The Kannemeyer family have been making the ‘Great Trek’ from the Cape to the Champions Season in KZN for 52 years.
That’s a long and proud history and the tradition wrote the first lines of its 2025 chapter when the DKR string of 31 horses arrived at Summerveld last week.
The valuable DKR team arrives safely at Summerveld (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“My Dad arrived here in 1973 for the first time, and allowed me to step in from 1993 as a young assistant trainer. We have been every year – and some have been better than others. That’s in the nature of the cycles of the strength string,” said Dean Kannemeyer as he guided his valuable cargo off the New Turf Carriers float.
“The majority of those years we were based at Clairwood. When they sold Clairwood we had to move to Summerveld. A top trainer told me at the time that If I moved to Summerveld, I’d be out of business before I knew it. He warned that it wasn’t a place to train racehorses.That was 2015 – and ironically I enjoyed one of my best seasons in years, and we won the Durban July with Power King! Clairwood was a lot cooler, but I have never had an issue with Summerveld. The facilities are excellent.”
Dean says that his Champions Season class of 2025 was a good mix, with some really nice unraced two year olds and older horses.
New surroundings and new challenges! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
“I usually bring the babies up – if they race, they race. But we get the sun on their backs as Milnerton can start getting pretty bleak in the next few months. If anything, I probably lack a big 3yo but have some decent prospects – like The Real Prince, who won the Listed Jet Master Stakes with ease at his last start and first attempt at the mile. The family are speed, but there is stamina down the female line – so don’t be surprised to see him amongst the Hollywoodbets Durban July entries!”
Champions Season DKR team leader – multiple Gr1 star Gimme A Prince (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Dean starts the campaign proper on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville with the 3yo Give Me Everything running fresh off three straight victories since trying ground. The Varsfontein bred daughter of Gimmethegreenlight has the KZN Fillies Guineas as her short-term target.
“The first consideration is that they all travelled well. So that’s a massive plus. I eased off and played with them for a few days. On Monday they were back in work. Give Me Everything is a lovely filly and she has developed beautifully. What I have found is that first time at Hollywoodbets Greyville, they often hit a flat spot when turning for home. But getting this run under the belt means that we don’t have to worry about her feeling strange in the Guineas.”
Gimmie’s Countess- well drawn and can win her Fillies Guineas prep on Sunday (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
A winner at this track, the luckless Gimmie’s Countess runs in the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes.
“I eased off after her last run in the Cape, but she’s working well and looks tight through the middle. Thankfully we have a decent draw on Friday evening. She has been dogged by wide gates. I think we have her in the right race over the 1400m, which I have worked out is her maximum trip. She will go well.”
Teflon Man looks set for a big season (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Dean is prepping Teflon Man for races like the Merchants, in which he ran third last season.He and Mr Master Starter run in the NBT KwaZulu – Natal Stakes.
“Teflon Man ran a cracker after gelding ten days ago and he is looking good. Mr Master Starter never runs a bad race and is fit. Unfortunately the handicapper hasn’t been too kind on him, but he is a soldier.”
The postponed Hollywoodbets Greyville racemeeting starts at a time to be advised on Sunday.
