Le Drakker steps back in trip.

Derby flop Le Drakkar to step back in trip


South Africa: Cape Guineas winner Le Drakkar, 3-5 favourite when surprisingly beaten into third behind Big City Life in last month's Cape Derby, will revert to 1m in the KZN Guineas at Greyville in May.

However, trainer Dean Kannemeyer firmly believes that his Australian-bred colt stayed the 1m2f of the Derby and partly blames a poor draw which cost his Classic winner several lengths.

Kannemeyer said: "I told MJ Byleveld to drop the horse out in the hope that it would be a hard-run race like the Guineas, but they went no pace until turning into the straight when they suddenly quickened and that got Le Drakkar off the bit.

"Le Drakkar is quite a big horse so he will need a run before the Greyville race. I have to work out whether to give him a race in Cape Town before we go to Durban or give him one when he gets there.

"After the Guineas, he reverts to ten furlongs in the Daily News at Greyville in early June."

Most of the top Cape Town horses spend April to July in Durban for the so-called ‘champion season', when the KZN Guineas is one of the possibilities being considered by Glen Kotzen for Big City Life.

The Paarl-based trainer said: "His objective is the Durban July and there are a whole host of options before that including the Guineas and the seven furlong Drill Hall Stakes two days beforehand."

Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sparkling Gem is being aimed at the South African Fillies Sprint at Scottsville on May 30 and trainer Justin Snaith reports that she could also takein the KZN Fillies Guineas three weeks earlier.

Mother Russia, who beat Sparkling Gem in the Fancourt Majorca Stakes last time, has the mile Garden Province Stakes at Greyville on Durban July day as her long-term target.

Trainer Joey Ramsden said: "She will run before that but I don't know about the KZN Fillies Guineas because it is only a Grade 2.

"Another option is the Woolavington over ten furlongs on June 6 but I'm not sure that she will stay the trip."

Hey Scotia whats with the so-called ‘champion season'- I assume you didnt write this but to the writer in P land get over it, Durban is Africas racing capital and this is the champion season and its, hopefully, not for sale!