VICTORY AND THE COLLAR

 

Smanjemanje (left) and Waywest Goddess (right)
(Photos : JC Photos / Summerhill Stud)

“Kahal heads the National Stallion Log”

Smanjemanje was always a lurking talent. After all, he was the first, and only one of two, to triumph over Pierre Jourdan at three. But he’s been the victim of a well documented displacement of his palate, which has effectively cut off his wind supply at the most critical stages of his races.

A while back, with partners, Summerhill owned a smart filly by the name Paradise Alley, who battled with a similar affliction. On our travels around the world, we discovered a piece of equipment not irregularly used to fix the ailment in Australia and the United States, known as a Cornell Collar. It worked with Paradise Alley, and on Saturday, it certainly worked for Smanjemanje in the closing stages of the Victory Moon Stakes (Gr2). At a time when our man is often seen to flounder as the sticks come out in the finishing drive to the post, he found new resources of wind, and powered away from the field of high class performers including the past season’s champion three-year-old colt, The Apache. The son of Kahal has always promised to deliver a big one, and Saturday’s victory catapults his sire to the top of the national stallion log for the second time this season.

For the Summerhill sires, that wasn’t the end of the line, however. Last season’s Highveld Champion Juvenile, Waywest Goddess, couldn’t have been more impressive in the Gardenia Handicap (L). There were some quality speedsters in this one, but Louis Goosen’s premonition earlier in the week, turned out to be prophetic. She demolished them, literally. Given Extra Zero’s big turn against the colts when running for the R2million the week before, this was notice from Way West that he’s not ready to be forgotten.

Enquiries :
Linda Norval 27 (0) 33 263 1081
or email linda@summerhill.co.za
www.summerhill.co.za