Eddie McGuire, Mick Gatto and Melbourne Cup winners spotted at the Flower Drum in Melbourne

TV powerbroker Eddie McGuire and underworld figure Mick Gatto have drawn more interest than the Melbourne Cup after a bizarre photobombing.

TV powerbroker Eddie McGuire and underworld figure Mick Gatto have been caught photobombing a Melbourne Cup celebration at a famed restaurant.

The pair were pictured in the background of a photograph of Brae Sokolski — part owner of race winner Verry Elleegant — and crew toasting their success at the Flower Drum, an establishment eatery in Melbourne. 

McGuire and Gatto said it was a chance meeting, where both popped in to say “hello”. 

Neither would confirm what was discussed or reveal the mysterious third man at the table.

Gatto has been an avid boxing fan, quietly involved in the background of prominent fights, including those of Anthony Mundine. 

McGuire’s company Jam TV produces live sport, but the pair would not be drawn on whether they discussed business.

McGuire later said that the meeting was a chance “Melbourne” moment.

“If I was going to have a secret meeting with Mick Gatto I wouldn’t have had it at the Flower Drum in Cup Week,” he said.

“And I wouldn’t be sitting in the middle of the restaurant.”

Eddie McGuire, back left, and Mick Gatto, were pictured at Melbourne's Flower Drum restaurant in the background of a Melbourne Cup celebration. The table at the front of the photograph includes the 2021 Melbourne Cup, with part owner Brae Sokolski and his partner Chloe Frost toasting Verry Elleegant's win. Picture: Supplied

McGuire said that it was common to bump into people at the Flower Drum.

“People know everybody in Melbourne. I went to the a meeting with someone and Mick sat down and had something to eat,” he said.

“Then the Melbourne Cup table sent over a bottle of champagne.”

McGuire said he had known Gatto for years, pointing out they had been part of media deals together.

“I commissioned the Underbelly series, it was my idea,” he said.

Gatto confirmed he was at the restaurant, but said it was a serendipitous dropping by, rather than an organised catch up.

Eddie McGuire, back left, and Mick Gatto, were pictured at Melbourne's Flower Drum restaurant in the background of a Melbourne Cup celebration. Picture: Supplied

The Who Wants to be a Millionaire Host has some spare time on his hands now because he has vacated the Collingwood presidency.

He no longer has to spend days defending the likes of Jordan De Goey, who this week was slapped with assault charges in the United States. 

McGuire said that Gatto “just dropped by to say hello” when asked about the photograph. 

He said Gatto was “mates of the bloke I was catching up with.”

Eddie McGuire was seen at Melbourne’s Flower Drum with Mick Gatto. Picture: David Caird

But when pressed on the identity of the mystery third man, McGuire said he was a “private citizen”.

Gatto had a similar line to McGuire when asked about the Flower Drum catch up, known as one of Melbourne’s finest establishments.

“Just popped in to say hello,” Gatto said. 

Gatto, who tattooed the name of his barrister Robert Richter on his chest after he was acquitted of murder over the 2008 killing of underworld hit man Andrew Veniamin, is almost more famous than McGuire.

Mick Gatto pictured at the boxing in 2019. Pic: Michael Klein

He stood out in the background of the photograph in a distinctive yellow shirt. 

The photograph of the main table included Brae Sokolski and his partner Chloe Frost. 

In the image, which has been circulating among Melbourne’s sporting community, the Melbourne Cup is pride of place on the table.

But it’s the background of the photograph that has drawn more interest. 

Sokolski was still able to find the money for a pricey dinner at the Flower Drum despite being fined $10,000 for entering the mounting yard during wild celebrations when his 16-1 shot won the Melbourne Cup.

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