Not a trainer to pressure his 2yo’s early, Dean Kannemeyer is nevertheless looking to open his SA Champions Season feature account in the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
Kannemeyer’s unbeaten Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Delta Queen has to give 2kgs to each of her seven opponents, but her top trainer says that he believes he has done as much as he possibly could have to get her ready.
Lady Christine Laidlaw leads in Delta Queen and Keagan de Melo after her Kenilworth Nursery triumph (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
“I have breezed her twice and she showed nice work. There is always the nagging concern that they will need it and the race will bring her along for the Allan Robertson, if we go that route,” he said.
The Khaya Stables flyer has not raced for 16 weeks.
“She has a touch of class and I believe the Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1100m – running firm and fast as we saw on Wednesday – will be ideal for her,” he responded to our question about the adjustment to the new track.
“Half of the field have seen Scottsville in a race, so that is always a plus. But she is a sensible young lady and if one looks at the way she won the Nursery on Derby Day at Kenilworth, she produced a gutsy performance. She was out in front. There was nothing for Keagan de Melo to hide her behind. So she did it the hard way.”
As to the likely threats, Kannemeyer said that Sean Tarry’s Storm Bird Stakes placer Slalom Queen had the benefit of a return run under the belt, which could see her turn up sharp. She placed second behind Mount Pleasant last Saturday at Turffontein.
“It is always interesting to get a view of the relative strengths of the Cape versus KZN versus Gauteng form. And, at the same time it’s dangerous to stick one’s neck out in interprovincial juvenile races! But as I mentioned, Delta Queen has that touch of class and I am expecting a decent effort from her.”
Delta Queen was bred by Avontuur from their perennial powerhouse Var (Forest Wildcat)and is out of Jet Master star River Jetez, a full-sister to Triple Horse Of The Year Pocket Power.
River Jetez – 2010 Met winner
River Jetez’ victories included both the 2010 Gr1 J&B Met and Dubai’s Balanchine Stakes. Her first foal and Delta Queen’s full-brother Rivarine is a multiple stakes winning sprinter based with Mike and Adam Azzie in Gauteng.
- The Hollywoodbets Scottsville feature is off at 14h00 on Saturday.
