LIAM DURKIN
HORSERACING
By LIAM DURKIN SOMETIMES things just fall into place. Four-year-old mare Margaret’s Banter had its first career win at Moe Racing Club on Friday – the very club trainer Peter Gelagotis calls home. The Gelagotis stable has trained Margaret’s Banter for the last year-and-a-half. The horse was purchased as a gift for Margaret Bell of Sunbury, who has become a much-loved figure on radio station SEN. Margaret, a sprightly 92-year-old staunched Carlton supporter, has been part of the SEN fabric for the best part of 15 years, striking a chord with listeners for her honesty and humour. Through friendship and racing connections, a number of prominent AFL celebrities including Craig Hutchison, Liam Pickering, Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon, partnered with the Gelagotis clan to buy shares in Margaret’s Banter, along with the lady herself. The horse debuted at Moe in May 2021, running fourth, and has since improved bit by bit, culminating in a maiden win last Friday in the Race 3 Yarragon Country Style Bakery Maiden Plate over 1600 metres. Taking very long odds of $14.00 into the Ian Grant’s Caravans Xmas Party meeting, Margaret’s Banter settled on the outside, going from second at the 800 metre mark, to win by over a length in the finish. With young gun Tianni Chapman in the saddle, Margaret’s Banter took over with 300 metres to go, and was never in trouble from there on in. Running on a Good 4 appeared to suit the mare, while Chapman’s decision to put the nose roll on was justified. Amazingly, Chapman actually asked not to ride Margaret’s Banter on the day, but was given a glowing show of faith by the Gelagotis team. Post-race, smiles brimmed from ear to ear, as Margaret herself was in the mounting yard, alongside Peter and Manny Gelagotis. “It was a great win and I’m very, very happy, we’ve waited a while,” she told Racing.com. “Lot of work to get her here, so credit goes to the boys and little Tianni. “I’m very well, I’m struggling a bit (with shock), but I’m much better now, that was a great win.” Manny, an assistant trainer and the stables general manager, said he was delighted for Margaret. “What an amazing lady, 10 past seven every Saturday she puts a smile on a lot of peoples faces, and all the SEN guys, this is a really great outcome,” he said. “A very kind gesture from Hutchy (Craig Hutchison) and Pickers (Liam Pickering), and all the guys in the horse. We’ve peppered away and believed in her. “Her last couple of runs have been excellent, but more importantly, a huge win for a beautiful lady, it’s amazing.” Manny, who is also president of Moe Football-Netball Club, wished to pay tribute to Hutchison for getting the initiative started. Hutchison, from Warragul, was on hand to see Margaret’s Banter on debut in Moe last year. “Manny is an old friend, great soccer and racing contributor to the area, and we couldn’t think of anyone else we wanted to train the horse,” Hutchison told The Express at the time. ANOTHER man named Craig also had a winner at Moe. Craig Blackshaw ensured the meeting ended with a local winner, with Obsessive Nature claiming the Race 8 Harvey Norman BM58 Handicap (1000m). The four-year-old gelding made it back-to-back wins at Moe, following victory at the track on November 26. Obsessive Nature was always travelling well, and ended up winning by just over a length. It has been a good few weeks for the Blackshaw stable, who are fresh off winning the Traralgon Cup. Although now training in Pakenham, Craig Blackshaw has his roots in Moe, while his brother Brendan is on the committee at Moe Racing Club. THE track at Moe held its Good 4 grading from start to finish last Friday. Prominent trainer Gai Waterhouse had a winner in the Race 7 Ladbroke It! Fillies and Mares BM58 Handicap (1100m), with Star Mistress prevailing. The meeting started with a photo finish in the Race 1 Ian Grants Caravans Maiden Plate (2050m). The Kings Gospel, trained by Adrian McGregor at Cranbourne, held off First Immortal by literally a nose to win on the inside. Race 2, the Purcell Painting 3YO Maiden Plate (1100m), saw Bahama Bay get the first win of his career. The three-year-old colt got the job done for Kevin Corstens of Cranbourne. Distorted also had its first career win, getting up in the Race 4 Paulls Carpet Choice Maiden Plate (1200m) for fellow Cranbourne trainer Shea Eden. Silver Tycoon was too good in the Race 5 Bidfood BM58 Handicap (2050m), winning by more than two lengths. Cranbourne again represented on the winners list here, this time for Nathan Dunn. Ninja Derby won the Race 6 Heycdm Winterbrook BM58 Handicap (1600m) for the Euroa stable of Ben and JD Hayes, leaving its opponents for good to win by 2.25 lengths. Having hosted six meetings in the last seven weeks, the Moe Racing Club track, and staff, are taking a well-earned break until the new year. I don’t think anyone can say they haven’t earnt it.
