Smanjemanje
Smanjemanje is making a habit of winning races named after equine heroes of the past. Successful in the Victory Moon Stakes last November, the five-year-old added the London News Stakes to his collection of scalps when he got the better of some high class opposition over 1800m on the Turffontein inner track on Sunday, writes MATTHEW LIPS.
Dancewiththedevil was a late withdrawal from this conditions race, but there was still no shortage of class amongst the nine runners who remained and it was Pierre Jourdan with four wins from six tries on the inner course to his name already – who was forgiven a dismal effort in the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup to start as the 13/10 favourite. The Apache had to concede weight all round but had plenty of supporters and started as the 3/1 second choice, with consistent Ilsanpietro the 11/2 third favourite. Smanjemanje was allowed to go off as a 14/1 outsider even though he met The Apache 3kgs better off for a 4.75 lengths beating over 1600m in December.
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 visiting Cape Town rider Grant van Niekerk and held off The Apache’s bid by a head. Van Niekerk had also been aboard Smanjemanje in the Victory Moon and clearly has a very real rapport with the gelding.
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.
The Apache in particular was far from disgraced in defeat, especially as he looked a little unsettled in the slowly-run early stages of the race and was trapped wide without cover for some way down the back straight. Pierre Jourdan almost certainly should have finished closer, but it is a matter of opinion whether he can truly be classified as an unlucky loser.
Smanjemanje may have had a bit more good fortune in the running than some of his key rivals, but he stuck his neck out resolutely to land the honours and was a deserving winner. He contested this race off a mark of 103, but ran some way above that rating in relation to all of the four that finished closest to him and it seems obvious enough that he is indeed still improving, as his trainer Tyrone Zackey noted afterwards. A new rating of at least around 109 would seem reasonable enough fir Smanjemanje, who was gelded in August of last year and who is plainly a better horse for it. The London News marked his second success from four starts since the operation.
“He’s got a big heart,” added the victorious trainer, who said that “I still haven’t woken up from his last win in the Victory Moon.” Zackey went on to remark that he had been worried about the London News Stakes being staged on the inner course,:”which is not the right track” for his gelding, but it all worked out well in the end.
A son of Kahal, Smanjemanje is the second foal, second winner, and first Stakes winner produced from Model Man mare In Style, who won two races over 1800/2000m. Bred by Summerhill Stud and bought for R210 000 at the 2008 Ready To Run Sale, Smanjemanje has won five of his 35 starts for R776 700 in stakes.
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London News S. (SAf-G3) (1/8)
Turffontein, South Africa, January 8, R200.000, 1800m, turf, good, 1.49.83 (CR 1.47.57).
SMANJEMANJE (SAF), 57.0, b g 5, Kahal (GB) – In Style (SAF) by Model Man (SAF). Owner G Barker, K P & N M Backos; breeder Summerhill Stud (SAF); trainer T Zackey; jockey G Van Niekerk (R125.000)
The Apache (SAF), 60.0, b c 4, Mogok – Apache Rose (SAF) by Dolpour (IRE)
Pierre Jourdan (SAF), 58.0, b g 5, Parade Leader – Vin Fizz (SAF) by Qui Danzig
Margins: sh hd, 1¼, ½
Also ran: Seal (SAF) 57.5, Ilsanpietro (BRZ) 58.0, Golden Sword (GB) 55.5, Queen’s Bay (SAF) 54.0, Belmonte (SAF) 55.0, D J Detzky (SAF) 56.0
