We are open for business in KwaZulu-Natal!

Multiple Group winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer has launched a permanent satellite yard of twenty boxes in KwaZulu-Natal. The Western Cape trainer who operates from his home base of Milnerton in the Western Cape has a proud and unparalleled record of winning the Classics and sees the move to the Clairwood Racecourse stabling complex as a ‘logical strategic step’ to diversify his customer service options and to grow his business in a testing economic climate. Dean’s Dad Peter, affectionately known as Peekay, hung up his riding boots in the late sixties and started a family training operation from the very same barn from which Dean still operates today. As an eleven year old Dean rode work with leading lights of the ilk of Garth Puller and Paddy Mcgivern . The young Kannemeyer rode his first Cape Hunt amateur race winner at the age of sixteen, wearing a pair of boots borrowed from Puller. The father and son have trained the winner of every big race in South Africa in over four decades.

At the turn of the century Peekay, who celebrated his 78th birthday two weeks ago, handed over the reins to Dean and the first decade of the new millennium has seen him remarkably win two Vodacom Durban Julys and a total of seven Guineas, amongst a host of other feature races. Dean said that he was excited about the opening of his Clairwood satellite yard: “We have been raiding and supporting Natal racing since 1973 and have had much success and enjoyment up here. The horses thrive in the climate and the summer rainfall and off-season racing gives us an opportunity to play to our strengths across our string as it provides us with more options when the going is on top during the Cape’s Sizzling Summer Season.”

The Kannemeyer move will add flavour and interest to the KZN off-season and bolster the competitiveness of the racing. Dean closed by saying that he had limited boxes available in both Cape Town and Durban and invited interested parties to contact him at 021 552 4505 or email on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

THRILLING DAYS AHEAD

The next few days are like to prove some of the most exciting and thrilling in the South Africa Racing calendar. Some superbly bred yearlings come up for sale on Thursday and Friday, while Saturday sees the running of the Met.

Dean has been to all the farms with yearlings on sale this week, and he is most impressed by the quality of horse on offer. He feels this catalogue is the best he has seen in a good few years, and asks if any patrons interested in more information to contact him directly.

DK Racing saddles some very talented runners on Saturday, which sees the running of the Cape’s most famous race – the G1 R2.5 million J& B Met. Dean does not saddle a runner in the Met, as he doesn’t believe in having a runner to make up the numbers. The Kannemeyer will, in all likelihood, field a runner or two in next year’s race. Nonetheless, the 2012 J&B Met looks to be a thrilling contest, and Dean Kannemeyer Racing wishes connections of runners the best of luck in the race.

The first of the runners representing the Kannemeyer stable is Alula Borealis. He lines up in race five, the G1 Investec Cape Derby, run over the same distance as the Met itself. Dean says the 3yo son of Go Deputy has a touch of class, but he feels that he does have quite a tough task taking on the likes of the brilliant Jackson. Unfortunately, Alula Borealis is not drawn particularly. Nonetheless, he should appreciate the step up in trip, and should give a good account of himself for owners, Markus and Ingrid Jooste.

Next runner representing the stable is the brilliant Divine Jet, who lines up in a merit rated 96 handicap over 1200 metres. Poorly drawn last time out in the Guineas, Divine Jet should enjoy the drop back in trip. He has been working very well, and Dean feels if he runs well here Divine Jet could still be aimed at the KRA Guineas in Durban. A son of Jet Master, Divine Jet has won three of his four starts to date. He is owned by Lady Christine Laidlaw.

The beautifully bred Dans With Sally is a runner in race nine, a merit rated 84 handicap for fillies and mares over 2000 metres. Owned by Bernard Kantor, the Dansili filly put up a respectable effort first time out of the maidens, and has the benefit of the two draw.

DK Racing send out two proven, high-class stayers on the final race of the card, the G2 J&B Reserve Stayers, run over the testing 2800 metres. Both In Writing and Blake have been doing exceptionally well at home, but sadly but have poor draws. Blake, owned by all of Derek Brugman,  Raymond Deacon, Robert Kay and Irene Rudden, has been in superb form this season, winning both the G3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap and Listed Woolavington Stakes. A very classy stayer, Blake has to give weight all round, but should run well.
 In Writing, in contrast, has not enjoyed the same level of success lately, but seems to have turned the corner in his work. He is owned by Fieldspring Racing.

All in all, there promises to be a few memorable moments in the days ahead, and neither the sales or the Met should be missed. See you at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale!

CONSISTENT LUNO ECLIPSES RIVALS

DK Racing saddled the ultra consistent Luno to score an overdue win, in a merit rated handicap over 2500 metres, at Kenilworth on Saturday. The son of Victory Moon had previously been placed in nine of his last ten outings, but made no mistake on Saturday, stretching clear of his hapless rivals to win by five lengths.

Luno was given a confident ride by Karl Neisius. Neisius, who has ridden Luno in the gelding’s last six outings, settled the 4yo just off the pace in the eight horse field. Arboreal led the field turning for home, but soon capitulated.

Karl set Luno alight with 400 metres to go, and the pair simply drew clear to win as they liked. They finished well clear of runner up A Boy Named Sue, with Big Bird further back in third place.

Dean admitted after the race, he had considered sending Luno up to Durban, but eventually decided to keep the son of Victory Moon at home. Luno stays really well, and should be more than capable of adding to his winning tally.

Karl said after the race, that he felt Luno had strengthened up really well, and he had benefitted from a strongly run race.

Well done to Gaynor Rupert, the owner-breeder of Saturday’s winner. There is a Trippi half-sister to Luno coming up for sale at the National Yearling Sale – and she is bound to prove popular.

Luno is a son of the ill-fated sire Victory Moon, whose progeny have been excelling during the past two seasons. He is out of the smart racefilly, Milden Magic, and is a full brother to the useful filly, Silver Apples. Interestingly enough, while Luno is very much a stayer, his sister is best over distances ranging from 1400-1600 metres.

DK Racing would like to congratulate all the connections of the first two horses home in Saturday’s G1 Cape Flying Championship. It was a wonderful race, and both Val De Ra and What A Winter look like world class sprinters. Well done to all concerned for putting on a race rarely seen!

Alula Borealis, a son of the promising young sire Go Deputy, is owned by Markus Jooste.

He has improved a lot since being gelded, and ran a great race in the G2 Green Point Stakes, when beaten under five lengths by leading Met hopeful, Bravura. Alula Borealis will be partnered by the ultra experienced Karl Neisius, but unfortunately is drawn slightly wide at 11.

Bred by Lammerskraal Stud, Alula Borealis faces some stiff opposition in the likes of Variety Club and Jackson, but he should relish the 2000 metre trip and won’t be disgraced in this class.

He was a R420 000 buy at the 2010 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. Bred by Lammerskraal Stud, Alula Borealis is out of an own sister to champion 2yo Ice Cube.

GOOD LOOKER “QUITE SOMETHING”

DK Racing sent out a winner in the last race at Kenilworth on Wednesday afternoon. The nicely named Quite Something was a brave winner of a maiden plate run over 2000 metres.

A Brazilian bred 3yo, Quite Something is an eye catching, handsome individual. Defying blistering hot weather, the son of Peintre Celebre showed plenty of guts and determination to deny his opponents in a close fought finish.

Given a typical cool ride by Karl Neisius, Quite Something was dropped out in the early stages of the race. Kept six lengths off the pacemaker, Que Sera Sera, Quite Something was behind a wall of horses coming to the final 250 metres of the race – but was full of running.

Neisius sent his mount through a split with 100 metres left to run, and the pair looked set to draw clear. However, Quite Something suddenly began to stop, and it took a strong ride from his veteran jockey to get him over the finishing line, a short head in front of Dollar Bill Blues. Favourite, Crown of Gold, was another 1.25 lengths back in third.

Bred to stay, Quite Something looks like he will be best over slightly shorter. Dean plans to aim him at races at 1600-1800 metres for the immediate future.

Well done to winning owners, Fieldspring Racing and Markus Jooste, who own this fine looking 3yo.

Jockey, Karl Neisius, feels the Brazilian bred should have a good future, particularly in the winter season.

Quite Something is by the 1997 Prix de’l Arc de Triomphe Peintre Celebre and is out of the Ghadeer mare, Double Dream. 

All of the leading stallions in the country are represented, with the likes of Western Winter, Jet Master, Captain Al, Dynasty, Fort Wood and Silvano (to name but a few) having yearlings on sale.

First season sires such as Jay Peg, Judpot and Argonaut have their first crop of yearlings on offer, while more proven sires like Trippi and Tiger Ridge are also strongly represented.

A number of top-class overseas stallions are also represented.

The likes of world leading sires Bernardini, Tapit and Teofilo all have yearlings going through the ring.

The sale runs on the 26^th and 27^th of January. For more info, please speak to Dean directly, or contact him on his cell: 082 4910788.

DK RACING - RIDING HIGH

 DK Racing has been churning out the winners of late. The past five days has seen the yard lead in five winners – no mean feat considering how competitive the season is.

Albie Going has been looking after the Durban string, and Dean feels he has been doing a fantastic job in keeping the horses performing consistently. The horses are being ridden by Raymond Danielson.
Dean is full of praise for Danielson, saying,” He is a very competent rider, who has a bright future ahead of him, if maintains his commitment and work ethic. Albie is doing a great job up in Durban, and I am pleased with how things are going.”

On Sunday, DK Racing sent out Miss Maddie and Valhalla in a F&M 80 handicap. Unfortunately the race was run at a very sedate pace, and neither Miss Maddie or Valhalla were suited by it. Miss Maddie ran a creditable race to finish second for Lady Christine Laidlaw, while Valhalla simply found the tempo of the race impossible to quicken off, and she ran unplaced. This run can be ignored.

Monday was a quiet day for the yard. The smart sprinter, The Shark, is finding life tough off his current mark, and his recent line of form makes it hard to understand why the handicappers have not adjusted his rating accordingly.

Saturday sees the running of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, the best mile race in South Africa. Gaynor Rupert and her team have done a terrific job in turning this race into one of the must see events of the racing calendar.

Sadly, one of the day’s star turns, Igugu, will be missing from her intended mission, the G1 TBA Paddock Stakes. The champion was coughing after her latest gallop, and was duly scratched. The field is an absurdly small one for the country’s best filly and mare contest. It is a shame that many horses have been scared off , either in fear of Igugu or of attracting a high merit rating. The Paddock Stakes is one of the country’s greatest races, and deserves a better turn out than the one it has.

Saturday will be a quiet day for Dean, although he saddles the promising 3yo Taipan in the Listed Politician Stakes ( a race he previously won with Irish Flame). Like Irish Flame (and the yard’s current staying star), Taipan is a son of Dynasty – who has fast become of the country’s best, and most sought after sires. Taipan, who has won his last three in a row, is a smart sort and is using this race as a prep run for the Investec Cape Derby, which is run on Met day.

Dean does feel that Taipan will be a better horse in six months, but he is hopeful of a good run.

Congratulations must go to Derek Brugman, Irene Rudden, Raymond Deacon and Robert Kay. They own Blake, who has been one of the stars of the season. The 5yo has won two of the Cape’s top staying events, the Woolavington Handicap and G3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap. Dean plans to run Blake in the J&B Reserve Stayers Handicap.


Unfortunately there have been a few niggles with some of the yard’s younger horses, a problem which all trainers suffer from time to time. As unpleasant (and high) as vets bills are, they have become a necessary evil. The modern thoroughbred battles with soundness issues throughout the world, and vets are the only way to ensure the prized animals make the track in good shape.

Dean has perused the catalogue for the upcoming Cape Premier Yearling Sale, and he is very impressive by the quality of horse offered. He feels that the sale has drawn a number of potential classic horses, and is not a sale to miss.

Please contact Dean for more info regarding the sale, which will be held on the 26^th and 27^th of January.

Click here to view News Archive