Donovan Dillon rides a polished race as he steers Solid Speed to a smooth win in the Highland Night Cup
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer maintained his purple patch of winning form when the Khaya Stables owned Dynasty gelding Solid Speed beat a quality field of stayers to score an impressive victory in the R120 000 Highland Night Cup run over 2400m at Greyville on Sunday.
The non black-type feature is named in honour of the most recent consecutive winner of South Africa’s premier staying race, the Gold Cup. Highland Night won the 3200m Gr1 marathon in 2002 and 2003.
For Kannemeyer, Solid Speed’s victory put the cherry on the top of a winning four-timer over the weekend – two at Kenilworth on Saturday, and another nice double at Greyville on Sunday.
He sent out the Avontuur-bred Mambo Mime in the first to shed his maiden at the second time of asking, but it was Solid Speed’s encouraging second run after a rest that suggested he may well be a contender in the staying features over the next three months.
Sent off as joint 4-1 favourite with fellow Capetonian Coltrane in the ten horse field, Solid Speed was professionally handled by Donovan Dillon as he powered down the outside from midfield to beat Akii Bua by two lengths in a time of 151,38 secs.
The luckless Crime Victim was near the back for much of the contest and was caught in traffic as he made his run. He nevertheless ran a cracker to nab Gone Baby Gone to run third. Crime Victim should win again soon.
The fancied Coltrane was in touch but failed to kick when it counted.
The lightly raced Solid Speed took his win tally to four from seven, with two places and stakes of R225 425.
Bred by Willempie Engelbrecht jnr, Solid Speed is by Dynasty out of the once winning Jallad mare, Boston Tea Party.
The winner is a R600 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 graduate and looks a very decent staying prospect in the making.
