He sends out Blake in Race 5, a MR 88 Handicap over 2000m, a Chippendale in Race 6, a MR 97 Handicap over 1400m. It took Blake eight visits to the racetrack before he shed his maiden tag and since then he has performed pretty consistently.
Two runs after winning his first race he collected his second victory, when beating Fire ‘N Ice with far more authority than the 0.50-length margin suggests. It is hard to assess what went wrong in his last start but perhaps he found the 2400m a touch far. It might also have had nothing to do with the distance at all because he was reported to have been restless at the start and he hung during the race.
He returns to his favourite distance over which he has elicited both of his wins and has finished third on the two other occasions. The son of Dynasty - named after the lead character in the series of the stallion’s name, Blake Carrington - has a fair enough record at Durbanville, having recorded a win and a place in three starts.
Karl Neisius, who will be looking to put Saturday’s awful meeting behind him, has the benefit of No 3 draw, always a great help at this tight-turning track.
His main threat looks likely to come from topweight Forest Of Dean. Patrick Kruyer’s runner has been in good form of late, having racked up two wins and three close seconds in his last five starts. He is also a runner who is equally comfortable at Kenilworth and Durbanville, but jockey Gerrit Schlechter will have to overcome No 14 draw. It is also questionable whether Forest Of Dean will be able to concede 5.5kg to Blake.
It is Schlechter who rides Chippendale for Kannemeyer a race later and again he will have to deal with a double-digit draw. Over 1400m No 10 draw is not in his favour but the five-year-old Fort Wood gelding has suddenly run into form and with just 53.5kg to shoulder, could be ready to rack up his third successive victory.
He meets a quality field but should be up to the challenge. He beat Rosestone by 1.25 lengths over 1400m at Kenilworth last time out and Piet Steyn’s runner is now 1.5kg better off. That should bring them much closer together but Chippendale accelerated past Rosestone in that race and had a bit in hand at the finish.
Prismatic is another runner who is never far behind and should be in the shake-up from No 1 draw.
Al On The Run has been struggling to regain his best form and would probably be close to it if he had not developed the habit of not jumping on terms. Shane Humby‘s charge does have a touch of class and has to have a realistic chance as long as he does not give too much start.
Storminateacup is the poor half brother to Pocket Power and River Jetez but showed a return to form after a layoff with a start-to-finish victory over Al On The Run following a layoff. He failed in his next start but MJ Byleveld takes the ride and they will jump from barrier No 6.
Kannemeyer also saddles Miss Maddie in Race 2 and the Irish-bred filly should show marked improvement travelling over 2400m for the first time.