Noordhoek Flyer wins Gr1 Cape Guineas from Galileo's Galaxy
Horseracing’s loss is the breeding industry’s gain. This was the philosophical attitude adopted by an obviously disappointed trainer Dean Kannemeyer when announcing the shock news of the injury enforced retirement of the handsome and brilliant son of Pivotal, Noordhoek Flyer.
Speaking on his website www.dkannemeyerracing.com, the man who has trained over fifty Group winners including two Vodacom Durban July winners and seven Guineas winners since taking over the reins from his legendary father over a decade ago, said that the loss of a big horse was a blow to any training operation and that he had harboured ‘huge plans’ for the chestnut champion: “ I have never been as serious about taking a horse to Dubai and an international career as I had been about this colt. He has all the magic attributes and qualities that makes a special racehorse – the blood, raw ability, electric acceleration, a huge heart and a special character. He is the kind of horse that turns heads, elevates careers and changes lives. They really don’t come around too often, “ he said.
Sired North of the line by Pivotal out of the Kris mare Serra Negra, this brilliant miler has a stallion’s pedigree and the breathtaking acceleration and star quality to match it. He raced only eleven times for 4 wins which included a brilliant win in a star-studded Grade 1` Cape Guineas and an emphatic victory in the Grade 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville. After winning his second Guineas in the 2010 Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal, he had been touted as a likely winner of the Vodacom Durban July. After a great fourth just over three lengths off Horse Of The Year Irish Flame in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000, things went awry during the Grade 1 Champions Cup where he ran below par and he never set foot on a racecourse again.
Noordhoek Flyer had suffered a career–ending injury and Kannemeyer said that the decision to retire him had been made in consultation with South Africa’s top veterinarians and in the very best interests of the horse. He thanked Noordhoek Flyer’s owner, Lady Christine Laidlaw, for her ‘enormous patience’ and ‘unbelievable understanding’ through what he said was a trying and traumatic time for everybody involved with the champion.
In reflecting on what could have been, Dean Kannemeyer said that it was always extremely difficult making comparisons with past top horses, but that Noordhoek Flyer would go down as one of the great milers of his generation: “ I have been fortunate to train top horses that have gone on to make their mark in the paddock. We are dealing with flesh and blood and sadly these unforeseen injuries do happen.
Noordhoek Flyer did not get the opportunity to carve his name on the honour roles of South African horseracing like Dynasty and Eyeofthetiger did but, like them, he had that stamp and air of authority about him that seperates the men from the boys. I wish Lady Laidlaw every success with this special horses’ stud career and with his pedigree and ability, I have no doubt that he will be sought after locally and internationally. And he and I have some unfinished business of our own – hopefully I will get the opportunity to train his offspring to win races like the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and J&B Met, something I had planned for him,” he quipped with a twinkle in his eye.
Kannemeyer said that an announcement would be made in due course as to where the first son of of Pivotal ever to stand at stud in South Africa would be based. He said that top studs had shown an interest and that Lady Laidlaw was being guided by her adviser, top SA Bloodstock Consultant, Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock.
