by Myra Lewyn

Bent-legged filly Gallica rolled past pacesetter Cats Whisker at the top of the straight and drove to a decisive victory in the $353,005 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (Aus-G1) on Wednesday at Caulfield.

The Redoute’s Choice filly continued her meteoric rise after recording her first career win on August 25 at Bairnsdale. Gallica crossed the wire one length clear of Cats Whisker to record her fourth straight victory and first at the highest level.

Despite her string of victories, Gallica will not contest the VRC Oaks (Aus-G1) on November 6 at Flemington.

“I reckon we’ve used plenty of horse to get here,” trainer Mick Price told the Australian Associated Press after the Thousand Guineas. “I think with her bent leg I’d be asking for trouble.

“I’d like to think she’d be an AJC Oaks (Aus-G1) filly in the autumn and that would be the time to try her.”

Gallica stalked the early pace from fourth under Damien Oliver and accelerated past Love And Kisses and Oval Affair before engaging Cats Whisker nearing the home turn. On Oliver’s cue, she surged clear at the top of the straight and was well in hand while unchallenged to the finish line.

Gallica, who was the favorite off a win over Cats Whisker in the Edward Manifold Stakes (Aus-G2) on October 4 at Flemington, covered 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:38.66 on turf rated as slow.

Cats Whisker finished one length clear of third-place finisher Glowlamp.

Price bought Gallica, who he said has a bent left foreleg and a twisted foot, on behalf of owners Robert and June Harding for $195,225 in January 2007 at the Magic Millions yearling sale.

“With her bent leg, she was never going to be a precocious two-year-old,” said Price, who has trained horses for the Hardings for 15 years. “We didn’t ask her to be one.”

Gallica finished second in her first start as a three-year-old at Sale Racecourse on August 14 before finding her winning stride at Bairnsdale. She won at Ballarat on September 21 before her earning her first group stakes victory with a one-length triumph in the Edward Manifold.

Bred in Australia by Wood Nook Farm, Gallica is out of the Kingmambo mare Swing Queen.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor