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The most talked about race of the Cape season, the R1 million, Group 1 Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas (1600m) at Kenilworth on Saturday, exceeded all expectations.

Despite the anticipated duel between King Of Pain and Capetown Noir not materialising. Instead, it was a dominant victory for Capetown Noir as the black colt cruised home, winning by three lengths without coming off the bit.

Thus delivering his trainer, Dean Kannemeyer, with his fifth Guineas crown and jockey Karl Neisius with his fourth.

The summer course proved to be running fast during earlier races and as expected, the speedy Black Toga under Anton Marcus grabbed the early lead. From barrier four, Capetown Noir settled on the rail three back, with Chave De Oura on his outside. While King Of Pain found himself shuffled back in the field, despite jumping from barrier five.

With Black Toga setting speedy fractions, the race was perfectly set up for Neisius on Capetown Noir and once the field turned into the home straight, Neisius sent the colt to the front despite the long 600m run in.

Capetown Noir responded instantly and within a couple of strides he had put some distance between him and the field. Sean Cormack on Chave De Oura, who had tracked the colt from the jump, tried to go with him but to no avail. The rest of the field could do nothing but watch in astonishment as Capetown Noir opened up a gap of five lengths.

Even Neisuis was surprised at the dominance of the victory, with the jockey having a look over his shoulder at the 25m mark, before easing Capetown Noir down. Capetown Noir crossed the line 3.25L clear, with Chave De Oura a gallant second and long time leader, Black Toga, another 1.25L back in third. The colt completed the 1600 metres in a time of 1.37.15.

The colt’s owner, Lady Christine Laidlaw, also had a momentous day. While celebrating her husband’s 70th and their 25th wedding anniversary, Capetown Noir produced her second Guineas victory in four years.

After such an easy victory Kannemeyer indicated that if Capetown Noir pulls up well, he may contest either the Group 1 Investec Cape Derby or the Group 1 J & B Met, both over 2000m, on the 2nd of February 2013.