Image: Ross Holburt
The Pakenham Cup meeting will be held without a runner from the Peter Gelagotis stable, traveling the highway with two horses instead.
Pakenham trainer Peter Gelagotis could have taken the easy option of staying home and racing in his own backyard rather than loading up the truck for a trip to Adelaide.
Gelagotis heads to Gawler on Saturday with two runners: Typhoon Harmony in the Irongate Australia Handicap and Rubology in the Bronwen Darrell Memorial Handicap.
Both races are over 1500 meters and Gelagotis is keen to see better performances from each horse.
Typhoon Harmony heads to Gawler with two ‘duck eggs’ next to its name – in Moonee Valley and Caulfield respectively – but Gelagotis is more than happy with each performance.
“I think both runs have been excellent, without any luck,” Gelagotis said.
“He’s built up his fitness. It’s his third run back and he’s hitting 1500 metres. I don’t think he could be better placed, to be honest.”
Gelagotis, now nine years old, said Typhoon Harmony was doing as well now as ever.
“His test before his first run was good and his last test was excellent,” Gelagotis said.
“I think the horse is doing as well as before. Last time he had very good preparation for an eight-year-old and now that he is nine he is still doing well.”
Gelagotis hopes the weather will remain dry in South Australia after making the decision to scrap Typhoon Harmony from a race in Ballarat last week.
Ironically, it was the same race that Typhoon Harmony had won on Ballarat Cup Day four years earlier.
“I had him in last week and luckily we didn’t go. He went wide and he wouldn’t like that track,” Gelagotis said.
Gelagotis is confident that Rubology can improve on its recent performance.
“His runs were good, but if you look at his form it says seven, seven, seven,” Gelagotis said.
“But if you analyze his sections, he has been in the top three for the last 600 meters, finding the line, but he is going too far back.
“I can’t figure him out. He’s come back and is just slow out of the gate. He’s healthy, he’s doing well and he’s attacking the line well, but he’s running out of room.”
“Whether he’s looking for a trip, all his jockeys say, ‘I wouldn’t go a step further,’ so I give him this one, and if it doesn’t work, I get him out.”
*Existing customers only. 2nd race bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Responsible gambling.
Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?
Set a deposit limit.
#Outing #couple #Peter #Gelagotis #horse #racing