Patience has always been the Kannemeyer hallmark of excellence and a perfect plan came together in fabulous fashion at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as Green With Envy stormed home to win the R1,5 million SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby to bring the curtain down on a special summer down South.
Green With Envy stamps his authority under a muddied Craig Zackey as Beach Bomb tries hard (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Khaya Stables’ home-bred had run a perfect low-key prep to win the Schweppes Gr3 Politician Stakes on Met day after forward showings in the Cape Punters Cup and the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.
Relishing the step up in trip to the 2000m on Saturday, he ran a cracker to become the third Kannemeyer Cape Derby winner of the 21st century after Dynasty (2003) and Capetown Noir (2013). The latter also raced in the staunch Khaya silks.
On a day where races were generally run at a dawdle, Oriental Charm led Willie John and Coastal Commander early, with Green With Envy loping along near the rear.
In the run for home, things picked up a bit as they fanned out. But there was only one horse in it as Green With Envy (14-10) stretched up the outside to draw clear and beat the dual Gr1 winning filly Beach Bomb (7-2) by 2,75 lengths.
It was Craig Zackey’s second victory in the classic after Golden Ducat won for Eric Sands in 2020.
Green With Envy’s time of 130,33 secs, achieved in windless but slightly sticky track conditions, compared modestly against Bunter Barlow’s longstanding course record of 122,10 secs, and the last three Cape Derby renewals, with See It Again (123,55 secs) heading Linebacker’s 124,34 secs and Pomp And Power’s 124,76 secs.
Runner-up Beach Bomb was ‘twice the horse she was in the Cape Fillies Guineas’ according to jockey Aldo Domeyer, and was not disgraced, while pacesetter Oriental Charm (100-1) rallied smartly to come right back and get third, a half length adrift.
A delighted Lady Christine Laidlaw and Jehan Malherbe celebrate the SplashOut Cape Derby victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Bred and raced by Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, Green With Envy, who was raised on Varsfontein Stud, is by SA champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Irish-bred Miss Coco, a daughter of champion Galileo, who was unbeaten in one start over 2400m.
Now a winner of 4 races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R515 775, Green With Envy will be a key member of the Kannemeyer Champions Season attack, and will shorten in the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post market after an accomplished performance.
Enjoy the replay:
