Last Winter lights up Durbanville
LAST WINTER lit up Durbanville yesterday with a hugely impressive performance to extend his unbeaten run to four when defying a three-month absence and giving weight all round in the Interbet.co.za Handicap.
The sky now looks the limit but Dean Kannemeyer is determined to keep his feet on the ground and the horse to the easiest possible passage.
He said: “Last Winter is only now turning into a racehorse and, while the route takes care of itself if they are good enough, we have to plot where he goes next.
“This was a very good performance and the handicapper is going to hike him. We are looking towards the summer features.”
When the Green Point on 2 December was mentioned as a possible Kannemeyer nodded, adding: “At this point, and as it stands, yes but we will have to discuss it.”
The 18-10 favourite, who took many an onlooker’s breath away with his physical appearance in the parade ring, looked the winner from a long way out and surged to the front just over a furlong out, coming away to win far more comfortably than the length and a quarter margin over 13-1 shot Ollivander would suggest.
Delpech
Anthony Delpech said: “I thought he would win but he blew me away with this.
“When I asked him he was there within five strides. I eased him down at the end. He would have won by four or five lengths otherwise.”
Delpech enjoyed his first visit to Durbanville and the three-time champion gave the course a qualified vote of approval after getting up in the closing stages of the Betting World Handicap on the Kannemeyer 5-2 favourite Gadget Man.
He said: “It’s a beautiful track and I really enjoyed riding here. It reminds me a bit of Happy Valley in Hong Kong, always on the turn. I will definitely be back.
“But the 1 200m is quite tight and the turn starts too soon.
“I don’t know why they don’t do away with 1 200m races and start them from the 1 300m. That would be fairer on everybody.”
Dennis Bosch has booked Delpech for Billy Silver in the 1 400m Cape Classic at Kenilworth on Saturday week, and he has already declared the colt who readily justified odds of 4-10 in a four-runner novice plate over 1 200m at Scottsville early last month.
Snaith
Justin Snaith has declared Grant van Niekerk (in fine form with a four-timer yesterday) for Cot Campbell and has supplemented Sir Frenchie while Joey Ramsden - successful with Table Bay in last season’s race - supplemented November Storm.
Snaith is also making a determined assault on the Betting World Algoa Cup at Fairview on Sunday week and has declared Master’s Eye (Van Niekerk), Platinum Prince (Richard Fourie) and True Master (Raymond Danielson) for this 2 000m R350 000 Listed event.
Fourie won last year’s race on the Brett Crawfordtrained Nebula. Andre Nel, who yesterday confirmed that Plattner Racing now has a retainer on Donovan Dillon, has booked Keagan de Melo for Loadshedder in the Algoa.
The four-year-old was third in the Winter Guineas and Winter Classic last season and was fourth in a Durbanville handicap on his reappearance last month.