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Gelagotis has a buzz feeling for Eye Liner

14 June 2018

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By Glenn Davis

Moe trainer Peter Gelagotis has that “buzz” feeling he hopes can give him another Stakes winner with Moss ‘N’ Dale in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich on Saturday.

Gelagotis could hardly hide his delight when Moss ‘N’ Dale drew barrier four for the 1350-metre feature.

Regular Melbourne rider Anthony Darmanin will come north to partner the five-year-old.

“I’ve heard Ipswich can be a tricky track but barrier four, you gotta like that,” he said.

“I’ll take that (the barrier) every day and it’s given me a real buzz.”

Gelagotis hit the headlines during the Sydney autumn carnival when his star stayer Levendi claimed the Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick.

It followed having his first international runner when Illustrious Lad finished fifth, the best of three Australian-trained runners in the Al Quoz Sprint at the Dubai World Cup meeting in April.

Moss ‘N’ Dale has won 11 of his 24 starts including the Listed Sale Cup in October and a last start win over 1400 metres at Flemington on May 19.

Gelagotis is also hoping the current soft track rating for Ipswich remains.

“He was very impressive last run and he keeps stepping up and I think there’s more to come from him later on,” Gelagotis said.

“He’s put the toe in the water now and he’s not out of his depth in this race.

“Over the last 12 months he’s shown he can quicken off any tempo and he’ll be attacking the line.

“He tries so hard every start and if the track stays a soft 6 he’ll be very competitive.”

Meanwhile trainer Toby Edmonds will consider backing-up Plucky Girl in the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara on Saturday week if the mare is successful in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m).

Plucky Girl has won her past four starts including her latest victory in the Tamworth Cup (1400m) on April 29.

Plucky Girl has started only twice at Ipswich for a third in Class 2 company in May last year before winning a Benchmark race last November.

“She won three in a row at the Gold Coast before we took her to Tamworth,” Edmonds said.

“She hasn’t race for six weeks and she’s never backed-up before but if she wins on Saturday I’d definitely look at running her in the Tatt’s Tiara.”

The Tatt’s Tiara (1400m) will be run at Doomben and is the last Group 1 race on the Australian racing calendar.

Racing Queensland webnews    June 14