Power King and Stuart Randolph get home ahead of Punta Arenas and Tellina
Over the moon with a fourth Kannemeyer July winner, and his personal third victory in the fifteen years since taking over from his Dad, Dean Kannemeyer said on Monday that the magnificent Silvano gelding Power King was ‘mooching’ around his paddock as if nothing much had happened over the weekend.
“He has a lovely temperament and really gave his all on Saturday. He was exhausted after the race but our Vets attended to him immediately and gave him the necessary fluids to balance his electrolytes. He is physically fine and is so fresh in his paddock,” he said.
Having saddled the winners of Africa’s greatest horserace in 2003 (Dynasty) and Eyeofthetiger (2006), and the winners of a multitude of other features and classic races, Kannemeyer knows his way around the Gr1 winner’s box, but conceded that racing can be a ‘funny game’ at times.
“I decided to come to KZN a few weeks earlier than usual to get my string acclimatized as it is my first season out of Summerveld. I must say it has gone well. Without any serious big guns, we just missed the Derby – and now we won the July! It doesn’t get too much better than that. And I was pleased with Solid Speed’s run in the Gold Vase. He was beaten by his weight. Both him and Hot Ticket will be in the Gold Cup. So I am not quite finished yet,” he laughed.
Good Call
The lead-in as the uncertain minutes tick down to the objection outcome
On the subject of the objection, Kannemeyer was adamant that the Stipes had made the correct call.
“You are no doubt thinking I am biased – and I probably am. But Power King stayed on a straight course and Punta Arenas bumped him sideways. Had I got beaten, then we would have had grounds for an objection. I think beaten jockey Ian Sturgeon did what he had to do in the circumstances.”
So he was never worried that things would go pear-shaped in the boardroom?
“Hell, no, I wouldn’t put it that way. In the heat and adrenaline of the big race moment there are a million things going through one’s mind. I must say that the deliberation and decision did take forever!”
Gentlemen
Dean said that his colleague Stan Elley and the owners of Punta Arenas came and shook his hand afterwards ‘like true gentlemen.’
“We have all been in this game a long time. You win some, you lose some. Saturday happened to be my day. We take what we can – when we can – next time things may not work out so well,” he said philosophically.
Soldier
Powerful team – Lady Christine Laidlaw and Dean enjoy the post-race celebrations
He added that it was wonderful to have had his leading owner , Khaya Stables’ Lady Christine Laidlaw on course for the big win.
“It was Christine’s first Greyville visit. I am thrilled for her. She has been a soldier. And to my whole team too. It sounds like a cliché, but this really is not a one-man achievement. I must thank Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe and jockey Stuart Randolph. He kept his head. And then the magnificent achievement by Maine Chance and Silvano in breeding and siring the top three. I don’t think I have come across that in my forty years in the game!”
On Sunday the Khaya and Kannemeyer team were at Summerhill for the official introduction of their new stallion Capetown Noir.
Karl Neisius wears the Khaya silks as Dean introduces Capetown Noir to the Summerhill Stallions Day crowd on Sunday
“Mick Goss put on a great show as he always does on Sunday. He is simply a world –class host. And it was an honour and privilege to lead Capetown Noir in front of the assembled crowd. It was a lump-in-the-throat moment. And I am fortunate to have enjoyed a few of those over the weekend!”
