Gammalite a starter

Press, 11 February 1982, Page 20

Gammalite a starter

PA Auckland The Australian pacer, Gammalite. is a definite starter in the $120,000 Auckland Trotting Cup at Alexan-. dra Park tomorrow evening. ■ Maureen O’Connor, wife of the horse’s Melbourne ownertrainer Leo O’Connor, confirmed this from her.home in Noorst yesterday. At first it was thought that Gammalite would only be brought to New Zealand if a travelling companion could be arranged to share in the cost of the aircraft. “With time running out Leo has decided to go it alone." said Mrs O'Connor. Gammalite will arrive in Auckland at midnight tonight — only 20 hours before the Auckland Cup is run. Mrs O'Connor said there was plenty against Gammal-

ite — “he's got a bad draw" — but the horse was a good traveller and had done exceptionally well, winning in record time at Moonee Valley on Saturday. It was his forty-sixth win and his stake earnings are now over $400,000. Gammalite was driven on Saturday by his regular reinsman, Bruce Clarke, who will also drive the horse in the Auckland Cup.

Clarke only resumed race driving on Saturday, having broken a hip in a training mishap five weeks ago. He had two drives at Moonee Valley for two wins, both in track record time. Mrs O'Connor said Gammalite had raced and been successful on a right-handed track. “He won the Craven Filter Championship last year at Queensland’s Albion Park.

He also finished a very unlucky second in the Queensland Derby on the same track,” she'said. Mr O’Connor might not have to pay the total expense of the flight. The secretary of the Auckland Trotting Club, Mr Jim Patterson, said he had heard yesterday from Mr John Villiger, the owner of the New Zealand juvenile pacer. Smooth Wave, which is awaiting transport back to this country after contesting last Saturday’s Edgar Tatlow Stakes at Moonee Valley. Gammalite was originally to have been accompanied by Victory Sarnel, whose proposed tilt at the New Zealand Derby at Addington Raceway was called off when he was involved in a road accident in Melbourne last week-end.