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 lucky to still be alive.  “He was heading to the gallows,” Gall said.  “We were probably within 24 hours of putting him down.

“His sire Manton is named after the Sangster family’s property in England.  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 an appropriate name.”

The Gallows proved to be the most troublesome horse Gall has ever encountered.  “He is the first one 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.  He’s just so tough.

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

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

“That helped a bit but he was still very touchy and no one could get near him.  He put one bloke in hospital.

“I talked Darren Smith into having a crack at him over a few beers.  Darren put him in a small yard near his stables at Broadmeadow 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 now we have a pretty smart horse on our hands.”

The Gallows (3g Manton – Plenty Of Glamour by Desert Sun) clocked 57.51s to win by just under three lengths on debut at Wyong last month.

Smith sent him to Scone last Sunday for a Class 1 over 1200m and he displayed plenty of tenacity to win narrowly from smart performer Godwilling.

Likewise Smith expects further improvement ahead.  “He has always shown ability and I decided to tip him out after his win at Scone,” Smith said.  “He is still a bit immature and will come back in a better horse next preparation.”

The Gallows is a half-brother to the smart performer Liechtenstein.  His dam Plenty of Glamour has a 2yo colt by Al Maher and a yearling filly by Eavesdropper.

Plenty of Glamour has just foaled a Shaft colt and will go back to Al Maher.

Manton (Danehill) is already the sire of stakes winner Disputes and the smart Mick Tubman trained two-time winner Mick’s Mantle.

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