ATC Derby winner Levendi finally ready to resume career after long stint on the sidelines

It’s been a long time coming — 19 months in fact — but trainer Peter Gelagotis says Levendi couldn’t be in better shape for his return to the racetrack at Sandown Hillside.

Levendi will return to the racetrack for the first time in 19 months.

The long wait to get Levendi back to the races will end on Saturday when he steps out for the first time in 19 months in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown Hillside.

His trainer Peter Gelagotis said he was counting down the days to Levendi’s return which would be the culmination of a frustrating time and a long patient build up this spring since he won the ATC Derby at Randwick, in April 2018.

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Gelagotis said there had been occasions when they thought Levendi wouldn’t return to the racetrack.

After he won the ATC Derby, Levendi had to have bone chips removed from his knee so they decided to bypass the spring.

Levendi, ridden by Mark Zahra (right), takes out the 2018 Australian Derby.

Levendi came back into work late last year and he was set to return to racing during the Sydney Autumn carnival but he suffered a stress fracture.

They thought he had run his last race and hoped he could be retired as a stallion.

Gelagotis said there was interest in the son of Pierro but not enough to have retired him.

“He’s won five of his 10 starts. He won as a two-year-old. He won the Carbine Club. He’s a serious racehorse,” Gelagotis said.

Peter Gelagotis celebrates Levendi’s amazing win at Royal Randwick.

Gelagotis will give Levendi another short spell after Saturday then aim him at the Sydney Autumn carnival and races such as the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Gelagotis said Levendi’s encouraging fourth in a Cranbourne trial on Monday confirmed he would run on Saturday.

“He’s ready to go. I thought his trial was enormous. He flew the lids. Jye (McNeil) eased him behind the speed. With 250m to go Jye gave him a little rev and with 100m to go a little squeeze and he worked to the line strongly. He’s pulled up in great shape,” Gelagotis said.

Gelagotis said Levendi had been in work since August and once he had realised he wouldn’t be ready to run in big races he didn’t push him.

Levendi (right) and Ace High fight out a tremendous finish to the 2018 ATC Derby.

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“I let him get here under his own steam. We broke up his preparation and he had stints away from training at the water-walker.”

“He’s really bright and bubbly. He’s a 2000m horse resuming and if it was a 1600m race I’d be confident. Can he win over 1300m, I’m not sure but he’s a fit and fresh horse.”

Gelagotis said Jye McNeil who rode him on Monday would ride him on Saturday.

Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare at Danny O’Brien’s 13th Beach property. Picture: Jaimee van Leerdam

BRIGHT CITY LIGHTS TO QUIET NIGHTS

Danny O’Brien isn’t in any hurry to make any plans for his two stars of last week Vow And Declare and Miami Bound other than to give them any easy time for several weeks.

Last week both horses were the focus of the racing world, with Vow And Declare taking out the Melbourne Cup and Vow And Declare the VRC Oaks.

This week they have been spelling at O’Brien’s 13th Beach property.

Vow And Declare and VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound. Picture: Jaimee van Leerdam

“They both had long campaigns to get to their ultimate goals and now they can have an easy time in the spelling paddock up until at least Christmas,” O’Brien said.

“For both of them I’m in no hurry to turn them around and bring them back into work. I’ll let the dust settle and then decide whether we target Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide or Brisbane.”

Surf’s up for Vow And Declare. Picture: Jaimee van Leerdam

Originally published as ATC Derby winner Levendi finally ready to resume career after long stint on the sidelines