Neisius on Divine Jet in Guineas

TRAINER Dean Kannemeyer is confident of a good run from his Captain Al filly Bermuda Sloop in the Grade 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday and also revealed the important news that Karl Neisius had chosen to ride Divine Jet in the Grade 1 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Guineas on December 17.

Kannemeyer said about the Fillies Guineas, “Princess Victoria is brilliant and everybody will have her to beat, but Bermuda Sloop has improved and I will be surprised if she’s not in the first four and I think she will be in the top three.  She is more of an 1800-2000m horse, but she has class about her and is gutsy and will prefer the long run in of the new course. I couldn’t have her better than she is, she is very well.”

He said that her next mission, depending on how she runs here, will be the Grade 3 Jaffee Victress Stakes over 1600m on December 17.

Two of Kannemeyer’s top classic contenders, Liancourt Rock and Taipan, ran on Sunday, finishing third in the Grade 2 Selangor over 1600m and winning a MR 90 handicap over 1800m respectively, while another of his good three-year-olds, Depardieu, finished a respectable fourth in the Selangor.

The class of the first two in the Selangor, the Joey Ramsden-trained Variety Club and the Justin Snaith-trained Gimmethegreenlight, is proven in that they left the rest of the field strung out like the washing.

There was a three length gap back to Liancourt Rock, another three lengths back to Depardieu and then four lengths back to the rest.

However Kannemeyer warned not to write off the Australian-bred Fastnet Rock colt Liancourt Rock for the Guineas and said, “I was happy with his run and there are no excuses. The winner is very impressive. But don’t write him off as I’ve lost the Selangor in the past before winning the Guineas, including with Noordhoek Flyer and Rabiya. Liancourt Rock couldn’t get to them on Sunday. He unwinds and then becomes a bit one paced in the short straight of the Old Course. But I think the long straight of the new course will make a difference. He is also a horse that will probably get 2000m.”

He said of Taipan, a Dynasty colt, “He is very smart and will get better and better as he is still maturing into his frame. I expected him to win easier than that (on Sunday where he held on by a short-head), but it’s not easy for a young three-year-old against older horses at this stage, and he kept finding all the way to the line. He will be at his best as a late three-year-old and the Derby distance (2000m) will be a better trip for him.”

Kannemeyer revealed that his promising Australian-bred Rock Of Gibraltar colt Kingslayer, who was a major disappointment when unplaced in a MR 74 Handicap over 1200m at Kenilworth last week, had pulled up sore behind. He also warned not to write him off and was confident he would be back.

He revealed that Karl Neisius had opted to ride the unbeaten Jet Master colt Divine Jet, who has a devastating turn of foot, in the Guineas and added that Felix Coetzee would get the ride on Liancourt Rock.

He said he would see how Divine Jet gets through the Guineas before deciding whether the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby would be on his agenda on J&B Met day January 28.  – David Thiselton, Gold Circle.