Dean Kannemeyer and his leading patron Lady Christine Laidlaw have plenty to look forward to in the Summer Of Champions Season that lies ahead.
After Drakenstein’s Little Suzie put her Cape Fillies Guineas hand up last week, the Khaya Stables team have another rocket headed in that direction in the shape of the Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimmie’s Countess who caught the eye with a dazzling late effort to win the R200 000 Baker McVeigh Gr3 Diana Stakes at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
The well-rested Gimmie’s Countess brings it home with a scintillating effort under Serino Moodley (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Having her first run in her home province after three promising starts in KZN, Gimmie’s Countess came off a 12-week break and showed that she really had no luck when flying late in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at her second jump, getting her big reputation back on track with a scintillating effort under KZN rider, Serino Moodley.
After Kotzen’s long rested Royals set the gallop, Moodley had Gimmie’s Countess settled back of midfield, but seemed to lose position as she turned for home in her first competition at the generally tighter country course.
But the Winning Form jockey was under instructions not to panic and he started making up ground on the talented 3yo at around the 300m.
Going into the final stages, Gimmie’s Countess (17-10) was going best of all and she went on to beat the year older Summer Lily (5-1) going away by a length in a time of 83,98 secs for the 1400m,
The consistent Princess Izzy (7-2) stayed on for third, a further 1,25 lengths ack in third.
Gimme’s Countess hails from a Grade 1 family that has served the Khaya-Kannemeyer partnership with distinction and she looks set to continue the tradition.
Bred by Khaya Stables and raised at the beautiful Varsfontein Stud in Paarl, the winner is by champion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) ex Gr1 winner Real Princess (Trippi).
The Klawervlei Stud-bred Real Princess was the highest priced filly at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2013, fetching R2,7 million.
Real Princess was the first foal of Pagan Princess and won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint for Dean Kannemeyer and Lady Christine Laidlaw.She was out of Pagan Princess, who was one of Klawervlei’s best broodmares. Pagan Princess was only a one-time winner, but she was by champion stallion Fort Wood and was a half-sister to the Al Mufti superstar Victory Moon. Pagan Princess lived up to her superb pedigree by producing the goods at stud.
Gimmie’s Countess has now won 2 races with a place from 4 starts for stakes of R240 625.
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