Manny Gelagotis is not happy, but he’s got a valid right to be in Mourinho fallout

GIVEN the volatile issue at hand and the volatility of those involved, it probably wasn’t all that surprising that there were fireworks at a RV stewards’ inquiry last week.

Cox Plate Day. Race 3 Drummond Golf H'cap. Brothers Peter and Manny Gelagotis celebrate the win of their horse 'Mourinho' in what has been an emotional rollercoaster for the family following the recent death of their father.

GIVEN the volatile issue and the volatility of those involved, it wasn’t all that surprising there were fireworks at a Racing Victoria stewards’ inquiry late last week.

Manny Gelagotis had been fired up since his trainer brother Peter’s horse Mourinho was passed fit to run after being barrel-kicked by another runner behind the gates before the Orr Stakes a fortnight earlier.

According to one report, there was “screaming’’ between the passionate and animated Gelagotis and chief steward Terry Bailey.

Stewards charged Gelagotis with misconduct because he had publicly questioned the competence of Racing Victoria’s chief vet, Dr Brian Stewart. Gelagotis argued horse welfare came first, politeness second. He said he became most angry when Bailey claimed Gelagotis wouldn’t have been so upset if the horse had run a place.

Mourinho seemed to justify Gelagotis’s anger by the way he ran — very poorly.

On Saturday at Caulfield, unkicked behind the gates, he ran a much better third.

Gelagotis was fined and will appeal to the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board where his passion, for what would seem an important issue, will not have abated.

His passion for all things — anything — can distract when he’s on to something important. On this occasion Gelagotis appears justified in his anger because it’s not just those connected to Mourinho who pay the price.

Punters are clobbered if decisions such as the one involving Mourinho are made with a greater inclination from vets to pass horses fit to run rather than pull them out.

Mourinho was barrel-kicked, not brushed, at the Caulfield 1400m start. Three jockeys witnessed it. His rider, Vlad Duric, seemingly didn’t have the perfect angle because he was on the horse.

The previous Saturday, Peter Moody’s two-year-old filly Mandee bolted to the start in the Chairman’s Stakes at Caulfield and ran her race early. She was allowed to start and ran down the track.

Peter Gelagotis with his Australian Cup hope Mourinho at his Moe stables. Picture: Colleen Petch

At Launceston last Wednesday, Player One, third favourite in the cup, became upset in the barriers, threw himself to the ground, rolled and lashed out.

He was passed fit to run, a decision that left jockey Craig Newitt flabbergasted. Player One was virtually pulled out of the race at the 600m.

Newitt says he regrets not being more vocal to the vet behind the barriers. He says he probably should have refused to ride it, as he did a horse at Werribee a few years ago.

He says that horse trotted “pretty rough” to the barriers and he told the vet the horse shouldn’t run. The vet trotted the horse about and declared it fit to run, just as Newitt unsaddled it and suggested to the vet: “Here, if you think it should run, you ride it.’’

Newitt’s stance that day should be a template for jockeys in these situations.

Some have a knack of keeping quiet because they’d rather race and hope for a cheque rather than pull out.

No vet in his right mind would overrule a jockey behind the barriers. The Newitt ultimatum should be the standard line from jockeys to vets.

Brothers Peter and Manny Gelagotis celebrate another Mourinho win in 2013. Picture: Colleen Petch

THE AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS

AN epic looms and an enticing across the “ditch’’ challenge. If you believe the Kiwi hype Xtravagant is a turbocharged Pegasus and the stats don’t lie from his most recent seven length romp, in which he ran blistering time. The locals aren’t mugs. Palentino was arguably unlucky to lose the lead-up race, the Hayes Stakes, on protest and there’s a square off opportunity against Tivaci, who won that protest. Derby winner Tarzino is flying, as is Palentino’s stablemate Mahuta. Might be the race of an already exciting summer.

THE NEWMARKET HANDICAP

WILL Team Hawkes set Chautauqua the champions’ challenge? It may come down to as little a half kilogram with the Hawkes camp believed to be prepared to run with 58kg, or even 58.5kg, but no more. RV chief handicapper Greg Carpenter is unlikely to give the horse more than 58.5kg, meaning a return clash with arch rival Terravista is on the cards.

THE AUSTRALIAN CUP

GLOBAL giant Godolphin just can’t seem to crack it for a Melbourne Group 1 but their chance looms in the shape of exciting import Bow Creek, who smashed his rivals in the traditional lead-up, the Peter Young Stakes, at Caulfield last Saturday.

@MattHeraldSun