Dean Kannemeyer
Horseracing mirrors life itself, in that it is all about cycles. I have probably been somewhat spoilt in past years with some great horses and here I think of the tremendous excitement and anticipation of the 2010 Champions Season , as a recent example, when I arrived in Durban with a brilliant horse called Noordhoek Flyer. I won the Guineas with him but he picked up an injury and it is well documented that he was never given an opportunity to realize his full potential on the racetrack. He retired recently to Gary Player Stud in Colesberg and there is great excitement and interest from breeders as far afield as Europe and America. Every cloud has a silver lining and I am particularly excited about his stud career after the shattering disappointment of 2010. His owner Lady Christine Laidlaw has continued to show huge commitment to South African horseracing and breeding and has some outstanding stock,” he said.
Kannemeyer went on to say that he had sent an initial string of ten horses to Durban. “ In Writing and Splash Gold are the two captains in the raiding party and they are both top-class horses. Splash Gold has won five of his eight starts – how many three year olds achieve that? He has hardly been pushed and it will be an interesting test of his ability to see how he measures up to the cream of the crop. In Writing carries the Fieldspring Racing silks and he ran a great race to finish only 3,3 lengths off Past Master in the J&B Met. The handicapper has lumped him with a nasty penalty for his endeavours but I hope he is right as he has a touch of class and is lightly raced, having had a long lay-off due to injury. He could be a Vodacom Durban July horse or even a Canon Gold Cup contender after his great third place in the Grade 3 Chairman’s Cup in February. He won his second start at Clairwood and appeared to flourish on the East Coast.I also have some unraced youngsters with great potential in the string” he said excitedly.
When quizzed on how he would divide his time between Cape Town and Durban, he said that he was fortunate enough to enjoy what he ranked at the best Assistant trainer back-up in South Africa: “Mike De Beer has recently joined me and racing folk will recall that he has worked as Assistant in the Glen Kotzen and Basil Marcus yards, amongst others, before branching out on his own. Those are two diverse and driven taskmasters and Mike also rode successfully for many years. He brings years of experience to the table and while not a marketing man, he is a specialist stable manager and is extremely industrious and hardworking. David Lilley has been here for over three decades and remains my General Manager and right-hand man. Then Albie Going, who also has an impressive and experience loaded cv will look after the Clairwood string I am fortunate to boast this level of experience and reliability in my team,” he said with pride.
On his Cape Winter Season prospects, he felt that April Glaspie’s son of Count Dubois, Coasting Avalanche was a horse on the upgrade and should be a huge factor in the Winter Series. He said that the 1600m of the Guineas would probably be on the sharp side for him but he was a horse who could go very close in the second and third legs. “ Punters should pencil in Coasting Avalanche’s name. He is a smart horse.
I also have some lovely youngsters and Bernard Kantor’s Dupont colt Depardieu ran a great race in Saturday’s feature at Kenilworth to the highly rated Hassen Adams horse, Gimmethegreenlight. It was only his second run and if the Australian-bred is as good as they say he is, then I am very happy with my fellow as he will enjoy it further.”
On the National Yearling Sales and the outlook for the next six months, Dean said the weekend’s catalogue was filled with quality and some exciting pedigrees, as it always was. He said that he believed that there would be plenty of value to be had, but didn’t feel that it would be the bloodbath predicted in certain quarters:” Our horses have done so well consistently internationally and our breeders produce a lot of very nice horses. The top end of the market will also always be resilient and strong and while I expect the middle market to be eroded somewhat, the good specimens and attractive pedigrees will always have the buyers. JJ The Jet Plane has also produced a great well-timed advertisement and carrot for any owner with his Dubai victory. Where else anywhere on earth can one buy a dream, and a very fast one at that, at a ridiculous bargain price?” he asked.
He said that the past twelve months trading had been tough for everyone in the industry, but felt that trainers had to be prepared for when the clouds passed and the sun started shining again. “ We cannot just roll over and play dead. I am no economist, but this particular economic dip may just be a little longer than a few of the previous downturns and recessions but it will pass and we have to keep on trading prudently and replenishing stock.
But he said soberly that it was important to be realistic and to look after patrons: “ It is pointless keeping bad horses. They cost as much to feed as good horses. I regularly assess and move horses on to other centres. I believe an owner appreciates an honest assessment rather than a book of excuses. I have been fortunate to have traded well and moved horses on to places like Mauritius or to weaker local centres where they have more prospect of earning their keep. I am quite happy when a horse turns the corner and starts earning in another centre. It means I gave the correct advice. It is not easy being a trainer with staff and overheads and empty boxes but bad horses do nothing for anybody and even the greatest horseman on earth couldn’t get them to run any faster. For now I am hopeful and confident that my owners will be reinvesting some of their profits back at the Sales this weekend. And I intend to remain positive. I started riding work at the age of eleven and have grown up in horseracing. While these aren’t the best of times it is not the end of the world either.”
