Despite running over a distance short of his best, Gimmethegreenlight 4yo Gimme A Prince produced a career peak performance as he resisted a late challenge from past SA Champion Sprinter Rio Querari to win the R1 250 000 Pongracz Gr1 Cape Flying Championship at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Milnerton master trainer Dean Kannemeyer had the lightly campaigned Gimme A Prince in prime condition just six weeks after his Gr2 Cape Merchants success, and regular pilot, the Winning Form sponsored, Keagan de Melo did the rest, timing his run to perfection to hold off a determined challenge from the revistalised Snaith challenger.
Keagan de Melo times it right as Gimme A Prince holds off Rio Querari (Grant van Niekerk) and Isivunguvungu (Soumillon) (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
At the line, Gimme A Prince (7-2) had 0,30 lengths to spare in a time of 58,04 secs.
Isivungvungu (7-2) ran his best race to run third, with Gauteng challenger Bartholdi overcoming his travel issues to run a game fourth.
The Khaya Stables bred winner is a 4yo gelded son of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the smashing their Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Real Princess.
Like Gimme A Prince, the Klawervlei daughter of Trippi was raced by Khaya Stables for Dean Kannemeyer.
Real Princess was the most expensive filly sold at the 2013 Cape Premier Yearling Sale (Book 1) when knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R2,7 million. Gimme A Prince is her first foal, with the unraced The Real Prince currently in training with the powerful yard.
This was Gimme A Prince’s maiden Gr1 success and his second victory on Cape soil. He took his tally to 5 wins and a place from 7 starts for stakes of R1 217 888.
A passionate and well-invested owner, race sponsor and a benefactor of the sport via the Star Grooms initiative, Lady Laidlaw has enjoyed her racing in South Africa since 2008 when purchasing the subsequent dual Guineas winner and sire, Noordhoek Flyer. She has since celebrated multiple Gr1 success, including a Durban July victory with Power King in 2015.
