David Thiselton

Dean Kannemeyer’s fine horsemanship and loyalty to the underrated jockey Grant Behr were behind the shock win of Russian Rock in Saturday’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas. It was Dean’s sixth win of the prestigious race and the yard’s ninth as his father Peter also won it three times.

Kannemeyer said about the Klawervlei Stud-bred grey colt by Pomodoro, “He is claustrophobic and had begun box walking, so when spring came around I built him a new box in the paddock which allowed him to go out and eat when he wanted to. He became a completely different horse.”

However, the other problem which needed solving was his soft mouth, which had caused him to throw his head up and get the tongue over the bit in a 1400m race at Durbanville on October 17 and he then threw his head up again over 1200m on December 2.

Kannemeyer fitted a softer bit piece and his instructions to Behr were to get the horse’s head down and settled.

Russian Rock only threw his head up for a stride or two down the back straight and he was otherwise settled although he did take a strong hold.

Kannemeyer described the pace as steady and consistent, which aided his cause.

Russian Rock has stamina in his pedigree and had proved his speed in his previous start, so when he reached the top of the straight on the back of a perfect passage in a slow run race he was suddenly an interesting proposition. His in-running odds would have been a lot shorter than his 100/1 starting odds.

It was no surprise to see the Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker emerge as the likely winner half way down the straight as his form should have seen him in the top three in the betting rather than the 33/1 offered by some bookmakers. He is a big rangy type who was always going to appreciate the long straight of the New Course and Donovan Dillon had managed to relax him despite being caught wide from a wide draw.

However, it would have been a surprise for most to see Russian Rock appearing on the scene full of running.

He was even able to afford to be snatched back and switched when sandwiched at the 250m mark.

The latter occurrence was due to the hanging outward antics of the pacemaker Seeking The Stars.

Malmoos was also hampered, but was not looking like a winner,  and Rascallion, who eventually rallied back for third, was also affected.

Russian Rock rallied back gamely but was tending to hang inward.

Dillon, with the benefit of hindsight, possibly cost himself the race by continuing to whip Linebacker instead of straightening him. Linebacker consequently drifted inward meaning Behr did not have to worry about straightening his hanging mount.

Russian Rock got up on the line after a late surge and was without doubt the deserved winner on the day.

Kannemeyer said, “I was thrilled for Grant Behr who has had to play second fiddle in the Kannemeyer yard for about 100 years. If he had not won it would have been a tragedy. But he did not panic and pulled him out and got up. He was very cool and I take my hat off to him. I have always said that pound for pound Grant is as strong in a finish as any other jockey in the country. He always comes and rides work and has ridden a lot of winners for us, there is no doubting his ability.”

Luyolo Mxothwa had taken a while to get to the front on the expected pacemaker Seeking The Stars but once there had restrained him rather than let him stride freely as he had done in his last two impressive wins over 1400m. The explanation would likely be the stamina doubt about the Vercingetorix colt. Nevertheless, it led to the slowest Cape Guineas since 2005.

Time will tell whether the slow pace led to a false result.

Kannemeyer admitted he had fancied his other charge Silvano’s Timer but added, “Russian Rock’s previous race had been very good. His work had been so good too and he was absolutely popping out of his skin. I had heard so many times this season about horses who were going to win the Guineas but you’ve only won the Guineas when the trophy is on the wall. Bad horses do not win the Guineas. But the result is going to have the handicapper scratching his head.”  

Kannemeyer was especially thrilled to have won a classic for one of Cape Town’s most popular and prolific owners Marsh Shirtliff, who had requested he win one for him many years ago. At the beginning of the season Kannemeyer thought he might do it for Shirtliff with Lion’s Head, but it was fitting he did it instead with a horse Shirtliff had chosen himself at the Sales. Shirtliff had asked Kannemeyer what he had thought of Russian Rock shortly before he had been due to enter the ring. Marsh had liked the colt on both conformation and pedigree and Dean had assessed him as a “nice, balanced horse”. They agreed to bid and got him for R200,000.

Kannemeyer said, “Marsh was kind to bring in his partners Ian Longmore and Bryn Ressell.”

The Cape Guineas is known as a stallion producing race and Russian Rock is still an entire.

However, Kannemeyer always looks at racing first and usually gelds when it becomes necessary. He said, “What percentage of horses are good enough to make it as sires and what percentage of those make it?”

Kannemeyer said Russian Rock’s next race would likely be the Grade 1 Cape Derby over 2000m.

SA Derby and Vodacom Durban July-winner Pomodoro will give him some stamina and Russian Rock’s half-brother Deposition (Rock Of Gibraltar) has won two races over 2200m and 1950m respectively.

Russian Rock’s dam Elisium (Procolomation) is in fact a half-sister to Hoity Toity, the grandam of European Horse Of The Year, Minding.

David Thiselton

THE highlight of Hollywoodbets Scottsville’s meeting yesterday, which contained six maiden plates in eight races, was a Graduation Plate over 1 750m and it turned into a thrilling dual between the two market leaders Native Tongue and Shareholder.

 Shareholder was officially the best weighted horse in the small eight horse field but on their last meeting the Justin Snaith-trained Native Tongue had the edge at the weights and was also drawn in pole under Anton Marcus.

Power To Command set a strong pace and built up a big lead and Shareholder looked the winner when running on strongly from midfield. However, Native Tongue had moved up well from further back and found more than Shareholder to score by a length and convert 14-10 odds. Banzai Pipeline was a further four lengths back in third.

The first race was a Conditional Graduation Plate for work-riders over 1200m and the Dennis Bosch-trained Master Of My Fate gelding Knight Warrior recorded his second career win in his 16th start when being kept in touch by Mzwandile Mjokwa and staying on to cross the line 0,90 lengths of Charlie Fox.

The first two returned odds of 18-1 and 25-1 respectively and were followed home by 23/4 chance Kings Crusade with the market leaders Drama Queen (17-10) and Father’s Frost (33-10) only managing fourth and fifth in the eight horse field.

 However, punters could have made amends in the second over 800m when the Kumaran Naidoo-trained Visionaire filly Aisling, who was sent off at 6/10 odds under Donovan Dillon, kept up a strong gallop from the off to lead from pillar to post and win by 1.05 lengths from the Rafeef first-timer Civil Rights.

In the third race over 1000m the Louis Goosen-trained What A Winter three-year-old filly Beckoning Beauty was in touch from the off from draw one and stayed on strongly to deny the favourite Alwaysonmymind by 0,70 lengths.

This win gave Ashton Arries his sixth win in the space of eight days.

Arries was denied by a shorthead in the fourth race over 1200m on the 50-1 shot Trumpet Voluntary when the handy-running Toothless, a Garth Puller-trained Coup De Grace three-year-old gelding, was kept going by Lyle Hewitson to win his second career start. The 13-20 favourite Camora was handy throughout but ran out of steam and was beaten 0,35 lengths.

The fifth race over 1200m was ultra competitive and KZN Champion trainer Puller made it a quick double when Luke Ferraris brought home the Elusive Fort gelding High Velocity, who was also having his second career start and converted odds of 13-2. He won fluently by 1,50 lengths from the 11-10 favourite Winter Waves.

In the sixth race over 1500m the improved Michael Roberts-trained Byword gelding Tree Of Knowledge found the trip ideal and won cosily by 0,75 lengths under a good front-running ride by Gareth Wright, converting 17-2 odds. Kinskey’s Tune at 25-1 and the 21-4 first-timer Galabier were next best. The 14-10 favourite Cafe Pacifica let down PA punters by only managing sixth.

 Nathan Kotzen scored a one-two in the last race over 2000m when two horses he had brought on slowly but surely, Great Affair and Ellis Island, ran on strongly from way back in a fast-paced race. Muzi Yeni was aboard the 47-20 winner who is by Gimmethegreenlight. The 5-2 favourite Italian Dynasty finished third. 

Mark van Deventer

RUSSIAN Rock bravely overcame a troubled trip to score a massive 100/1 upset in the Cape Guineas (G1) over 1600m at Kenilworth, providing Dean Kannemeyer with yet another win in this historic Classic and a first Grade 1 for jockey Grant Behr. The flashy grey was sired by former Durban July victor, Pomodoro and bred at Klawervlei Stud.

Linebacker was a valiant second, caught in the last jump, after racing wide around the turn before going on strongly and looking all over a winner – except on the post. Rascallion, heavily backed in the market down to 33/10, encountered some trouble in the straight before staying on gamely to secure the trifecta slot. Jet Dark completed an exceedingly difficult quartet sequence, whilst badly drawn The Gatekeeper caught the eye with a torrid late rally just out of the places.

Russian Rock has now won twice from five starts, on both occasions starting as an unconsidered long shot. He won on debut at 50/1 over an inadequate 1250m and provided an even bigger stunner in the Cape Guineas. Trainer Kannemeyer was happy with the exceptional morning workouts the grey was producing – yet this was the first time he was meeting rivals of such a high calibre – hence the dim view the market took of his chances.

Journeyman jockey, Grant Behr seldom gets the opportunity to mix it on genuinely live runners in the big races. He is, however, an experienced level-headed professional and his loyal boss, Kannemeyer has always assessed Behr as an underrated, forceful rider. It was a remarkable effort from both the diminutive Russian Rock and Behr to rebreak after getting hampered at a crucial stage, before lunging to a famous short head victory.

In the Cape Racing Victress Stakes (G3) over 1800m, apart from having the highest merit rating in the field, Silvano’s Pride looked tactically dangerous as the lone speed. She was duly given a finely judged front riding ride by Richard Fourie, though he modestly commented afterwards that, “she does it all herself.” The Justin Snaith trained daughter of Silvano courageously went all the way to notch her sixth victory from 18 starts and will next have a dip at the Paddock Stakes.

Paul Peter’s Gauteng raider, Heart Stwings chased her around the wind-swept track to stay on for second in a career best performance. Favourite, Missisippi Burning was never a factor, jogging tamely in last place then failing to produce any sort of kick at her first attempt beyond a mile. Jockey Craig Zackey lamented that “she was off the bit soon after the start.”

The complexion of the Peninsula Handicap (G3) over 1800m changed completely in the final 200m. Captain Flinders had shaken loose on the lead halfway down the stretch but could not withstand a horde of challengers in deep stretch. Best finisher of all was Nexus, under inspired veteran, Pierre Strydom who rushed past in the centre of the course, marginally ahead of Super Silvano and Love Happens.

The winner was also saddled by furnace-hot, Snaith Racing, who have extracted 7 wins from this talented Dynasty gelding. It was a sterling effort carrying 59kg’s from a wide barrier then passing 11 horses in the final furlong to get up for the win. Super Silvano, 2^nd to Winter Series hero Katak in July, regained form to get closest to Nexus.

Andrew Harrison

Early in the season, Justin Snaith indicated that Native Tongue was headed for the Highveld spring season with the Dingaans a possible target. Things didn’t quite work out as he ran into a couple of road-blocks before then and he stayed home at Summerveld. However, his penultimate start was a cracker when finishing under a length back to Share Holder giving the winner 1kg. It was a stout effort at the weights but he then followed up with a modest fourth when trying the poly for the first time.

He faces Share Holder again in a Pinnacle Stakes over the Hollywoodbets Scottsville mile today but this time is in receipt of 4.5kh which should see Native Tongue turn the tables on his rival.

A bigger threat to his chances could come from Gavin van Zyl’s gelding Greenlighttoheaven who has improved with each outing since being given a break after a no-show in the Gr1 Gold Medallion. He was doing his best work late when runner-up to Ralph The Rascal last time out and the extra furlong will suit.

Share Holder has been a touch disappointing but is nicely weighted here and if he does puts in his best, he can go close while Banzai Pipeline did it the hard way when shedding his maiden but he shows some scope and could be better than his rating.

Bankers always come in handy when it comes to the exotic bets and Tony Rivalland could provide when he saddles Camora in the fourth. Camora was close-up in all three starts and is rated way better than all the exposed runners. He should be hard to beat unless there is a springer in the pack. Of the balance, Toothless caught the eye on debut and is sure to improve with the experience while Cardboard Cowboy has had plenty of chances but has been close-up of late with the sting out of the ground.

Café Pacifica will be in warm order in the sixth but she will faced some stiff opposition. She goes this trip for the first time but has smart form over sprints. From a good draw he rates a strong chance. Assistant Stuart Ferrie is in charge of the Drier stable while the boss enjoys the Cape summer and Ferrie saddles Parallel Universe who make good improvement at his second start. He will much prefer this trip and is likely to give Café Pacifica a hard race. Marcus rides first-timer Galabier for Gareth van Zyl and makes his debut over 1500m. He is bred to get a trip so one to watch in the market.

The first juvenile race of the current KZN season produced a cracking finish with Sheldon and Aisling separated by a nostril at the line and the balance of the field strung out behind like the washing. Both showed exceptional pace and because the race was moved from Scottsville to Greyville the distance was extended to 1000m.

It’s back to 800m tomorrow where the filly takes on males, but they will need to be on their toes if they are to catch her. Mike Miller, who saddled Sheldon, has five runners entered and will know exactly what he is up against.

The card kicks off with a work-riders maiden where Aaron Xabendlini may have the answer in Garth Puller’s runner Drama Queen. She has her first run for the stable but comes with some solid Cape form in strong company and although down a furlong in trip, she does rate the horse to beat. Father’s Frost was unlucky not to win the last work rider’s race after finding plenty of traffic. Winning rider Callum Dixon takes over from Tristan Mustard who has moved to the UK to work for top jumps trainer Nicky Henderson but if Father’s Frost can repeat his last effort, Drama Queen will have to pick up her feet.

David Thiselton

THE three-year-old male crop was at one stage looking to be  vintage but a star or two will need to emerge from tomorrow’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas as the fizz is starting to go a bit flat.

The unbeaten Malmoos is from the yard of four-times Cape Guineas-winning trainer Mike de Kock and is by Captain Al who won this race from draw 16 of 16 and who has produced two winners of the prestigious classic. Jockey Luke Ferraris said Malmoos was still green last time when winning the Grade 2 Avontuur Estate Concorde Cup over this trip so he has the potential to be a champion. He has a tough draw of ten so it won’t be easy for Ferraris to find cover. However, Malmoos strikes as one of those horses who would throw himself over the line if he had to so he is sure to make a bold bid even if he doesn’t get a good passage. The race does look more wide open than the betting suggests and Malmoos is likely to drift out from his current Track And Ball odds of 17-10.

Seeking The Stars is one of five runners from the yard of five-times Cape Guineas-winning trainer Vaughan Marshall and he also has the potential to be something special. This Vercingetorix colt did not get the best of breaks in the De Grendel CTS Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m but once he had reached the front he imposed himself and never looked like letting up his relentless gallop. He won by 5,50 lengths to prove his front-running Grade 3 Cape Classic victory over the same trip was no fluke. The detractor is that second-placed Lemon Delight was well beaten in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and four other horses who have come out of the race have also run unplaced. However, he did win easily and the Cape Classic form puts him on a par with Malmoos at least, if not ahead. Vercingetorix is throwing them more speedy than his sire Silvano, so the question is whether Seeking The Stars will be able to keep going from the front in a Grade 1 mile. He could well do as his dam, who is by Count Du Bois, won a Listed race over 2200m. Seeking The Stars’ speed will enable him to get to the front, but his draw of nine means he won’t be able to afford a tardy start this time. Luyulo Mxothwa has given him two fine rides in his last two starts and he stays aboard.

Stablemate Linebacker was beaten into second by Seeking The Stars in the Cape Classic and followed up with another second to Malmoos in the Concorde. The impressive part of the latter run was he had to overcome a wide draw of nine and then ran without cover one out and one back yet still found plenty in the straight to be beaten just half-a-length. He is a big, scopey horse so will still be improving and his big action will carry him close, especially if he manages to find cover under Donavan Dillon, who rides him for the first time.  

The third Marshall runner Rascallion is 5-1 compared to Linebacker’s odds of 18/1. Rascallion gave Linebacker 2kg in the Cape Classic and finished 2,25 lengths behind him and in the Concorde at level weights he was 1,25 lengths behind. However, Rascallion ended up near the back in both races before running on well. He now has a plum draw of two and will appreciate the longer straight of the new course. However, Linebacker is a rangy type who should also enjoy tomorrow’s course and distance so the price disparity can only be justified by the draw and should not be as big.

Marshall’s Contact Zone couldn’t win a handicap over this trip off a 92 rating last time and looks held by The Gatekeeper too.

Marshall’s other runner Look For Hounds has to reverse a 8,75 length defeat by Seeking The Stars from the Cape Classic and could subsequently only manage forurth in the Listed RA Stakes over this trip on the Fairview poly.

Justin Snaith has three runners in his attempt to win the Cape Guineas for a second time ten years after succeeding with Solo Traveller.

Piere Strydom will be wanting to go out with a bang in his last full season of riding and could do it for Snaith with the 16-1 shot Hoedspruit. This Legislate gelding could give owners Suzette and Basie Viljoen a Guineas double, just a week after landing their first Grade 1 with Captain’s Ransom in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. He is a big gelding with a big action and has still looked immature in his last two starts. In his penultimate start he had to come around them from last to win over this trip at Durbanville. Last time out in the Concorde he was dropped out to the back from a wide draw and did not get a clear run. However, he still managed to stay on well for a three length fifth. He now gets a good draw of five in the 16 horse field and with improvement and the advantage of Piere Strydom up it would not be a major surprise if he reversed form with Malmoos, Linebacker, Rascallion and Silvano’s Timer.

However, stable jockey Richard Fourie is aboard Gatekeeper, who has shortened into 14/1 with Track and Ball, while Hoedspruit remains at 16/1. This Dynasty colt is a full brother to the course record holder over a mile, Legislate, and he has a fluent action so it is little surprise that Fourie has chosen him. In his penultimate start he ran on the wrong leg around the turn and was beaten 0,30 lengths by Guineas candidate Contact Zone. However, he is now 4kg better off and he also showed more maturity next time out when beating the top class Golden Ducat over this trip when receiving 7kg. However, that race was a canter-sprint affair so not much can be read into it. Nevertheless, The Gatekeeper is one of the horses who could prove himself a leader of the crop.

Snaith’s other runner is Jet Dark who understandably faded in the Cape Classic after being used up early to overcome a wide draw. He won going away next time out in a handicap over 1500m but was running off a 94 so will need a lot of improvement to be a threat.  

Dean Kannemeyer has won the Cape Guineas five times and his charge Silvano’s Timer comes in under the radar at 18/1 odds. He stayed on for fourth in the Concorde, a good preparation, and it is well known that the Silvano’s improve continuously. Furthermore, he is out of a Captain Al mare, Tick Tock, who finished a narrow second in the Cape Fillies Guineas and who has proved her worth at stud already by producing the SA Nursery winner William The Silent (Var) and Listed-placed over 1400m Stopalltheclocks (Trippi). Silvano’s Timer has a tricky draw of eight but will be staying on if dropped out.  

Kanemeyer’s other runner Russian Rock has overraced in his last two starts over 1400m and 1200m respectively so the step up in trip does not augur well and he is also rated only 95.

Querari colt Invincabelle easily beat Jet Dark over 1200m as a juvenile and is one of the dark horses as he has never been further than 1200m but has good cruising speed and a good turn of foot. His trainer-jockey combination Brett Crawford and Anton Marcus  have both won the Cape Guineas twice respectively. On the downside Invincabelle’s full brother Immortelle has never won beyond 1200m. However, his dam Varsity Belle, who is by Var out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, did win over 1600m so he might stay the trip. He is well drawn and has the speed to lead so might spoil the likely race plan of Seeking The Stars.

Last season’s champion two-year-old male Tempting Fate from the Dennis Drier yard ran well below par over 1200m in his seasonal reappearance. In his only attempt at this trip in the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes he went to the front from a wide draw in a slow run race and could only manage a two length sixth. The form of that race has overall not worked out too well, although Tempting Fate did finish ahead of subsequent Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo.  

The Sean Tarry-trained Willow Express is drawn in pole but has to reverse five length and 6,25 length defeats by Malmoos and Seeking The Stars respectively over 1400m and he was well beaten in last season’s Premiers Champion Stakes too.

The Glen Kotzen-trained Fast Love was beaten nearly 20 lengths in the Ready To Run Stakes after being caught wide and overracing and earlier he could only manage eighth from pole position in the Premiers Champion Stakes. He is the lowest rated runner too.

Most of the leading contenders are drawn wide on a course which favours low draws, so it is a difficult race to assess.

However, Seeking The Stars, of those, has the best chance of overcoming a wide draw as he is a natural front runner and he is taken to beat Malmoos with Linebacker next best ahead of The Gatekeeper, Hoedspruit and Rascallion.