Gimme’s Countess will have to overcome another wide draw in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, but will have a longer straight in which to charge home (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Dean Kannemeyer will have big chances of Graded success with two top class Khaya Stables-homebred Gimmethegreenlights on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
The yard’s crack filly Gimmie’s Countess runs in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, while their champion colt Green With Envy runs in the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m.
Kannemeyer has an enviable record in the Cape Guineas with six wins, while his father Peter also won that race three times, but surprisingly Dean has never won the Cape Fillies Guineas before.
Gimmie’s Countess was the most eyecatching of all the runners in the recent Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m.
She was dropped out to last from a wide draw and produced a powerful finish in the short Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Winter Course straight to be beaten just 0,55 lengths.
However, she has drawn wide again in barrier position eleven out of 13 runners in the Cape Fillies Guineas.
Kannemeyer lamented, “The draws have been very unkind to me, two in a row but what can I do? She’s very, very, very well but you need a lot of luck from that draw. It’s a long run in which could be more in our favour, but 1600m is I think her maximum trip. But she made up a lot of ground the other day. A horse can only run so fast, for so far, for so long, and she only got beat by half-a-length. She is a nice filly. She is versatile because she has a lot of speed so don’t be surprised if you see me put her back over the Kenilworth straight.”
Gimmie’s Countess is a full-brother to Gimme A Prince, who has won two Gr 1 sprints and who now goes for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate after proving he stays a mile with a fine run in the Gr 3 Cape Mile.
Meanwhile, Green With Envy should have no problem coming back from a layoff, as he has won a Gr 2 mile before returning from a layoff.
Dean said, “All is well with Green With Envy.”
Green With Envy won the Gr 2 WSB Guineas at Hollywoodbets Greyville on May 8 after returning from a layoff, although the layoff on that occasion was about two-and-a-half months whereas this one has been a layoff of five months.
However, he has always been in the stable and has not gone for a holiday, so he should be in fine shape and should fight it out with Royal Aussie, who finished third in last season’s King’s Plate.
