Kannemeyer’s formidable classic trio

DEAN Kannemeyer’s trio of Divine Jet, Liancourt Rock and Depardieu provide his prolific classic winning yard with a strong hand in the Cape Premier yearling Sales Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday and he reckoned he had engaged the three best jockeys in the country to bring home the trophy.

Dean and his father Peter have won this race seven times between them and everything points to the somewhat controversial colt Divine Jet being the one that has the best chance of bringing them an eighth.

The late Graham Beck originally named this colt “Devine Jet” as a dig at Henry Devine, owner of the late great stallion Jet Master.

Shortly after Jet Master’s stud career had begun Devine removed him from Beck’s Highlands farm Stud after a disagreement.

He thereafter refused any of Beck’s mares a cover by Jet Master.

However, Beck was the highest bidder at an auction for one cover by Jet Master and “Devine Jet” was the resultant progeny.

Beck was forced to change the name after Devine appealed to the NHRA, whose naming laws state there has to be permission for any surname to be used in a horse’s name.

Kannemeyer earmarked this colt at the National Yearling Sales but was forced out of the bidding at roundabout R3,8 million.

It was sold for a record R4 million, but as luck would have it he then picked him up for just R1 million for the same client, Lady Laidlaw, at the dispersal sale after Beck’s death.

Divine Jet has lived up to his price tag as he oozes class, has a devastating turn of foot and is unbeaten in three impressive wins from 1200-1400m.

Kannemeyer reckoned he had got him “spot on” for Saturday’s race and said he would be a better horse than in his last start.

The colt had a setback after arriving at Cape Town after his first win at Clairwood over 1200m on August 11, but after recovering he came out and won easily at Durbanville over 1200m.

The aim of his last race over the Kenilworth 1400m was to drop him out and teach him to settle and he came through with “flying colours”, winning comfortably again.

Karl Neisius has chosen Divine Jet, theorising that Liancourt Rock would be booked for third place at best after his three length defeat by Variety Club and Gimmethgreenlight in the Selangor Cup over the Kenilworth Old Course 1600m, while Divine Jet on the other hand was still an unknown quantity.

Kannemeyer reckoned Divine Jet had the class to win the Guineas but his wide draw meant he would need a bit of luck.

Divine Jet went to Kenilworth last Saturday in order to “blow clean” and Kannemeyer said he had done a “very, very good gallop over 800m.”

Liancourt Rock and Depardieu have just been kept ticking over after their Selangor runs on November 27 in which they were 3,3 lengths and 6,05 lengths in third and fourth place respectively behind Variety Club.

Kannemeyer said, “Liancourt Rock unwound and then became a bit one paced in the short straight of the Old Course in the Selangor. He was beaten fair and square, but he is a horse that will probably get 2000m and I think the long straight of the New Course will make a difference. I have lost the Selangor before and then won the Guineas by beating the Selangor winner. The draw hasn’t been kind to Liancourt Rock either, but he has a lot of class and a top jockey in Felix Coetzee who will suit him, so don’t write him off. He is very well and I have him ready for the Guineas.”

Depardieu is a dual Grade 3 winner and Kannemeyer said, “He has a lot to do to turn the tables on Variety Club and I think the mile is his maximum trip, but I couldn’t have him better so we will take our chances.”

Depardieu is drawn two with Bernard Fayd’herbe aboard.

Kannmeyer makes Variety Club the one to beat.

He concluded, “If mine were drawn well I think the opposition would be taking anti-ulcer treatment. I’m not sure what the opposition tactics will be but I have the services of three jockeys with years of experience and nobody can be better off than me in that regard. It has always been my policy that if you employ the right people you don’t tell them how to their job. I’ll leave it to them. It’s a great field and a bad horse has never won the Guineas. Only top horses win the Guineas.”

Of his other runners on the card he felt that the three-year-old filly Bermuda Sloop’s Avontuur Estate Fillies Guineas fifth position finish two weeks ago was “a very, very good run.”

She came from near last in the slow run race and was flying at the finish and Kannemeyer confirmed she would appreciate the extra 200m of Saturday’s Grade 3 Victress Stakes, although she also has a tough draw to  overcome.  - David Thiselton, Gold Circle.