Ray Hadley left off owners list of Hawaii Five Oh ahead of The Everest

An ownership row has erupted between three of Sydney’s most colourful and influential identities on the eve of the $20m The TAB Everest. Find out what went down.

An ownership row has erupted between three of Sydney’s most colourful and influential identities on the eve of the $20m The TAB Everest.

Billionaire businessmen Gerry Harvey and John Singleton and their close friend, leading 2GB radio host Ray Hadley, share the ownership of top sprinter Hawaii Five Oh, one of the main chances at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

But late on Wednesday, the ownership issue came to a head when Hadley’s name did not appear on the official Racing Australia website, which details the owners of every horse.

Hadley was made aware he had been omitted from the Hawaii Five Oh ownership group and contacted Mr Harvey and Mr Singleton for an explanation.

Mr Singleton was the first to reply and pleaded ignorance when Hadley questioned why he had been dumped as an owner.

Ray Hadley could be the victim of the ultimate stitch up. Photo: Tim Pascoe

An incensed Hadley finally got in contact with Mr Harvey, the managing part-owner of Hawaii Five Oh, but he could also offer no explanation for the oversight.

Mr Harvey did some further investigations and realised that due to a managerial oversight the ownership lease papers for Hawaii Five Oh had not been renewed two weeks ago.

This meant Hadley’s name was dropped as an owner of Hawaii Five Oh as he is the only one subject to a lease arrangement.

It is understood Mr Harvey realised the error and is ­urgently trying to amend the ownership papers before Saturday’s big race.

Gerry Harvey (right) is trying to amend the situation. Picture: David Swift

“There’s been a blow-up in the ownership group,” Hadley told The Daily Telegraph last night.

“Gerry is a good friend of mine, but he’s a billionaire businessman and he’s let ­something like this happen.

“I can’t believe it, I’m hoping we can get the paperwork through in time but I’ll be getting Gerry and Singo on my 2GB show (on Thursday) morning just after 11am where we’ll get to the bottom of what’s happened.”

Hawaii Five Oh, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, finished a close second in the premiere stakes last start and was so impressive the sprinter was snapped up by slot-holder Aquis to run in The Everest which will run on Saturday with a prize purse of $20m.