Allam looks to manifest a couple of big wins on and off the course

Steve Allam is a proud Penrith man who will wear his Panthers jersey with pride on Sunday, but his grand final is at Randwick on Saturday.

That’s when Democracy Manifest, the cult hero gelding he co-owns, will run in the $1.5 million Epsom Handicap.

Penrith Panthers supporter Steve Allam with the Epsom trophy and Democracy Manifest.Credit: Rhett Wyman

But both days will have a touch of sadness for Allam.

Democracy Manifest was named in honour of the late George Edwards, whose tirade during an arrest in 1991 went viral.

“Unfortunately, I never got to meet George before he died this year,” Allam said. “I always wanted to have him at a group 1 and then take him for ‘a succulent Chinese meal’ after it.

“He is as much a part of this horse as me because everyone knows how the name came about.

“Hopefully he can give it a kick home from where he is, and also my brother Barney is up there, looking down on us, after we lost him six weeks ago.

“We might have a bit of help on the weekend.”

The late Barney Allam OAM was one of the Panthers’ main sponsors and is why when Steve wears the team’s jersey, he feels his brother with him.

“We moved here in 1972 and the football team has been a part of our lives since,” Allam said. “Barney loved the club and to have the Allam Property Group name on the front of the jumper now was one of his proudest moments.

Democracy Manifest will look to take out his first group 1 in the Epsom at Randwick on Saturday.Credit: Getty

“We have grown our businesses in the area for more than 50 years and we have always supported Penrith. He got involved in the sponsorship of the Panthers, which was his passion.”

Allam will hopefully be toasting an Epsom victory as he watches the grand final from the brewery he owns with Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary, Drink West, on Sunday.

“Democracy Manifest has always been a horse we have thought could win a big race,” Allam said. “[Trainer] Chris Waller is very happy with him but as we know he will be giving up a big start and need the speed on, but if that happens he will fly home and give us something to celebrate.

“I prefer to watch the game at the bar and we will be toasting Barney and George before the grand final, no matter what happens.”

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