Trainer Dean Kannemeyer made it a hat-trick of wins in the R300 000 Gr3 Track & Ball Derby at Scottsville on Saturday when Fred Crabbia’s 2016 Investec Cape Derby winner and current Durban July entry It’s My Turn found his better form to give Anton Marcus his 100th winner of the season.
It’s My Turn cruises home under Anton Marcus to win the Derby (Pic – Candiese Marnewick / Gold Circle)
Formerly trained by Justin Snaith, the SP top-rated 5yo It’s My Turn was registering his first success since that Gr1 victory in January 2016 and if ever there was a chance for him to find his confidence this was it, as he came in weighted to win. And for Kannemeyer it was a long overdue icebreaking SA Champions Season feature score! The Milnerton trainer has won 4 of the 5 KZN Derby renewals under the open dispensation.
At his first meeting back after a 49 day absence on the sidelines with a wrist fracture, Anton Marcus had It’s My Turn stalking the pacesetting Ollivander all the way round.
Into the home run, last year’s winner Mr Winsome (a stablemate to It’s My Turn) made up ground down the inside as It’s My Turn appeared to briefly hit a flat spot.
Anton Marcus – flashback to his Daisy Fillies Guineas feature success
But Marcus wasn’t letting the comeback tonic slip out of his hands and he got stuck in to get the gelding focussed. He rode him mostly with the hands as It’s My Turn picked it up well to win going away by 2,25 lengths in a time of 147.92 secs – slower than the Oaks run a half hour earlier.
The East Cape Derby winner and 16-10 favourite American Landing was a further quarter length back in third after failing to quicken when it counted. This was his first run in KZN and his connections may be regrouping as to his immediate SA Champions Season feature race plans.
Dean Kannemeyer – welcome feature exacta
A R400 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, It’s My Turn has won 3 races with 9 places from 18 starts for stakes of R1 707 525.
The winner was bred by Willempie Engelbrecht Jnr and is one of eight individual Derby winning sons of classic producer Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the rather modest one-time winner Jallad’s Queen (Jallad).
There was no immediate decision on whether It’s My Turn would go for the Vodacom Durban July. His owner already has the favourite African Night Sky representing him. They have until 11h00 on Monday to make a decision.
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Gr3 Track and Ball Derby (SAf-Gr3)
Scottsville, South Africa, June 23, R300k, 2400m, turf, good, 2.27.92
1 – IT’S MY TURN (SAF), 59.0, b g 5, Dynasty (SAF) – Jallad’s Queen (SAF) by Jallad (USA). Owner Mr A L A Crabbia; Breeder WJ Engelbrecht Jnr; trainer D Kannemeyer; jockey A Marcus
2 – Mr Winsome (SAF), 60.0, b g 5, Silvano (GER) – Al Shama (SAF) by Al Mufti (USA)
3 – American Landing (SAF), 56.0, b c 3, Dynasty (SAF) – Sabina Park (SAF) by Sportsworld (USA)
Margins: 2.25, 0.25, 0.75
