Cape To Wherever! Karl Neisius guides Capetown Noir to an easy win in the Byerley Turk
Cape champion Capetown Noir took a serious step closer to a gigantic Champions Season, when he coasted in to win the R200 000 Gr3 Byerley Turk at Scottsville on Saturday.
As a contest the race was hardly competitive as the big son of Western Winter stamped his authority, but the simmering melting pot of the interprovincial needle added plenty of interest. The race also confirmed that the dual Classic winner is going to be a major force in the months ahead.
The race was run at a good clip after Capetown Noir and Black Toga had been slightly uncooperative at the gates. Black Toga flyjumped, and after running around his field, was always under pressure thereafter.
The longshot Oh So Var led from Black Toga and Living With Heart, with Capetown Noir Corredor and Pierneef further back.
The Cape Town Boys. Dean Kannemeyer and Karl Neisius savour the moment
Bernard Fayd’herbe brought Black Toga forward into the home straight, but his lead was shortlived as Neisius sent Capetown Noir to a smooth victory down the inside with Living With Heart staying on best for second.
Capetown Noir went off at a prohibitive 7 to 20 and won by 1,75 lengths in a time of 85,15 secs.
Winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer expressed his pleasure with the manner in which Capetown Noir had won:
“He wasn’t stripped today, but he is a natural athlete, and he will come along nicely with this run. I didn’t want to go straight into the Guineas either, so this has worked out well. I just want to say well done to Lady Christine Laidlaw and Jehan Malherbe. It is not easy to find a good horse, no matter the size of cheque book!” he said.
Kannemeyer confirmed that Capetown Noir would now head for the Guineas, and then into the Daily News or the Gold Challenge. Headded though that he would also definitely be nominated for the July, and a decision would only be made as whether to run him based on the handicapping.
His regular jockey Karl Neisius said that everything had gone according to plan and labelled the race, ‘the perfect prep run.’
The Lammerskraal Stud bred son of Western Winter is out of the superb Fort Wood mare Akinfeet.
He cost R1 million on the National Yearling Sale.
Capetown Noir has won 6 of 8 starts for 2 places.
He took his stake earnings to R1 321 950.
Dean Kannemeyer and his esteemed owner Lady Christine Laidlaw have some big decisions to make.
The fortunate thing is that with a top class horse like this, the world is their oyster.
Result:
Byerley Turk (SAf-G3) (4/13)
Scottsville, South Africa, April 13, R200.000, 1400m, turf, good, 1.25.15.
CAPETOWN NOIR (SAF), 58.5, 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 (R125.000)
Living With Heart (SAF), 56.5, b g 3, Spectrum (IRE) – Live Your Dreams
(SAF) by Jallad (USA)
Corredor (SAF), 54.5, b g 3, Cataloochee (SAF) – Espinado (SAF) by Joshua
Dancer (USA)
Margins: 1¾, 2, ¾
