Golden Run Continues for Gallic

Golden Run Continues for Gallic

Wonder-horse Gallic (Zabeel x Gesine) overcame a litany of career obstacles to gain a thrilling Group 1 victory at Randwick on Saturday in the Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m).

The seven-year-old, with Steven Arnold aboard, produced a strong finish to pounce on the leaders 100m from the finishing post, and won by a neck from Irazu with No Wine No Song a half-head behind in third. The win followed solid lead up form which included two wins and four placings from six starts including a last start win in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m).

Owned by prominent businessman Lloyd Williams, the seven-year-old gelding has had a series of injuries including a bowed tendon and broken pelvis. His ability to overcome those injuries added to the thrill of the win for Gallic's connections, represented on course at Royal Randwick by Nick Williams. "Very few would realise how much work has gone into this horse by a lot of people. I can't describe how happy we are, the team have done an unbelievable job," he said.

Saturday's win was the Graeme Rogerson-trained gelding's seventh and takes his career earnings past AU$1.1million.

Gallic's win continues a golden run for the Cambridge Stud sire Zabeel (by Sir Tristram) who among his other achievements this season, has sired the Victoria/Australia Derby double with Efficient (ex Refused the Dance) and Fiumicino (ex Latte) respectively.

Gallic was purchased at the 2001 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$170,000 from his breeders, Roberts Holdings, through the draft of the Ra Ora-Haunui Partnership and is a grandson of the well performed racemare Solveig (by Imposing).

The equine family is no stranger to success in Sydney with Solveig's half-sister Quibble (by Ruling) producing Cross Swords (by Grosvenor) to win the Sydney Cup in 1994.

Gallic's yearling half-sister by Van Nistelrooy was purchased at Karaka this January by New South Wales buyer, Ross McConville, for $52,500 from Haunui Farm.

Two weanlings by a close relative of Gallic, Russian Hero (Soviet Star x Solveig), are entered for sale at the upcoming National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Sunday 6 May. Lot 108 is a colt out of Helen's Song and Lot 187 is a filly out of Phoszam. Both will be offered by Soliloquy Lodge.

Meanwhile, in the Group 2 Percy Marks Frank Packer Plate (2000m), Empires Choice (Redoute's Choice x Rosie's Star) had to be content with second when finishing three-quarters-of-a-length behind the Anthony Cummings-trained Carnegie House. Trained by Bart Cummings, Empires Choice was a NZ$210,000 purchase by Cummings from her breeders, Whakanui Stud, at the 2005 Karaka Premier Sale.

A close relative to Empires Choice will also go under the hammer at the National Weanling Sale on Sunday 6 May. Lot 55 is a colt by Van Nistelrooy out of Concert Party, who is a half-sister to Empires Choice. He will be offered by Pencarrow Stud.

For Sales information and to request a Sales catalogue please email recp[at]nzb.co.nz or phone +64 9 298 0055.

ENDS

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