim the Group One $2 million Australian Derby with Levendi in April, the Peter Gelagotis-trained wet-tracker was virtually unchallenged on heavy turf with the six-year-old streaking to a 1-3/4 length win over Doukhan ($101).
Apprentice jockey Jack Martin pumped his fist in triumph as the $5.50 chance was first past the post in the 2000m race,
Favourite Egg Tart ($2.90) finished third.
Stable representative Manny Gelagotis, the trainer’s younger brother, said his young rider deserved a chance to build a bond with Moss ‘N’ Dale and shine under Saturday’s cloudy skies.
“You have to start somewhere,” he said.
“This will do (Martin’s) confidence the world of good. It’s about loyalty with the right rider on the right horse at the right time.”
Sydney’s big wet suited Moss ‘N” Dale’s after a brilliant week on the track.
“It was a big test at weight-for-age but Peter rang me during the week and said the horse couldn’t have worked any better,” Gelagotis said.
“We haven’t seen a wet track for the poor bugger for a while. He’s a gun.”
Martin, who thanked the Gelagotis team for taking a chance on him in Group company, admitted to doing a figurative rain dance throughout the week despite the protests of his partner.
“He just ploughs through the ground,” Martin said.
“I loved looking at the weather forecast this week. It just kept raining and raining and raining.
“My girlfriend didn’t really like it. She couldn’t dress up as well as she could.”
Gelagotis said Sydney kept giving them cause to make the trip up the Hume Highway from Moe.
“The prize money is fantastic here. I can’t wait to get here for the autumn carnival,” he said.
“We are going to be here a lot more. It’s a benchmark.”
It was Moss ‘N’ Dale’s third successive win after success at Moonee Valley and Morphettville last month.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy was left to rue a slow start out the gates aboard Egg Tart.
“She turned her head as the gates opened and we flopped out,” he said.
“I didn’t want to get that far back and ultimately it cost her the race.”
