News

Saved from the gallows

16th Nov 2011

Tareena Bloodstock - Rod Manning - Tuesday, 15 November 2011

It pays to have a sense of humour in the racing game and prominent owner Brett Gall certainly has that as evidenced by the naming of Manton three-year-old The Gallows.

Unbeaten in two starts and now back in the spelling paddock for a short break, The Gallows is one very lucky horse to still be alive.

“That’s where he was heading – the gallows as we were probably within 24 hours of putting him down,” said Gall.

“His sire Manton is named after the late Robert Sangsters property in England and there they have a gallop track with a dip in it called the Gallows. That and the fact he came very close to being put down made The Gallows a very good name for this fellow.”

Having raced many horses over the years The Gallows proved to be the most troublesome Gall has ever encountered.

“He is the first horse I have ever had to geld as a weanling,” said Gall.

“He was uncontrollable. He went through a fence at that would have killed any other horse but he just kept running. It should have killed him but he was just so tough.

“After that he was boxed for 3 weeks but no-one could get near him and we made the decision to put him down.

“He was at Trevannah and Dennis Roberts believed he may have had a neck problem and the fact he was such a good type Dennis said we should have one last try with a chiropractor.

“Evidently there had been an issue and that did help a bit but because of all he had been through he was still very touchy and no one could get near him. We gave him a go with a horse expert and within three days he was in hospital.

“Over a few beers with Broadmeadow trainer Darren Smith I talked him into having a crack at him. Darren put him in a small yard near his stables for three months and every time the staff walked past him they had to stop and give him a pat to help him get his confidence back.

“Smithy broke him in and I think we have a pretty smart horse on our hands.”

After debuting at Wyong where The Gallows ran 57.51 for a scintillating win of just under three lengths Smith sent him to Scone on Sunday for a class one over 1200m and The Gallows displayed plenty of tenacity to win narrowly from the smart performer Godwilling.

“He raced greenly that day but once he put his mind to it I thought he put paid to them pretty easily over the last 100 metres,” said Gall.

“The runner-up is pretty smart and The Gallows is still pretty immature but I expect he will develop into a stakes horse later on.”

Likewise Smith expects further improvement in the gelded son of Manton.

“He has always shown ability and I decided to tip him out for 4-6 weeks after his win at Scone,” said Smith.

“He is still a bit immature. He didn’t race as a two-year-old and will come back in a better horse next preparation.”

The Gallows is a half-brother to the smart performer Liechtenstein from the Desert Sun mare Plenty of Glamour. Caulfield trainer Mick Price paid $90,000 for an Al Maher colt from Plenty of Glamour at last year’s Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale and she will have an Eavesdropper filly at this seasons sale.

Plenty of Glamour has since had a colt by Shaft and will go back to al Maher.

The Gallows sire Manton (pictured) will also be represented at the 2012 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale. Manton is already the sire of stakes winner Disputes and the smart Mick Tubman trained filly Mick’s Mantle who has also won two races.

Manton has been represented by 5 winners from only 11 runners this season and stands at Tareena Bloodstock alongside Floral Dynamite and Killy.