Dean Kannemeyer
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer has an unparalleled record in the Track and Ball Derby.
Ever since Gold Circle made the move in 2014 to open the classic to all ages at weight-for-age plus penalties, the son of the legendary late ‘Peekay’ has won it four times and run second in the fifth.
That’s impressive darts in anybody’s book.
It has been well documented – if not always praised when purists congregate – that the rationale to boost the target market and open the age constraints was that the chief focus of 3yo’s during the SA Champions Season is the Guineas, the Daily News 2000, the Woolavington Stakes and the Vodacom Durban July.
Mr Winsome wins the Derby in 2017 – outside chance on Saturday
Further justification for the move was found in the fact that there are no weight-for-age races in South Africa over the distance and it was hoped that the overall programme for stayers would actually benefit from the change.
Dean Kannemeyer has ridden the new wave and he returns for the 2019 renewal with possibly his longest shot in the five years. The 6yo Mr Winsome, a winner in 2017 and runner-up in 2018 behind his Equus Champion Stayer stablemate It’s My Turn, is a hardknocking slogger who stays well. The son of Silvano relocated to Joburg for six runs where he failed to produce the goods. He has had one prep run back with DKR and certainly goes the track and trip!
The 4yo Roy Had Enough (pictured above) could be the one to beat.
The 2018 Darley Arabian winner has been thereabouts at his recent starts and comes in fit and ready and staying on in the recent Cup Trial when just under 3 lengths off Kampala Campari. While he tries the trip for the first time on Saturday, he is out of an unraced daughter of a Gr1 Australian Oaks winner, so could possess the stamina to find the 2400m.
Topweighted Gauteng raider Dawn Assault won the London News Handicap in January this year and strips fit after finishing under 2 lengths off Eyes Wide Open in the Gr2 WSB 1900 last time. A winner over 2600m earlier in his career, he stays the trip and could challenge if things go his way.
Gauteng raider Dawn Assault carries top weight
The seven-time winner Silver Rose stays all day and won two before running a gutsy third behind Liege in the Lonsdale last time.
Geoff Woodruff no doubt has a tactical plan in running his 2018 SA Oaks winning filly Secret Potion against the boys here.
It may also be to avoid clashing with the smart stablemate Insignis in the Oaks. The smart 4yo ran a nice third off top-class Return Flight in the Gerald Rosenberg last month and comes in with a nice draw and a serious shout.
SA Oaks winner Secret Potion takes on the boys
Cape Derby runner-up Charles was comprehensively outgunned in the Daily News and may well be looking for this kind of trip – his class dam won up to 2200m. He carries 56kgs so gets some relief and could challenge.
Yvette Bremner’s solid stayer Mangrove was never in the hunt in the Lonsdale but stays well and must have an outside place chance.
White Lightning, Ballad Of The Sea and Top Classman make up the balance.
It’s a trappy kind of contest, with no genuine standout.
Roy Had Enough and Dawn Assault have the class, while Mr Winsome has been down this road before with success.
Give July hopeful Charles another chance too. Go wide in the exotics.
