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KZN Breds Clean Up In London News Grade 3 At Turffontein
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Summerhill-bred Smanjemanje won the London News Grade 3 at Turffontein yesterday from a classy field, with the first four across the finish all bred in KZN. Beaten by a head, The Apache conceded weight, carrying the heaviest of 60kgs as opposed to Smanjemanje's 57kgs with Pierre Jourdan (another Summerhill-bred) and Seal filling in third and fourth places, run on the inside track over 1800 metres. Smanjemanje finished sixth behind The Apache in his last start on 20 December.
Smanjemanje is by Kahal out of In Style by Model Man. His dam has produced 3 runners and 3 winners to date, and this damline has also produced KZN Breeders Award for Outstanding Two Year Old Colt - Midnight Serenade. In Style has a two year old filly by Mullin's Bay named Stylish Bay, it seems this will be one to keep a look out for.
The early pace was not particularly strong and it was D J Detzky who showed the way ahead of Queen’s Bay and Ilsanpietro, although the latter worked his way past Queen’s Bay to race into second place well before the turn for home. Smanjemanje and Seal were further back, with Pierre Jourdan and The Apache as always held up for their runs and racing with only Belmonte and Golden Sword behind them.
Ilsanpietro was quick to try and make a break for glory early in the straight and took it up as D J Detzky faded, with Seal starting to loom up dangerously and Smanjemanje right in touch with the action as well. Pierre Jourdan was cramped for galloping room around 300m out as Queen’s Bay rolled inwards just as the favourite was starting his run, while The Apache chose to come wide out and began to run on strongly. The race became wide open as Ilsanpietro was found wanting for finishing speed well inside the last 200m, but it was Smanjemanje who stayed on the strongest under Grant van Niekerk and held off The Apache’s bid by a head.
Pierre Jourdan stayed on to finish third, 1.25 lengths behind the winner and half-a-length in front of Seal, who like Ilsanpietro (who eventually finished fifth) was unable to quicken with the principal contenders where it was needed most. Golden Sword still appeared in need of this run, his second in South Africa, and the De Kock-trained import made no show before being beaten 6.25 lengths into sixth place.
Story source courtesy of www.sportingpost.co.za
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