City Slicker! Capetown Noir (Karl Neisius) stays on best to win the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby
The elation of vindication! Top trainer Dean Kannemeyer breathed a huge sigh of relief as he reflected on the satisfaction of a plan come together. His outstanding charge Capetown Noir showed character in holding a cavalry charge at bay to win the R600 000 Gr1 Investec Cape Derby at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Kannemeyer’s professional recommendation and innate discipline to follow the tried and tested classic route, rather than taking a glam dip at the J&B Met, was amply endorsed on Saturday.
Patience, or lack of it, is a great leveller in this game and all’s well that ends well.
Scintillating
Vindicated. Capetown Noir is led in by Dean Kannemeyer and owner Lady Christine Laidlaw
The pressure had been on since Capetown Noir’s scintillating Guineas win and the betting public warmed to the promise and hype as they sent him out a 4 to 10 favourite.He certainly looked unstoppable on paper, and delivered the goods in style.
There was no genuine early pace on as Dynamic and then Parker went up to lead the charge, with Capetown Noir lobbing along in midfield and with Gray’s Champ and Ze Kaiser at the rear.
The heat was turned up a few degrees as they went into the turn, with Parker leading Abercrombie, Dynamic and Paterfamilias.
Turning for home Capetown Noir still had more than half the opposition in front of him as Bernard Fayd’herbe took Abercrombie wide out to the standside rail.
In a matter of strides Capetown Noir hit the front at the 300m marker and showed great character as he repelled all challenges and kept on powerfully.
Good Horse
Despite the gallant efforts of Dynamic and a flying Sanshaawes down the inside rail, Capetown Noir kept at his task like only a good horse can.
Karl Neisius showed some rare emotion as he raised his whip in triumph, as the pair went on to win by 0,4 lengths in a time 125,90 secs.
Hassen Adams’ second placed Dynamic looks very promising, and like Sanshaawes, who ran a cracking third, will win many more than their current solitary victory apiece.
The Listed Breeders Cup Politician Stakes runner up Ze Kaiser was the only real disappointment and never showed to run a disappointing one from last.
Dean Kannemeyer put the merit of the victory in perspective when conceding that he had galloped the son of Western Winter hard on Thursday the previous week:
“That may have taken the edge off him, but he won and that is what really counts. It was always a question whether he would stay or not, but that appears to have been answered,” he smiled.
Banking The Cheque. The Derby post race presentation
Thrilled
Veteran jockey Karl Neisius was thrilled afterwards and showed the worth of all of his forty years of experience.
“Things didn’t begin well as he jumped sideways to the left and lost his momentum after the gates were sprung. I had no choice but to slot him in and hope that it was a decent position. I was concerned at being so far back, off what was an ‘iffy’ pace. In the sprint for home, he accelerated so much quicker than I expected him to, which left us exposed out front early. I wondered if we were going to hang in but he dug deep and is a fantastic horse. A lovely ride with a great turn of foot, I am confident he will definitely stay the 2000m as he matures and strengthens.”
Leading Kannemeyer owner Lady Christine Laidlaw said that she was over the moon with the classic double and thanked her professional team.
She was handed her trophy by Guest Of Honour, Anthony Cane, who is Chairman of Epsom Downs Racecourse.
Mike Rattray of Lammerskraal Stud was on hand to receive the breeder’s trophy.
Superb
Capetown Noir looks a superb racehorse in the making.
Bred by the world class establishment of Lammerskraal Stud, he is by Western Winter out of the one-time winning Fort Wood mare, Akinfeet.
He cost R1 million on the National Yearling Sale, and has shown that he is worth every cent and very well found by the Kannemeyer – Malherbe selection team.
He has earned at every one of his starts, and made this win number 5 from distances of 1200m to 2000m from 7 starts. Throw in the two Gr1’s and one couldn’t really ask more from a racehorse,
He took his gross earnings to R1 196 950.
Capetown Noir has now earned a well deserved rest before Champions Season, according to his trainer.
Long term we are looking at the Daily News and the July as probable targets.
Result:
Cape Derby (SAf-G1) (2/2)
Kenilworth, South Africa, February 2, R600.000, 2000m, turf, good, 2.05.90
CAPETOWN NOIR (SAF), 58.0, b c 3, Western Winter (USA) – Akinfeet (SAF) by
Fort Wood (USA). Owner Lady MC Laidlaw; breeder Lammerskraal Stud; trainer D
Kannemeyer; jockey K Neisius (R375.000)
Dynamic (SAF), 58.0, b c 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Lanquid Lady (USA) by Theatrical
(USA)
Sanshaawes (SAF), 58.0, b g 3, Ashaawes (USA) – Vicario (SAF) by Northern
Guest (USA)
Margins: lng nk, lng nk, nk
