The handsome Levendi will open his spring campaign in the G1 PFD Food Services Makybe Diva S. at Flemington and while a cap has been placed on expectations, a return to the races is cause enough for celebration.
The Peter Gelagotis-trained colt was a star 3-year-old of his generation after winning the G1 ATC Derby off the back of a lead-up success in the G2 Tulloch S. before it all sadly went downhill.
“We’ve been in the industry for a long time and to see your best horse getting back to the races is very exciting,” said Manny Gelagotis, Assistant Trainer to his brother and General Manager of the operation.
“He’s definitely going to take a couple of runs and we won’t see the best of him until he gets to a minimum of 2000 metres.
“Obviously, post-Derby he had bone chips removed from his knees and the following campaign he fractured his pelvis in a trial at Warwick Farm. He’s been through the wars the poor bugger.
“He was probably the best 3-year-old in Australia and it’s just extremely unfortunate he’s had these issues and we haven’t seen the best of him yet. He is clearly a top quality horse.
“He was probably the best 3-year-old in Australia and it’s just extremely unfortunate he’s had these issues and we haven’t seen the best of him yet.” – Manny Gelagotis
“We’ve had a program in place that everything was going to be targeted toward this spring after he had a lung infection last preparation.”
Levendi has only made three appearances since his Derby heroics with his best effort a fifth in the G3 Carlyon Cup before another spell.
“We gave him a really good break and this time around, touch wood, he’s been terrific. We’ve very happy with him, he’s looking great and he’s in sensational order,” Gelagotis said.
“He’s a beautiful horse and in terms of stimulation for a stallion like him it’s good to get him back in the fold.”
Peter and Manny Gelagotis
With Levendi’s record of five wins from his 13 starts and more than $1.65 million in prizemoney, coupled with the looks and pedigree, being from a strong Group 1 family, has had studs on alert.
“To be fair, a deal was nearly done to New Zealand with Mapperley Stud, but that fell over. The horse was already in work anyway and we buy them to race,” said Gelagotis, who bought Levendi for $140,000 out of Widden Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“From our perspective and knowing the horse and his true capabilities, we certainly want to maximise him as a racehorse until he tells us he’s done.”
“From our perspective and knowing the horse and his true capabilities, we certainly want to maximise him as a racehorse until he tells us he’s done.” – Manny Gelagotis
Levendi is out of Lipari (Redoute’s Choice) and a half-brother to the Group 3 winners Wu Gok (Sebring) and Marcel From Madrid (Sepoy) with their second dam the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Tully Thunder (Thunder Gulch {USA}).
Levendi as a yearling
“At this point in time, Pete and I are very happy with the horse and we’ll judge him at the end of the campaign,” Gelagotis said.
“He will be a bit ring-rusty early and hopefully if all goes well and he trains on and gets somewhere near his best that will excite us.”
Should Levendi return to his glory days, he can be a player in the major spring features and has 53.5kg in both the G1 Caulfield and G1 Melbourne Cups.
“He’s the forgotten horse and that’s understandable. We’ve had an array of Group 1 horses through our yard, but this horse has the x-factor,” said Gelagotis.
“If he did retire soon, we’ll look back in 10 years’ time and we’ll say we had a champion that the best was never seen of. He is a really, really good talent.”
Levendi
Perfect environment
Gelagotis said their set-up was ideal for a horse of Levendi’s quirky nature.
“He’s an interesting horse and on race day he wakes up. Fortunately, our facilities provide a great working environment for him and he can stay nice and calm.
“We’ve got two stables and he wouldn’t be a horse that you could have at Caulfield and get the best out of him in a city environment in my opinion.
“We are at Moe and Ballarat and I think they are far greater training centres to train a stallion. As he’s got older and more mature, he sometimes knows he’s a boy. He’s not a heavy stallion though and very athletic and a really stunning-looking horse.
“He will be a bit above himself on Saturday for sure, but he will present very well so we’re excited to get him back.”
