Gala Crest Second Favourite Today

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31221, 19 November 1966, Page 7

Gala Crest Second Favourite Today

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

MELBOURNE. The brilliant galloper, Gala Crest, which was second to Galilee in the Caulfield Cup and fifth in the Melbourne Cup, will contest the Eclipse Stakes (lOf) at Caulfield today. Gala Crest, which won his last race, is the second favourite to Redwood Park in the early market. Gala Crest has the topweight of 9-3 and bookmakers apparently feel that he will not be able to adapt to the shorter distance. Redwood Park is one of Victoria’s most promising gallopers, but an injury restricted his racing during the spring. He has not won since last May. The New Zealand-bred veteran, Woamabra is on the third line with Vignoble, followed by Beau Guard, the New Zea-land-bred Future, and the three-year-old filly, Star Belle.

Woambra (Faux Tirage— Signify) produced a magnificent performance when second to the champion filly, Storm Queen, in the one-mile George Adams Handicap. Another veteran to start today will be Samson. Both horses are among the top 10 Australian stake - winning sprinters. Samson has 10-5 in the Senior Welter Handicap (one mile) and figures on the third line of favouritism behind Pablo Star and Alcatraz. The record-breaking Doomben Ten Thousand winner, Pterylaw, is the favourite to return to the winning list by taking the six-furlong Rosstown Plate. He is followed in the betting by Imperial Boy, Amperage and Lord Sussex. The New Zealand-bred filly Quezette (Test Case—Quorn Vale) is well fancied in the Second Two-year-old Handicap (sf) and is second favourite to Bye Bye.