Manny Gelagotis reckons slot holders in The Everest have more 'money than sense' with dual Group I winner Malaguerra snubbed for a spot in the elite field.
Malaguerra will resume in Friday night's Group I Moir Stakes (1000m) with connections incredulous there has been no serious interest in their horse for an Everest slot.
Trainer Peter Gelagotis and his racing manager, brother Manny, have now conceded defeat in trying to get an Everest slot and will instead target Malaguerra at the Group I Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.
Manny Gelagotis didn't hold back when asked by Racenet how he felt about last year's Group I Darley Classic winner being ignored by Everest slot holders.
Gelagotis didn't want to comment on the credentials of confirmed Everest runners, but it is clearly a sore point that lesser performed horses such as Brave Smash have won a slot.
"Some of these slot holders have more money than sense, and you can quote me on that," Manny Gelagotis said.
"With some of the horses they are picking up, I wouldn't have realised they (slot holders) had so much money to lose.
"Malaguerra is a nominee for sprinter of the year and I would say on best form he is easily in the best five or six sprinters in Australia.
"I think the Everest is a great concept but I find it extremely strange that we are not in that race.
"We were cherry ripe to go first-up into The Everest, but nothing came out of it, and we would now be out of contention.
"It is what it is – it is a sport based on opinions – but if it was a ratings race then Malaguerra would easily get in."
Malaguerra, who flies fresh with five wins from six first-up starts, is a $10 chance on Ladbrokes and Sportsbet for Friday night's Moir Stakes.
Connections were delighted with a recent trial at Cranbourne but his task on Friday night has been complicated by barrier 13.
Manny Gelagotis is confident the gelding will hit the line strongly and said punters should forget about his two most recent runs.
He insisted Malaguerra didn't handle the heavy Randwick track when beaten 5 3/4-lengths by Chautauqua in the Group I TJ Smith in April and said the gelding "had come to the end of his prep" when he ran 16th in the Group I Goodwood Handicap in May.
With The Everest disappointment bubbling away in the background, Malaguerra is a horse with a point to prove on Friday night.
"There were clear excuses for both of his most recent runs, and we are convinced the horse is back," Gelagotis said.
"It is a tricky barrier draw for him in the Moir but at least we will be back and look like getting a clear run at them.
"He will find the line very strongly and if he does that then it is all systems go for the Manikato."
