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photo courtesy Max Agnew’s “The Australian
Harness Horse"
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Gammalite and driver W.B. Clarke return to scale after winning
the 1980 SA Derby |
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Leo O'Connor – Owner-Trainer of Gammalite |
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Gammalite wins the 1983 Harold Park Cup |
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Gammalite wins the 1983 Inter Dominion Final in Auckland |
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Gammalite & W.B. Clarke proudly parade the 1983 Inter Dominion
rug |
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Gammalite finishes well ahead of Black Irish and Dallas Brigade
to win the 1984 Fremantle Cup
copyright © Paceway Photos,
WA |
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Gammalite nears the finishing line to
win the 1984 Grand Final, with Thor Lobell 2nd and
Bundanoon 3rd.
copyright © Atkins
Photography |
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Bruce Clarke – Gammalite’s regular driver |
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TWICE WINNER OF INTER
DOMINION PACING CHAMPIONSHIP
(P.2,2:06; 3,2:02.6; TT1:55.8)
Bred, trained and raced by Leo and Maureen O’Connor of Terang,
Victoria, Gammalite was foaled in 1976 by Australia’s Leading
Sire Thor Hanover USA (F1959) P.1.57.8 from High Valley (F1960),
a mare linebred to Peter the Great through mares by Intangible
USA, Pilade ITALY, and Peerless Peter.
These mares were links in the breeding chain back to Tattle
(F1942) by Walla Walla P.2:02.5 from the New Zealand brood mare
Pottapiana. Tattle and her first foal at foot by Peerless Peter,
was the highest priced mare sold at auction in 1948 for 550
guineas to EO Henke of Sheep Hills, Victoria, by the Estate of
the late Les Martin of Dalton, NSW, breeder/owner and
trainer/driver of the famous Walla Walla.
Tattle was a full sister to five winners of note including
Centre Fire and Air Ace which were sold at the same auction for
2100 and 925 guineas respectively-astounding prices for those
days when night trotting had yet to come to NSW.
Taken to his stud farm at Sheep Hills in Victoria by Henke where
he stood the stallion Grand Scott, Tattle did not produce again
until 1951 when she foaled Pay Load P.2:08.5 to that stallion.
By 1959 Pay Load had become one of Victoria’s best pacers of
that time winning the AG Hunter Cup among other good races.
The Peerless Peter filly foal at foot from Tattle was called
Hightalk and although she did not race her siblings and their
subsequent produce and offshoots later formed a large part of
Henke’s band of brood mares.
Two generations later in the maternal family, High Valley
(F1960) by Intangible USA-High Pilade) was sold after Henke bred
two foals from her, to Kevin O’Connor of Terang who bred three
foals and then onsold High Valley to his brother Leo O’Connor
for 450 dollars. Future events showed the purchase was a
bargain, for already and unknowingly to Henke and the O’Connors,
her earlier foals were showing much promise. Overall, High
Valley produced 13 foals of whom twelve were winners including
nine which won at three years of age, and in 1982 and 1983 she
was voted the Australian Brood Mare of the Year.
The various owners of High Valley had realized very early that
the mare needed outcross sires over her line bred pedigree and
so Adios line stallions were chosen in all but one of High
Valley’s thirteen foals.
Among the best of Gammalite’s siblings were Alphalite P.2:06.2
winner of twenty three races, including the 1974 Victoria Derby
and the Kilmore and Mildura Cups. He also qualified for the
Grand Final of the 1976 Inter Dominion Championship won by
Carclew. Other notable siblings included Amative (13 races), The
Rogue P.2:06.2 (22 races), Betalite P.2:01.7 (15 races), and
Omega Valley P.2:03 (12 races).
Leo O’Connor born 1928 was the owner of a small farm near
Glenormiston about 12 kilometres from Terang. And just after the
1983 Inter Dominion he is quoted as saying that “450 dollars
(for the mare High Valley) was a lot of money for a bloke who
did not have any” and “turned an old battler into a comfortable
old farmer”. Leo and Maureen who reared eight children said that
Gammalite was the real provider for the children’s education,
and enabled the whole family to see Australia, New Zealand and
further afield.
Up to the foaling of Gammalite in 1976, Leo O’Connor and
previous owners of High Valley had sold each of her foals as
yearlings, but Leo kept Gammalite, sensing perhaps that the colt
had the essence of greatness about him.
O’Connor realized very quickly on breaking in that the colt had
the makings of a great pacer and speed came along so quickly
that Gammalite was put into racing at barely two years of age.
However, O’Connor was to say much later that Gammalite did not
know what to do with his speed until his three year old days.
Unplaced in two of his first three starts, Gammalite then put
together ten successive wins including the Victoria Breeders
Plate and the Edgar Tatlow Memorial both at Moonee Valley.
Gammalite was also placed in the Youthful and Sapling Stakes at
Moonee Valley. The colt’s season earnings from eighteen starts
were $41,003 from eleven wins and 5 placings - second only in
the national standings for two year olds to San Simeon, the
Western Australian superstar colt.
As a three year old Gammalite travelled to WA, NSW, Qld, and SA
in search of a Derby win. He took out the SA Derby, was placed
3rd in WA, 2nd in Qld and 3rd in Victoria, plus third in the
Australian Derby to San Simeon in Perth. Overall his record for
that season was 12 wins and 8 placings for $49,240 - his
lifetime earnings after two seasons now stood at $90,243 from 23
wins and 13 placings. Except for his early starts as a two year
old Gammalite was not unplaced again in all the remaining thirty
five races of his two and three year old seasons, but it was not
even contemplated that the colt would win another million
dollars.
Gammalite was perceived to be a tough campaigner and “the one to
beat”. However, O’Connor noted that two of his contemporaries in
San Simeon and Popular Alm would be difficult to better in the
forthcoming Australian Grand Circuit races in the 1981/82 season
as four year olds, whilst the old warrior Pure Steel had not
lost any of his ability to stay the distance of any race. In
particular he noted that Gammalite had only just beaten the
improving Popular Alm in the SA Derby, but would be a vastly
improved four year old.
As a four year old in the 1980-81 season Gammalite won 16 races
and was placed 8 times from 29 starts for $216,765. His best
wins included the 4 and 5 year old Championship and the Spring
Cup at Harold Park, the Queensland Championship at Albion Park,
and the Bankstown and Geelong Cups. He had stretched his
successive winning and placed performances to forty eight before
a fourth at Harold Park on 9/1/81 and had lifetime earnings of
$307,008.
O’Connor had grander things in mind for Gammalite in the1981/82
season and after two wins and three seconds he took the stallion
to New Zealand for a tilt at the New Zealand Cup meetings.
Gammalite ran promisingly for a 5th in the NZ Cup, 4th in the NZ
FFA and 2nd in Matson FFA. After a time trial on a wet track in
1:56.1 at Addington on 17/11/81 Gammalite returned to Australia
to win the first of his four South Australian Cups in Adelaide,
and the Lady Brooks Cup at Moonee Valley. He then returned to
New Zealand where he won the 1982 $120,000 Auckland Cup on
12/2/82, and seemingly the reverse way of going did not affect
him for he ran the two miles in a mile rate of 2:01.9.
In top form back from Auckland, Gammalite won the $100,000 1982
AG Hunter Cup over 2870 metres and the FFA Marathon over 3300
metres. Later that season Gammalite ventured to Queensland for
four starts with one win and three placings including a third in
the Queensland Championship. After 28 starts for the season
Gammalite had earned $260,900 from fifteen wins and ten placings
and had improved his reputation for toughness over all
distances.
Resuming as a six year old for the 1982/83 season Gammalite’s
early form at Moonee Valley, Bankstown and Harold Park was
patchy, with only one win and three placings from eight starts.
However, when taken to warmer weather in Perth, his form picked
up winning two FFA’s, then the Fremantle Cup, plus two heats and
the Final of the $136,000 WA Cup at Gloucester Park before
returning to Harold Park and Adelaide, winning the Harold Park
Cup and SA Cup respectively.
Whilst in Perth Gammalite time trialled in 1:55.8 on 31/12/ 82.
O’Connor and Gammalite had bypassed the Inter Dominion
Championship at four and five year old but after a win in the
Cranbourne Cup on 28/2/83 Gammalite was taken to Auckland for
his first attempt at the Championship. In the field was the
brilliant Popular Alm, his conqueror in a number of Australian
high class races. In fact, Popular Alm had won ten of their
eleven clashes to that date, but their first contest in an Inter
Dominion Grand Final was to be different.
Popular Alm had won a heat in the 1982 Inter Dominion Series in
Perth, running third in the Grand Final to Rhett’s Law, and was
an experienced pacer on the Australian left handed tracks but
found the Auckland clockwise track difficult.
Gammalite had been to Auckland the previous season and was
expected to have the necessary experience to handle the track
well but O’Connor later said the reverse way of going did not
altogether suit Gammalite. However, if Gammalite was having
troubles, Popular Alm was in even worse trouble showing an
inclination run out on the home turn.
Popular Alm had won a first night heat of the Championship
Series in Auckland but did not win either of the remaining two
heats. Still, the public, the media and the horse industry in
general thought that Popular Alm had the edge on Gammalite and
would possibly head off New Zealand’s best pacers in the run
home.
Gammalite on the other hand did not win a heat, running 2nd, 6th
and 2nd, but his connections were happy with his barrier draw
which would allow him to go for a position behind the leader
which was expected to be Popular Alm. That is how it worked out,
with Gammalite tracking Popular Alm who ran off on the home turn
allowing Gammalite to come through and win fairly easily by two
and a quarter lengths over Popular Alm whilst the grand New
Zealand mares Armalight, Delightful Lady and Bonnie’s Chance
finished close up but never looked serious threats.
Gammalite finished the season with thirteen wins and twelve
placings for prizemoney of $405,340, becoming the first
Australian standardbred to win more than a million dollars.
In 1983/84, the seven-year old Gammalite won at Bankstown,
Fairfield, Bulli and Harold Park early in the season including
the Golden Mile and the Bankstown Club Cup. Heading for Perth
again Gammalite missed out on the WA Cup but won the $60,000
1984 Fremantle Cup on 27/1/84 before returning to Adelaide for
the 1984 Inter Dominion Championship.
Beaten on the first night by Bundanoon, Gammalite won his next
two heats and then easily won the Grand Final from Thor Lobell
and Bundanoon rating 2:03 for the 2650 metres. He thus became
the fourth pacer to win the Inter Dominion Championship twice,
and thus qualify for the Hall of Fame. Shortly afterwards Gammalite
won his third South Australian Cup, the Lady Brooks Cup at
Moonee Valley, and the Lord Mayors Cup at Harold Park.
Not given a break between his seven and eight year old racing
seasons, Gammalite continued on to a further 24 starts for the
1984/85 season which included wins at Bankstown, Tweed Heads,
and the Gold Coast. Then came his fourth win in the $100,000 SA
Cup, followed by the Ballarat Cup.
O’Connor took Gammalite on a fourth tilt at racing in New
Zealand in November 1984 but from three starts could manage a
7th, 6th and 11th his form being a far cry from his earlier three
trips.
Trying for his third Inter Dominion Championship at Moonee
Valley in 1985 he ran for two thirds and a win in the Qualifying
Divisions. He managed a gallant fourth in the Grand Final but
O’Connor realized that Gammalite was at the end of his racing
career and retired the stallion to stud with gross earnings of
$1,386,480 from 179 starts for 94 wins, 53 seconds and thirds
together with eleven fourth placings. His regular driver, Bruce
Clarke, partnered the champion to 65 of those wins.
Gammalite’s ability to travel and still perform at his best was well demonstrated, as evidenced by Clarke: “when he won the Auckland Cup, he flew across the night before, landed in Wellington, changed planes, flew to Auckland, arrived the morning of the race and still won it. That’s unthinkable, even now” (sic 2006). The champion chestnut colt was Australian Grand Circuit Champion in 1982, 1983, 1984. He won nearly every mainland Grand Circuit and Group race except the Miracle Mile in which he finished last as a 4YO in 1981 and then ran second in 1983 to his old enemy Popular Alm, beaten by 1½ metres.
Gammalite was given every chance to succeed at the stud by standing his first season at the famed Alabar Stud in 1985 at $2,000. Gammalite had sired one foal in 1979 as a two year old, but his first commercial crop came along in 1986 whilst his last came in 1998. Overall he sired 107 individual winners including six in 2:00 his best being Generator P.1:56.7 with prize-money of $252,867. By end 2006, his brood mares were the dams of some sixteen in 2:00 including Camlach P.1:56.7 winner of $367,349.
His career ended in December 2006 with his death at Terang, his hometown, at age 30, and he is buried at the entrance to Terang’s Dalvui raceway. A great horse by any standard, Gammalite may have finished further back than fourth on a few occasions but he never gave up trying right to the last race of his career on 9th March, 1985 in the Inter Dominion Pacing Championships Grand Final. His record as the first Australian Standardbred to win more than $1m. is testament to that.
major races/honours
won by GAMMALITE |
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2YO |
Breeders Plate Moonee Valley |
| Tatlow Memorial
Moonee Valley |
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3YO |
VHRC Cup Moonee
Valley |
| SA Derby Globe
Derby Park (Group 1) |
| Kilmore Guineas Vic |
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4YO |
Australasian
4YO Championship Harold Park (Group 1) |
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Spring Cup Harold Park (Group 1) |
| Bankstown Club
Cup |
| Geelong Opal St
Vic |
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Geelong Cup Vic |
| Qld
Championship Albion Park (Group 1) |
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5YO |
SA Cup Globe Derby Park (Group
1) |
| Lady Brooks Cup Moonee Valley |
| AG Hunter Cup Moonee Valley (Group 1) |
| Marathon FFA Moonee Valley |
| Qld Championship Albion Park (Group 1) |
| Auckland Cup NZ (Group 1) |
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6YO |
Fremantle Cup WA (Group 1) |
| WA Cup Gloucestor Park (Group 1) |
| Harold Park Cup Harold Park (Group 1) |
| SA Cup Globe Derby Park (Group 1) |
| Cranbourne Cup Vic |
| Lord Mayors Cup Harold Park (Group 1) |
| Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final
Auckland NZ (Group 1) |
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7YO |
Golden Mile Harold Park |
| Bankstown Cup NSW |
| Fremantle Cup WA (Group 1) |
| Inter Dominion Pacing Championship-2 heats Globe
Derby Park (Group 1) |
| Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Grand Final Globe
Derby Park (Group 1) |
| SA Cup Globe Derby Park (Group 1) |
| Lady Brooks Cup Globe Derby Park |
| Lord Mayors Cup Harold Park (Group 1) |
8YO |
SA Cup Globe Derby Park (Group 1) |
| Ballarat Cup Vic |
| Inter Dominion Pacing Championship Heat Moonee
Valley (Group 1) |
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MAJOR HONOURS |
Australian Grand Circuit Champion (3) 1982, 1983,
1984 |
| Australian Harness Horse of the Year (2) 1982, 1984 |
| SEASONAL CAREER |
| AGE |
STARTS |
WINS |
PLACINGS |
STAKEMONEY |
BEST TIME |
| 2 |
18 |
11 |
5 |
$41,003 |
2:06 |
| 3 |
20 |
12 |
8 |
$49,240 |
2:02.6 |
| 4 |
29 |
16 |
8 |
$215,465 |
2:02.6 |
| 5 |
28 |
15 |
10 |
$260,900 |
TT1:56.1 |
| 6 |
32 |
13 |
12 |
$405,340 |
TT1:55.8 |
| 7 |
28 |
19 |
5 |
$332,428 |
1:57.5 |
| 8 |
24 |
8 |
5 |
$82,104 |
2:02.3 |
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179 |
94 |
53 |
$1,386,480 |
TT1:55.8 |
| race footage |
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1984 Pacing Final
Race footage courtesy Mike Dickinson |
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1983 Pacing Final
Race footage courtesy Mike Dickinson |
| pedigree |
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Pedigree - Gammalite |
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