Dean Kannemeyer fields a powerful three-cornered hand in his bid to defend his title and register his personal seventh winner, and an overall tenth for the Kannemeyer Racing dynasty, in the R750 000 Gr1 Cape Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday.
An alternate first leg of the SA Triple Crown, the Cape Guineas has attracted a capacity field of sixteen.
Dean Kannemeyer chats to big-race jockey Keagan de Melo (Pic- Candiese Lenferna)
While his late Dad Peter saddled three Cape Guineas winners in an illustrious career, Dean Kannemeyer saddled last year’s surprise winner Russian Rock for his sixth title in twenty renewals and will be hoping that Grant Behr, who rode the grey son of Pomodoro, will pull another ace out of the pack when partnering the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe winner, Waterberry Lane.
Dean chatted in advance of the final field to Cape Racing:
The son of Soft Falling Rain is unbeaten in two stars against older horses this season.
“He is a lovely horse and one of his biggest assets is that he can race from the pace or off them. He is also a Gr2 winner, so he has proven his class. He has won two smart races this season in handicap company, and as the highest-rated 3yo in the Guineas, he should be right in the mix. As with all three of mine, their prep has gone superbly well and we won’t have excuses come Saturday!” added Dean.
The Kannemeyer attack doesn’t end there and the exciting Gr3 Cape Nursery winner Cosmic Highway is primed to fire – albeit from a wide draw – after excellent placed efforts in the Matchem Stakes behind subsequent Green Point Stakes winner Seeking The Stars, and the Concorde Cup, when Grant van Niekerk produced a tactical master stroke on Pomp And Power.
Cosmic Highway – big runner (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Selangor top four are back on Saturday, and Keagan de Melo won’t be caught napping again.
“Cosmic Highway has a helluva turn of foot and he wasn’t quite ready coming into the Concorde Cup. He was picking them off late and just couldn’t get to Pomp And Power. He will be a lot sharper on Saturday.”
As regards Cosmic Highway’s draw, Dean says he’d like to have been a bit further towards the middle.
“Look it’s not a dealbreaker but one needs plenty of luck and ability to win the Guineas. Keagan (De Melo) knows him well and we’ll leave it to him.”
Kannemeyer’s trio is rounded off by Mr Master Starter, who should not be underestimated, but has been described as a Derby horse.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mr Master Starter go 2000m and more, but the long run-in of the summer course plays into his hands. I discussed his prospects with the owners, and while I have a slight concern that he may be a tad immature still for this level of competition, he certainly warrants a tilt and we are taking our chances. The Cape Guineas only comes round once in a horse’s career.”
Masrh Shirtliff and Bruce Armstrong lead in Mr Master Starter (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Dean said that he had every respect for the opposition as the field included some high quality 3yo’s.
“Candice Bass-Robinson has a 3yo who has done nothing wrong in Trip Of Fortune. The Snaith’s Pomp And Power beat us in the Concorde, while there is a bit of talk about Pacaya. And Glen Kotzen has Good Traveller, who is no slouch. Simply, the Gr1 Cape Guineas would not be held in such high regard if it was a walkover race to win. It should be a great race for the public, and racing needs highlights. It’s a terrific way to end the Gr1 programme for 2021,” concluded Dean.
Glen Kotzen, Justin Snaith and Candice Bass-Robinson make up nine runners between them, while Sean Tarry saddles the only visitor in the Querari filly, Marigold Hotel.
The Cape Guineas headlines a multiple feature programme on Saturday.
Don’t miss the raceday preview later – it’s A Shaw Thing!
