HIGH HAWAII FOR RAFEEF ON SATURDAY!

‘As evidenced by his elite winners over a wide spectrum of distances, Rafeef injects an interesting mix of natural speed and appears to throw back to the mare, whether it be stamina or speed. Outlaw King is out of a Greys Inn mare, so with his two decisive victories over 1200m under the belt, the DK Racing Syndicate could have some exciting times ahead’ – Dean Kannemeyer

One of the standout winners on SplashOut Cape Derby day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, the unbeaten Outlaw King crowned another terrific weekend for Ridgemont Highlands’ smashing resident sire Rafeef, whose top-class son William Robertson lines up in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes at Turffontein on Classic day.

Outlaw King won the BSA Yearling Sale Cup (C&G) and followed in the footsteps of Rafeef’s daughter Mounia who won the 2021 BSA Cape Yearling Sale Cup.

A handsome and wellperformed son of Redoute’s Choice with the rare distinction of first crop Gr1 winners at 1000m and 2450m, Rafeef has produced a purple patch of winners to reinforce a scintillating start to what is

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer saddled Outlaw King for his second straight victory, and said in typically conservative fashion that ‘we always keep our feet on the ground, but he sure looks very smart.’

Kannemeyer confirmed that he had enjoyed previous success with the progeny of Rafeef, including Pas De Nom, who reeled off three on the trot, and the very well-bred Ready Or Not.

“Rafeef is extremely well-bred and had the track performance to match. He throws a beautiful specimen and my experience is only positive. As evidenced by his elite winners over a wide spectrum of distances, he injects an interesting mix of natural speed and appears to throw back to the mare, whether it be stamina or speed. Outlaw King is out of a Greys Inn mare, so with his two decisive victories over 1200m under the belt, the DK Racing Syndicate could have some exciting times ahead.”

The veteran said that he had not expected Outlaw King to win on debut.

“He put his hand up that he was ready for a race. He duly won. I ran him on Saturday expecting a place and then he improves and steps up and slams the field. That’s exciting and I have four unraced Rafeefs in the wings!” said Kannemeyer.

Outlaw King is one of three 2yo winners to date for Rafeef this season, with the Ridgemont Highlands resident also siring debut winner Midnight Fusion and facile recent winner Troppo Veloce. Just 24 hours after Outlaw King’s dazzler at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Rafeef’s dual stakes winning son William Robertson stepped out from a break post the Gr1 Summer Cup.

In his prep for Saturday’s Gr2 Hawaii Stakes, he showed scintillating pace in a 1160m Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday.

The Ridgemont Highlandsbred gelding duly notched up his seventh career victory, in the process setting a new class record and running, despite ring-rusty and all of his 60kgs, within 0,16 secs of Big Sky Country’s course record, set under 54kgs in 2020. Jockey Marco van Rensburg labelled William Robertson ‘the best sprinter in South Africa’.

“He wasn’t disgraced in the Summer Cup but he is at his optimum around 1200m to a mile. I believe he is a Gr1 horse and we will look towards the Computaform Sprint and, or, the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. He is just such a lovely horse. His Dad Rafeef is a proper stallion.

I would love a stable full of them – I just can’t always afford them as the market loves the Rafeefs and we all know they are versatile and can run like hell!” enthused trainer Corne Spies.

Earlier the same afternoon, Rafeef’s daughter Devils And Dust registered her second victory from 14 starts (she has been a consistent earner with 8 places), when beating a mixed sex field over a mile at Hollywoodbets Scottsville for Summerveld trainer Paul Lafferty.

A Highveld Champion, Rafeef made a flying start to his stud career when his first crop yielded the Gr1 WSB SA Derby winner Aragosta and Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie. The future looks bright!