Gammalite to parade tomorrow

Press, 3 November 1984, Page 31

Gammalite to parade tomorrow

By .

JEFF SCOTT

Gammalite, shown above with his owner-trainer Leo O’Connor, on arrival at Christchurch airport yesterday, will be among the horses paraded at Addington Raceway tomorrow morning. The Victorian champion, a candidate for the $125,000 New Zealand Cup on Tuesday, had a relaxed trip across the Tasman in company with the trotter, Skipper Don, and the wellperformed Riccarton galloper, Noble Note, arriving at Christchurch at 1.15 p.m. The dual Inter-Dominion winner was later whisked away to Des Callahan’s

Halswell property, where he will be stabled over the next fortnight. Leo O’Connor will be hoping South Islanders get to see the real Gammalite over this year’s Cup carnival.

“I was very disappointed people didn’t see him at his best here in 1981,” he said yesterday. “Even though he has had an injury, his form lately has been poor — you can't get away from that, but I’m hopeful. I’m not pessimistic about his chance, but it’s going to be extremely difficult off 30m in the Cup,” he said. There are several front-

line horses in Tuesday’s Cup which have a best time of 4min 7s for the 3200 m, so if they repeat those runs Gammalite will have to pace his 3200 m in close to 4min 4s to win, something “he’s never done yet” according to O’Connor. Gammalite will be worked tomorrow morning at Addington Raceway between 9 and 10 a.m., along with others with engagements at the New Zealand Cup meeting, but will not be worked with hopples.

“We don’t want any trouble to flare up at this stage, so I’ll work him freelegged,” O'Connor said, referring to the injury to

Gammalite’s off-front leg received when kicked by his younger brother three weeks ago. Gammalite’s Cup driver, Bruce Clarke, is due in Christchurch on Monday. Skipper Don, also from Victoria, will also be exercised at Addington tomorrow morning. The Cup workouts tomorrow morning will be followed by several races and parades for two-year-old pacers. Drivers will be required to wear colours and a commentary of happenings will be broadcast on what has become a most popular lead-up to Tuesday’s racing.