Dr Ralph Katzwinkel
The Australian-bred Aces United delivered a South African world first today in race nine at The Vaal when running with a breathing device invented by Dr. Ralph Katzwinkel of the Summerveld Equine Hospital.
Katzwinkel emphasised that the device is not at all performance enhancing, rather it allows the horse to receive sufficient oxygen and therefore perform to its natural ability. The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) has approved the device.
Aces United ran second in his first two starts over 1000m at Kenilworth to two decent sorts in Equity Kicker and Tomba La Bomba.
Then on L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate day he won over 1200m. However, he has not run since J&B Met day, where he was well beaten over the same course and distance.
The well-bred four-year-old colt by Lonhro was starting to become anxious at both the races and in training and sweating up in the ring until eventually one day he finished extremely distressed and wanted to fall over.
It was then discovered that he had a rare condition, which can usually not be detected when a horse is at rest, called “a fourth branchial arch defect.” It apparently occurs at a rate of two horses in every 20,000 and the end result of the condition is that a horse does not receive sufficient oxygen while galloping.
Aces United not surprisingly scoped normal at the Sales. Katzwinkel was only able to pick up the cause of the problem through the use of an Overground Exercise Laryngoscope, a device which transmits a live video of a horse’s throat while at full gallop.
A fourth branchial arch defect, or “four bad”, is a congenital condition affecting the fourth branchial arch.
It is a malfunction in the upper airways whereby the nerve endings and muscles do not develop properly. This leads to multiple defects in the upper airways. Horses who have had surgery in an attempt to solve the condition inherently do not do well.
Katzwinkel and his team first performed a “permanent tracheotomy” on the horse. This is where a permanent opening is created and in Ace’s United case the opening was made high up on the neck just behind and between the jaw mandibles.
When Aces United was put back into work, it was discovered the opening was acting like a valve and was collapsing. In other words the horse was sucking the opening closed.
Katzwinkel had Aces United transported from Cape Town to Summerveld in order to find a solution to this problem. He consequently invented a removable plug to keep the incision open. The device is covered with gauze, so that no dirt can enter the opening.
The device worked very well and the horse has not made any noises in training since it was applied and he is no longer showing any signs of distress either.
Unfortunately Aces United, with replacement rider Callan Murray aboard, fell away after showing pace in the MR 76 Handicap following his 35 week break from racing and ran stone last.
www.goldcircle.co.za – additional reporting by SP editorial staff
