Dean Kannemeyer’s sensational 2018 Sun Met runner-up Last Winter boarded a flight on Sunday from Newmarket headed for the United Arab Emirates where he will join Mike de Kock’s Blue Stables in advance of his 2019 Dubai World Cup campaign.
.Last Winter – star in action
Last Winter, who will be based with Mike de Kock under the banner of Dean Kannemeyer Racing, has only run six times, winning his first four starts with ease, before being pipped in the Gr2 Premier Trophy by the dour front-running local, Milton.
At his sixth and final start in South Africa, he flew up late from many lengths back under Piere Strydom to be beaten a half length by subsequent SA Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna in the Gr1 Sun Met.
Last Winter was lumped with a 119 rating after that effort and, in view of the limited local programme and being a 2000m horse at best, it was felt that an overseas campaign – Dubai and Hong Kong were mentioned – was a better option to realise his enormous potential. He is raced by Khaya Stables.
Last Winter went into quarantine a few weeks after the Met and then travelled to Post Lafayette in the North East of Mauritius for a quarantine period.
Last Winter pictured in Mauritius
The 5yo son of Western Winter out of the Cape Fillies Guineas winner Field Flower (Silvano), has been based at Mary Slack’s Abington Place Stables in the UK since May.
“This is an exciting time for the team and for Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables. Performance on the world stage is the ultimate for any owner and trainer, and while we are relying heavily on the support, advice and technical expertise of those who have gone before us, we are looking forward to taking this fine athlete to greater heights and carrying the flag with pride,” said Dean Kannemeyer.
The 2019 Dubai World Cup Carnival prize money will be boosted 12%, totalling US $12,670,000, and the exciting series will take place on Thursdays from January 3 through February 28 for its first nine meetings.
Its 10th and final will be Super Saturday 9 March.
The carnival runs alongside the domestic season at Meydan season.
The 15th Dubai World Cup Carnival leads into Dubai World Cup day, the richest day of racing in the world.
On 30 March the Dubai World Cup meeting is set to enhance its status with total purses for the card, which will feature six Gr1 and three Gr2 fixtures, increased from US $30 million to $35 million.
Its namesake race, the Gr1 Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline, gets a $2 million boost to $12 million and boasts a $7.2 million purse to the winner; the highest first-place prize in global thoroughbred racing.
Dean Kannemeyer – excited
The major prep for Dubai World Cup day is the Super Saturday meeting, to be held on Saturday 9 March.
Super Saturday affords trainers the opportunity to put the finishing touches to their equine stars before appearing on racing’s biggest stage – Dubai World Cup day. As the official dress rehearsal for the Dubai World Cup it is a major social occasion.
Follow Last Winter’s progress right here on Sporting Post
