Suvaljko Has The Special Touch With Classnsmart
Classnsmart after his maiden win. Photo Credit- Photography by Jodie Hallows
“He’s the smartest, yet the dumbest horse I have ever trained.”
It appears Sarah Suvaljko isn’t one to shy away from a challenge, and this was no exception when she took on Classnsmart as a youngster after the destructive young horse did more damage than he was perhaps worth at the time. Suvaljko’s time, patience and expertise with juveniles paid off on Monday when the now four-year-old claimed his maiden win at Pinjarra in the last on the card.
After settling in the breeze throughout, he was able to reach the lead where it mattered most, claiming the win by a half-head for trainer Sarah Suvaljko and driver Dylan Egerton-Green in 2:00:7 over the 2185m, a huge relief for Suvaljko who has put years into the gelding.
“He came to me on the way to the knackery after bolting and smashing carts and being very unruly at the breakers,”
“I had trained the other three siblings and although they were difficult, they all had ability. They were smart and although frustrating, I enjoyed the challenge of them.”
Classnsmart winning the last on the card. Video – harness.org.au
Taking their usual approach of riding the horses, Daniel Suvaljko was tasked with that job and with Classnsmart doing everything that was asked of him, Suvaljko decided it was time to put him back in the cart.
“We have had some wild drives, but he kept improving,”
“He had airways and had ability, but just not tractable,”
“He would bolt at trackwork and run his first half in 58, he just wouldn’t relax so you could work him properly.”
With Suvaljko doing everything she could on the ground to get his manners in check, she decided to add a Hidez hood which are used as an aid to help horses relax with its compression technology, targeting horses facial pressure points to help promote calmness in horses, but when this had the extreme reaction of making him far too ‘sleepy’ on the track, she realised she would have to go back to the drawing board.
“We were finally making some progress as a two-year-old when he took off at trackwork and hit the corner and crossed his legs, falling and taking out his knees,”
“He isn’t the best conformed and hits both knees but refuses to run with spreaders on.”
“He snapped his head check twice in the prelim at Bunbury one night, so he hasn’t worn one since.”
Classnsmart is the seventh foal out of the mare Classy And Smart and is the fourth one that Suvaljko has had an association with, as well as being the fourth by the mare to make it to the track, and now win a race.
“The siblings didn’t race until they were five, so I was happy when he got to the track at three-years-old.”
“He will only improve with age and maturity.”
“I was worried with him having to stand around all day at Pinjarra as he can be quite the handful if he gets upset, but he was really relaxed all day and I even managed to get him geared up on my own; sometimes it takes three of us to get his gear on.”
“Daniel has done nearly all the work and driving on him, but with him in NSW at the moment, I had no hesitation to put Dylan on as I knew he wouldn’t fight him.”
Egerton-Green may have been sceptical about accepting the drive on Classnsmart if he read this before the race, but Suvaljko was sure he was the man for the job with Daniel Suvaljko over in NSW currently competing in Albury, representing WA at Nationals.
“I said he’s working well, just let him do what he wants, keep him happy, if you upset him, good luck!”
“I asked Judy Pope (Clerk) to stay with him until he headed to the barrier, big thanks to her for leading him onto the track and standing with him whilst everyone was circling in the score up and then leading him to the barrier.”
It really is a testament to the patience of both owners Ross and Rebecca Waddell, as well as Sarah Suvaljko to push through and get Classnsmart to the races, let alone get that elusive first win, which is a big one, with the four-year-old a double westbred by the former locally stood stallion, Renaissance Man.
Ashleigh Paikos