Gallica Too Good In Thousand Guineas
Wednesday, 15 October 2008:  | | Photo by Racing and Sports |
Top jockey Damien Oliver gave the filly every chance, settling in the box seat behind early leader Cats Whisker with Love And Kisses and Oval Affair in second and third.
But Oliver eased the Mick Price-trained filly three wide around the bend as she quickly loomed up and drew to the lead.
Cats Whisker battled on well on the rail to hold second while maiden Sydney filly Glowlamp recorded another placing, just ahead of Romneya.
It was the fourth straight win for the Redoute's Choice filly and continued her meteoric rise from a Bairnsdale maiden to today's Group 1 success.
Price said Gallica was sent to the country for an easy kill but had been unstoppable since, winning at Ballarat before her Group 2 Manifold success and today's feature win.
But plans to continue to the Oaks won't eventuate as she now can go for a spell with her stud career assured.
“After she won her Bairnsdale maiden I had the Oaks in mind but she has been so clean-winded and strong at a mile I don't think so now,” Price said.
“I've used plenty of horse to get here and I'm not a fan of 2500m race for fillies.”
Price said she would now go straight to the paddock but was thrilled with the result for owner Robert Harding, who had been with the stable since it began but finally found a top class filly.
Oliver, who had already won the race three times, had planned to go forward but was confident once finding the one-out-one-back position in the run.
“We ended up with a good trail and had a good run as they eased up mid-race,” Oliver said. “When I pulled her out at the top of the straight I knew it would take a good one to run her down.”
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