Eddie McGuire met with underworld figure Mick Gatto at a famous restaurant on Melbourne Cup Day

Inside Eddie McGuire’s ‘chance meeting’ with underworld figure Mick Gatto at a famous restaurant on Melbourne Cup Day

• Eddie McGuire and Mick Gatto seen dining together on Melbourne Cup Day
• Both said it was a chance meeting and dropped by to say hello on Tuesday
• Pair unknowingly photobombed Verry Elleegant part owner Brae Sokolski
• Mr Sokolski was posing for a photo with partner Chloe Frost at Flower Drum 
• They were toasting their 2021 Melbourne Cup win at the exclusive eatery 

Media personality Eddie McGuire and underworld figure Mick Gatto inadvertently photobombed a Melbourne Cup celebration party as they dined at a high-end restaurant. 

The pair were spotted in the background of a photo of Brae Sokolski –  who part owns the Melbourne Cup-winning racehorse Verry Elleegant – at the acclaimed Flower Drum eatery on Tuesday.   

Mr Sokolski could be seen toasting the 2021 Melbourne Cup Day trophy with his partner Chloe Frost.

But seated behind the table was Mr McGuire dining with Gatto, who was wearing a yellow shirt, and an unknown third man. 

Eddie McGuire – back left – and Mick Gatto –  in yellow shirt next to him- were pictured photobombing the celebratory snap of Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant part owner Brae Sokolski (third from right on table in the foreground)

The former Collingwood president and Gatto both said it was a chance meeting and that the pair shared a meal together so they could say hello. 

‘If I was going to have a secret meeting with Mick Gatto I wouldn’t have had it at the Flower Drum in Cup Week,’ Mr McGuire told The Herald Sun.

‘And I wouldn’t be sitting in the middle of the restaurant.’

He said it wasn’t unusual to run into someone you know at the fine dining spot in Melbourne’s CBD.

‘People know everybody in Melbourne. I went to a meeting with someone and Mick sat down and had something to eat,’ Mr McGuire said.

He added the table celebrating the Melbourne Cup win had a bottle of champagne sent over to them. 

The former Collingwood President (pictured) claims he ran into Gatto by chance at the Flower Drum in Melbourne on Cup Day 

He didn’t confirm what the pair talked about during the meal or reveal the identity of the third diner, who Mr McGuire said was a private citizen. 

Gatto also confirmed his lunch with Mr McGuire at Flower Drum was an impromptu rather than planned meeting.  

The pair have known each other for several years, as Mr McGuire pointed out he commissioned the Underbelly TV show – a series based on Melbourne’s gangland killings.

Gatto – who was acquitted of murder over the 2008 killing of underworld hit man Andrew Veniamin – had a character based on him in the show.  

Gatto (pictured) has known Mr McGuire for several years after McGuire commissioned the Television series Underbelly based on Melbourne’s gangland killings 

The unique photobomb came as Mr Sokolski was issued a $10,000 fine from Racing Victoria for breaching Covid-19 protocols after Tuesday’s race.

Verry Elleegant beat red-hot favourite Incentivise to win the Cup, overcoming a big weight and a wide barrier to claim first place. 

A euphoric Sokolski jumped a fence to celebrate Verry Elleegant’s victory with jockey James McDonald in the Flemington Racecourse mounting yard – a move widely frowned upon by officials.