Kannemeyer Aims For A Third Cape Merchants

The R500 000 De Grendel Gr2 Cape Merchants headlines an attractive card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday, with trainer Dean Kannemeyer poised to register a hat-trick in the 1200m handicap.

Kannemeyer will be looking to get the Summer Festival Of Racing into top gear and sends out defending champion Cosmic Highway (Rachel Venniker), along with the progressive The Real Prince (Athandiwe Mgudlwa), Outlaw King (Sean Veale) and Teflon Man (Anthony Andrews).

Dean Kannemeyer chats to Craig Zackey (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

While two of the four are Khaya Stables owned horses, Craig Zackey has chosen to partner Brett Crawford’s At My Command who returns from a twelve week break and must be taken to be the elect of Lady Christine Laidlaw’s attack.

Dean Kannemeyer said that it had been Zackey’s choice to ride At My Command, but that it had also been circumstantial.

“The Real Prince was allotted 52,5kgs on entry and it was touch and go on whether he would actually even make the cut. He then won and his rating went up. At that stage Craig (Zackey) had made his call to ride Brett’s horse. I am very happy to bring Athandiwe Mgudlwa down. He rode The Real Prince at his penultimate start when in need of the run.”

Kannemeyer added that defending champion Cosmic Highway was ‘lethal’ at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and while not 100% at his peak following a break after a raid to Turffontein nine months ago, he is a horse that has to be included.

“Grant van Niekerk rode Outlaw King in the WSB Bantry Bay Stakes and said afterwards that he should have finished much closer. He wanted to ride him again, but is suspended until 31 December. I am happy to have Sean Veale aboard,” added Kannemeyer.

With lightweight jockeys scarce, Chase Maujean makes a rare trip South to partner Piet Steyn’s Meu Capitano, who carries 53kgs.

Meu Capitano – progressive sprinter and could crack a career peak success (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

The son of Captain Of All was slow into stride in the Non-Black Type Bantry Bay Stakes last time, but ran on well to finish a short-head behind the winner. He finished 1,45 lengths behind Adam Marcus’ soldier Dance Variety in his penultimate run. He is 2kgs better off at the weights here and that should be enough for the tables to be turned. Three of his four career victories have come over this track and trip.

Vaughan Marshall is fresh off his Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas triumph with One Stripe and saddles 7yo Seeking The Stars in the same silks.

The son of Vercingetorix won a good race over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last time. He has won once and finished third twice from four starts over Sunday’s course and distance. He may be hard to peg back in the run down to the line.

Marshall also stables Wecangoallnight, who transfers from the Eric Sands yard under new ownership.

Tony Rivalland is in town and saddles the promising King Of The Gauls, who has not run in 21 weeks since beating Lunarcam in the LHKIR in December Listed Umngeni Handicap.

Richard Fourie and King Of The Gauls – reunite on Sunday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

He has been touted as being of Grade 1 calibre and it’s a good sign that Richard Fourie returns to the controls. Fourie last won this race on Erik The Red in 2020.

Sean Tarry raids with the fairer sex pair of CELTIC RUMOURS & MIA MOO, who add to the puzzle.

Tarry was victorious in 2018 when Lyle Hewitson rode Africa Rising to victory, but it’s not an easy one for the girls. We have to go all the way back to 2010 to find the last female to win the Cape Merchants. That was Dance With Al, who was saddled by Justin Snaith and ridden by Anthony Delpech.

The De Grendel Merchants is the third leg of a carryover first jackpot of R200 000 which is anticipated to reach R1 million.

The first leg is race 5, which jumps at 14h40.