Dean Kannemeyer made it three straight victories in the R500 000 De Grendel Gr2 Cape Merchants when the lightly campaigned Rafeef 4yo Outlaw King stormed clear of his field under Sean Veale to win the 2024 renewal of the 1200m handicap at a sun-drenched Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.
After Gimme A Prince and Cosmic Highway’s victories in the two previous years, Kannemeyer sent a quartet to post on Sunday and it was the yard’s popular DK Racing Syndicate who held the ace as Outlaw King took his earnings to over R1 million with an emphatic victory.
Sean Veale drives dual Gr2-winner Outlaw King clear as fourth-placed stablemate The Real Prince (Athandiwe Mgtudlwa) and fifth finisher Gimmelightning (JP van der Merwe) stay on (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Sporting Post-sponsored rider Sean Veale was the late call-up with the suspended Grant van Niekerk unable to do duty, and the visiting rider did nothing wrong, producing Outlaw King from 5 lengths off the pace set by the rested Café Culture.
In a matter of strides, Outlaw King (17-2) ratified his good last start effort in the Bantry Bay Stakes and ran clear to beat Café Culture (25-1) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 71,21 secs for the 1200m.
Surjay (20-1) came out best of the rest to grab third a further half length back, and just shading the progressive The Real Prince (6-1, tote favourite) in fourth.
The quartet paid over R19 600 in an open race, where a number failed to deliver on expectations.
The DK Racing Syndicate has enjoyed plenty of success over the years going all the way back to the top notch African Warrior and it was a sweetly -timed victory for longstanding supporters Allison and Martin Holland who arrived from England recently, and were on hand to lead the gelding in.
Kannemeyer explained that his charge, considered one of the best of his generation at two, contracted a virus in KZN and was duly laid off, allowing nature to take its healing course. He graciously thanked partners of the DK Racing Syndicate for their patience, as the gelding subsequently missed much of his three-year-old season.
“We just had to leave him and hope that he’d come back strong in the Spring. Thankfully, that’s what has happened, and I’m super thrilled for the Syndicate.” Kannemeyer also made positive mention of OUTLAW KING’s sire, Rafeef, “He’s a very good, up-and-coming stallion.”
Ranked fifth nationally this season, Sean Veale again proved full value with a well-judged and enthusiastic ride and this was his 58th winner. His personal target was 60 by Christmas, but he won’t be complaining!
Bred by James Armitage, Outlaw King, now a dual Gr2 winner, was a R300 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and a son of Ridgemont’s top-class Redoute’s Choice stallion Rafeef out of the four-time winning Greys Inn mare, Way Of Escape.
Outlaw King has won 4 races from 11 starts with 3 places and took his stakes earnings to R1 003 125.
