By Mark van Deventer
GIMME A PRINCE put in an international class performance to trounce rivals in the World Pool Cape Flying Championships a month ago. It’s a rare sight to witness a six-length winning margin at the finish of a Gr 1 1000m sprint, but that is how vastly superior Dean Kannemeyer’s brilliant sprinter proved.
In 2023, he got a huge figure to beat Rio Querari in the Cape Flying Champs only to get rolled as short-priced favourite in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes by the quirky BEREAVE, who has not won since. Kannemeyer will be hoping for a better outcome in this 2025 WFA edition.
The only knock against GIMME A PRINCE is that he is physically fickle, battling with unsound legs that require plenty of veterinary tender loving care. But when all parts are in smooth working order, he is a thoroughbred of exceptional ability. His former rider, the now Hong Kong based jockey, Keagan de Melo, held GIMME A PRINCE in the highest possible regard.
A true run 1200m suits ideally and he will justifiably start heavily favoured to win for the eighth time from 17 starts. Craig Zackey rides.
Drill Hall Stakes victor, ROYAL AUSSIE, has been tried over a variety of distances and may be at his absolute best around 1400/1600m. That said, he rates close to highly dependable rival, SURJAY over six panels, getting upsides of him in the July ‘24 Post Merchants at level weights.
SURJAY is something of a course and distance specialist over the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 1200m and will give a good sight once again. But he was comprehensively beaten into second by GIMME A PRINCE last month, and would need that foe to drastically underperform to have any hope of reversing the result.
GIMME A PRINCE
CAFÉ CULTURE, like SURJAY, is a tough pace presser who has run some fine races stalking the speed then pouncing early on quick running tracks. He ran well in the De Grendel Cape Merchants on seasonal debut, then may have regressed second up after a break in the Flying Champs – a race that was probably too sharp for him in any case. Now primed third run after a layoff, Lucinda Woodruff’s entry is a legit contender.
QUESTIONING was carried out in the World Pool Cape Flying Champs which may have cost him a place, but he too clocked in miles behind GIMME A PRINCE. Prior to that, his form was most consistent over stiff sprints, and he is another that should be in the frame on his best efforts.
AT MY COMMAND would have a shake on many lines of collateral form: 1.75 lengths off QUESTIONING in the Kuda Matchem Stakes on seasonal bow; a similar margin off CAFÉ CULTURE in the Post when conceding 6kgs and only a length off SURJAY in the De Grendel Cape Merchants after a troubled trip. However, his two most recent starts have been poor, and Brett/James Crawford are doing what they can to rejuvenate the 5YO Querari gelding.
FUTURE VARIETY came second in this race behind Thunderstruck last year but has not run to that standard subsequently. SEEKING THE STARS is an admirable eight-time winner that shapes up as a pace factor, but lacks the finishing punch to cause trouble at this level.
GEM KING won a Class 3 42 days ago in an encouraging return to form after injury, but this is about as tough an assignment as he could face.
The SplashOut Cape Derby features several short-priced favourites and GIMME A PRINCE at 4/10 odds on is one of the most probable winners on the card. If getting anywhere close to his last start mega-fig then he should prove untouchable in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes.
QUESTIONING, SURJAY, ROYAL AUSSIE, CAFÉ CULTURE and, perhaps, AT MY COMMAND are lurking in the wings should the “hottie” fluff his lines.
