Noordhoek Flyer
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer is on record as describing Pivotal’s classic sprinter-miler son Noordhoek Flyer as ‘a horse possessed of terrific speed, heart, temperament and class’.
It was fitting that the Milnerton conditioner, who enjoyed such dazzling track success with the Khaya Stables-owned chestnut, should enjoy the honour of saddling the outstanding sprinter-miler’s first winner as a stallion.
David Southey bred the Brian Burnard-owned Shap Shap, a real looker of a first crop 2yo colt, out of the Victory Moon mare Young At Heart. He came home readily to win his second start at Greyville on Friday evening, beating the awkwardly named Bikini Billy.
It was a moment of thrilling firsts for Kannemeyer. It was to be the opening salvo of his 2015 KZN winter season and it was also his maiden winner from two tries for KZN owner Brian Burnard, who has enjoyed great success countrywide – and also has a runner in Saturday’s R1 million HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein.
Shap Shap, a R260 000 Emperors Palace National Two Year Old Sale graduate, was confidently ridden by Anthony Delpech, to win rather more cosily than the half length winning margin may have suggested. He was always in touch over the polytrack 1000m and as a long-striding sort should enjoy being given time to power up those engines over slightly further.
Dean Kannemeyer – thrilled
Dean Kannemeyer said afterwards that he was thrilled and proud to have been associated with Noordhoek Flyer.
“He had a dazzling turn of foot and only won over further than a mile because he was simply a top-class racehorse.It was a natural choice to send him to stud with his blood and I am so excited for Khaya Stables. They have Capetown Noir headed the same way – not bad to have two stallions so quickly! It is so satisfying to watch these top horses make their way through the ranks and into the record books. I am also thrilled for Brian Burnard. It is his first winner for me. I hope we will have many more!” he said with pride.
Noordhoek Flyer was retired to stand at Gary Player Stud Farm in Colesberg in 2011 after an injury shortened career that included victory for Kannemeyer and his European-based owners in two classics.
The chestnut won both the Gr1 Cape Guineas and Gr2 KRA Guineas. He was also runner-up to subsequent J&B Met winner Past Master in the Gr2 Selangor Cup in 2009 and second to the then unbeaten Bravura in that season’s Gr1 Cape Derby.
Noordhoek Flyer wins the Cape Guineas
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift, Noordhoek Flyer was a R2.5 million buy at the 2008 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.
An extremely handsome horse, Noordhoek Flyer is a son of the world-class stallion and speedster Pivotal – sire of over 90 stakes winners to date.
His dam, Serra Negra, is by champion miler and sire Kris. Kris, former champion sire in the UK, is the broodmare sire of one of Europe’s top sires – Invincible Spirit. This is the family of champions Mastery, Cherokee Rose, Alkaased and champion 2yo Welsh Garden . It is also the family of champion sire Volksraad.
Like so many of our best stallions, Noordhoek Flyer was at his absolute finest over a mile.
Few will forget the way he accelerated past his rivals to win the Gr2 KRA Guineas. He defeated the best of his generation, with horses such as Bold Silvano, Ancestral Fore and Irish Flame amongst those left in his wake.
Noordhoek Flyer’s first crop are now 2yo’s.
