The Turffontein meeting tomorrow features the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m for three-year-old fillies which takes place 25 minutes before the running of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

The 1160m sprint should be won by Sarah, whose high merit rating was questioned by some but she proved worthy of it last time when giving the crack filly True To Life 5,5kg and running 3,25 lengths behind her for third place in the Magnolia. The conditions of this race make her hard to beat and she is in fact 3,5kg well in with the second best weighted horse Gin Fizz. Furthermore, she has landed the standside draw, which by trends is the right side to be on. Gin Fizz, who receives 2kg from Sarah, has plenty of speed and will likely appreciate the step down in trip. She is not straight forward but if producing her best on the day will be a threat. Tallinn could also be a threat. She showed good natural speed on debut over 1200m when backed into 13/10 and winning easily and this is the first time she will be running over a sprint distance since. Tropic Sun has run three good sprint races to date and could also earn. The Frankel filly Risk Taker won second time out over a sprint trip and has been tried over further since, so she is another one who could benefit from a step down in trip.

The meeting should start with a Sean Tarry double. In the first Cornish Pomodoro is a big long-striding sort who sent one horse flying when squeezing through a gap on debut where he stayed on well for second over 1160m and he should love the step up to 1400m. Trend Master will be a threat as he was not disgraced in fourth place in a good field over this trip last time.

In the second the Dingaans hero Shango returns to action over the Dingaans course and distance and this progressive sort should win even if it is just a preparation outing for the Gauteng Guineas. Approach Control is well drawn and is the biggest danger over a suitable course and distance. Indy Go could place here too.

The punters good fortunes could continue with a double for Mike de Kock. Diorama will relish the step up in trip in the third and is drawn in pole. Martha and Acorn Alley are the dangers. 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 De Kock has three runners and Ghalyoon makes appeal as he is drawn well which will suit his front-running style. Last time over this same course and distance he was drawn wide in his first run after gelding and was caught late.

Tarry could then take over the reins as his filly Keep Smiling is well weighted in the fifth over 2000m, although Green Top will enjoy the step up in trip on pedigree and By Chance is a progressive sort who will have a say too.

The sixth is tricky but Land Of The Brave is drawn on the right side and has a 2,5kg claimer aboard which should alleviate to some extent the effects of a thirteen point raise he was given for a second place finish in a feature last time. Donderweer was under sufferance last time and ran accordingly but back in a handicap here he has a chance over his favourite trip. Isphan is an old soldier who will be capable of popping up from a favourable high draw off a much reduced merit rating. 

In the eighth over 1160m The Sands has things in his favour for change over a suitable trip, although a few horses will have to be included in the Pick 6.

In the last race Al Borak has a fine chance back in an ordinary handicap having finished fourth in the Listed Secretariat over this 1400m course and distance last time. 

By David Thiselton

The Pick 6 looks catchable at the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate meeting on Saturday as the two Grade 1 events look to have potential bankers in Hawwaam and Front And Centre respectively.

The first leg of the Pick 6, the Design Indaba Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m, should be fought out by the Equus Champion Sprinter Kasimir and the Grade 1-winning 1000m specialist Pacific Trader. The latter beat Kasimir by two lengths in a similar event last season on 29 December, although he was receiving 1,5kg that time and now faces the latter at level weights. Pacific Trader went on to win the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint in Johannesburg. Pacific Trader has had one run this season, whereas Kasimir will be making his seasonal reappearance. Kasimir is all class and goes well fresh, so it will be close. The risk averse can include the classy Chimichuri Run. He would prefer a touch further, but the tough nature of this 1000m straight will suit him. However, on previous meetings he is held by both Kasimir and Pacific Trader. Bold Respect is also capable but is also held by the top two. Sir Frenchie will arrive fit with a number of runs under the belt and if the big horses falter in the final stages of this testing 1000m he could possibly pick up the pieces as he is capable of a flying finish.

In the Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap over 1800m the classy Belgarion looks the one to beat. This horse caught the eye early in his career but ran a disappointing unplaced race in a below par Grade 1 Cape Derby field. He was laid off for the rest of the season and was gelded too. He has shown his class in his comeback this season, winning both of his starts over 1600m and 2000m respectively. He could well still be ahead of the handicapper. Charles was a similar type in that he was classy but disappointing as he needed gelding. In his two runs since gelding he has won over 1600m and then finished a decent 3,05 length fourth to the 127-rated One World when receiving just 1kg. However, he does have a tough draw to overcome. Eyes Wide Open is the third horse who must be included in the Pick 6 as he ran a close fourth in the Vodacom Durban July, despite being a touch unlucky, and effectively runs off the same mark. He has had one run this season and one run was all he needed before winning the Grade 2 WSB 1900 at Greyville carrying 60kg joint topweight. His trainer Glen Kotzen has been in flying form too. 

Front And Centre has a plum draw of two in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes. She is full of class and seems to have overcome the hanging antic which cost her the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000. She is officially the best weighted horse and looks to have improved this season, so with “Superman” Anton Marcus she is going to take a lot of beating over an ideal trip of 1800m.

In the big one, the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, Hawwaam faces his first true test. He has beaten those he has faced with consummate ease but has never before faced the best in the country. In normal circumstances he would be roundabout the same price as reigning champion Do It Again. However, he comes in off a good preparation whereas Do It Again has not had the perfect preparation. Nevertheless, some would consider it foolhardy to exclude Do It Again from the Pick 6 and they might well be right. Rainbow Bridge was beaten 3,05 lengths by Do It Again in last year’s race and beaten 1,75 lengths by him in the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, so he looks held over this trip. Vardy would be a better inclusion as he won the Green Point comfortably and is improving all the time. Soqrat was beaten just 0,30 lengths into second in last year’s LQP so is another one who some would view as a necessary inclusion.

The eighth race, the Grade 3 Heineken Chairman’s Cup over 3200m, is the hardest leg of the Pick 6. Cape Town staying races can be won by outsiders as the pace is usually a dawdle and some horses are still proving themselves over the trip, so could be ahead of the handicapper. Crome Yellow made an excellent recent staying race debut and is drawn well. The big PE raider Mangrove could represent good value. Doublemint went close in the Gold Cup off a mark which was effectively only two points lower than he’s on now. Those three make most appeal but including as many as possible would be the way to go. 

The last leg over 1400m is a difficult handicap. Meraki flew home from a hopeless position last time out over this trip and now has a better draw so he is the tip to win. Justin Snaith has all of his runners primed for Queen’s Plate day so it would be wise to include all of Bayberry, Savvy, Rio Querari and Frank Lloyd Wright in that order. The Vaughan Marshall-trained three-year-old Path Of Choice has, like Bayberrey, sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight so can also be included. 

By David Thiselton

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Hawwaam is odds-on for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday yet you can get 6-1 about stable companion Soqrat who is rated a kilo higher. Is Hawwaam in fact the better horse?

“It’s hard to say,” answered Mike de Kock, the one man in a position to know, when the question was put to him yesterday. “Soqrat’s record is very hard to fault but my gut feel is that Hawwaam is a better horse and in terms of preparation Hawwaam is probably also better.  Soqrat has had three hard runs in Jo’burg although I have freshened him up coming into this race.”

Asked about the dangers, the eight-time champion trainer said: “My horses have had to travel and, although they have settled in very well and look well, the opposition have all been trained at home which gives them that slight edge.”

However he did single out Rainbow Bridge. “I respect him a lot. He beat Soqrat in the Champions Cup, he is 2kg better with Vardy and he looks to me if he is peaking at the right time.”

Rainbow Bridge is second only to Do It Again on merit ratings but Eric Sands, perhaps typically, takes a realistic view of the Sun Met winner’s chances and says: “A mile is not his game but he is always competitive, he has come on since the Green Point and he is definitely fitter.”

Hampered by Vardy

Gavin Lerena’s mount was badly hampered by Vardy at a crucial stage in the WSB Grade 2 and his jockey had to stop riding for several strides – although the trainer seems to feel that the 20-week absence also played its part: “It looked like he was still travelling with a lot in hand but he then seemed to come to a stop on the amount of work I’d given him. Also his recovery rate afterwards was a bit on the high side.”

In common with Do It Again, Vardy and the pacemaking Crown Towers this will be the horse’s second run after a rest and, historically at least, that could be a negative. “In the Durban season he ran a bit below par in the Gold Challenge which was his second run back but I will have him a little fresher and hopefully we can tick a few boxes.”

Sands also has a serious contender in the Cartier Paddock Stakes in the form of the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner-up Driving Miss Daisy. “She is a very difficult filly to assess because she shows you nothing at home but, from the point of view of well-being, she seems to be very happy and that is normally what counts with her. I’m not worried about the extra furlong but taking on the older horses over the trip is always one’s first question but she has shown she has the ability.”

De Kock also mentioned One World who was third to Soqrat in last season’s Cape Guineas and has won nine out of 12. He is available at 16-1. “That’s a huge price,” says Vaughan Marshall. “He has to be right there (on that Guineas form), he has done well since his econd in the Green Point and I have been very happy with his progress.”

Pack Leader’s chance at 75-1

Only 150-1 shot Crown Towers is a bigger price than Pack Leader, a 75-1 chance despite finishing fourth in the Green Point, and Glen Kotzen said: “Obviously it is a very competitive races but he has really come on since that last run, his second after a break. I think this could be his best distance and we are excited about him running.”

The bookies believe he has a much better chance with impressive Victress Stakes winner Snapscan (7-1 third favourite) in the Cartier Paddock. “She is a top filly in really good shape and on her day she can really fly. It would be a great pleasure to win the race for Gaynor Rupert and her partners.”

Tomorrow there will be a lot of interest in whether Candice Bass-Robinson can win the Cartier Sceptre Stakes for the fourth successive year. She has five of the 14 runners headed by last year’s winner Clouds Unfold who was only sixth on her reappearance in the Southern Cross.

“I don’t really know what to make of that but it was a funny race. She has definitely come on from it and this should be a much better run race,” says the Milnerton trainer. “I’ve got a nice hand of fillies in it including Freedom Charter who was third last year and is doing well. But Clouds is obviously the best one and she has a big chance if she is back to her best.”

By Michael Clower

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Guru’s Pride, an 18-1 chance on the books, was not the best result for the card opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday but gelding, a change of stables and a lengthy break obviously did Gavin van Zyl’s runner the world of good.

Favourite Glitter And Gold scooted out of the pack at the top of the straight and looked a certain winner before Warren Kennedy produced a telling late run on Guru’s Pride who rattled home from last on the outside fence to win as he liked. He looks to be a horse to follow after that performance.

Wendy Whitehead and Anton Marcus do not team up often but Chattertons Keeper, also gelded after a smart barrier trial and an eye-catching debut, was never under threat in the second. Marcus had his mount perfectly placed at the top of the straight and the gelding sped away to win comfortably giving Valarie Naidoo her first winner in her colours.

Debutante Ralph The Rascal found some inspired market support on course but was never a threat to the winner although well clear of the rest and is a horse for the notebook.

Dennis Drier is enjoying the fruits of his annual Cape Town sojourn but has a more than capable assistant in Stuart Ferrie who saddled short-priced favourite Ice Imperial to a bloodless victory in the third. Sean Veale wasted no time in setting his filly alight at the top of the straight and she coasted home more than three lengths clear of the opposition.

Owner Geoff Perkins has shares in a myriad of horses with various trainers and is a staunch supporter of the Whitehead yard and racing in general. He had a share in Chatterons Keeper and was further rewarded as Sweet Empress out-gunned favourite American Princess, fittingly racing in his colours.

Craig Zackey rode a tremendous race, hunting a split just off the rail as the field swung for home and getting first run on favourite American Princess who chased home with a wet sail but the albatross had flown.

Alphonse Baby, runner-up at her last two and in the Perkins colours, had to play second fiddle again and deny Perkins a third winner in the last as favourite Flaming Lass took command a long way out under as Serino Moodley, who is fast making a name for himself, sent Garth Puller’s runner for home a long way out.

Roy’s Physco has probably taken umbrage to the miss-spelling of his name, letting his supporters down once again as Dutch Alley motored home for Dean Kannemeyer in the fourth. Rocket Fire, keen from the jump and taking the lead, kept plugging away up the straight and although not able to hold the finishing burst from Dutch Alley, kept firing to keep Roy’s Physco at bay and hold onto second.

Vase, a duck egg and nine out for nine back in November last year, put that all behind her as Andre Nel’s mare took advantage of a drop in class and defied top weight to keep the two-year-younger Ode at bay, in spite of apprentice Thabiso Gumede’s 4kg claim in the sixth.

Apprentice Jason Gates, out with an elbow injury for much of the past month, got his New Year back on track as he punched home Bedazzled Joker for Alyson Wright in a desperate finish, just getting the better of Captain Cobalt and Mutawaary in a blanket finish to the seventh.

By Andrew Harrison

Apart from Port Elizabeth supremo Alan Greeff nobody has trained more winners this season than Brett Crawford’s 66 and his 20.2% strike rate is the best in South Africa. He is good at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate meeting too and last year he won a third of the 18 races.

Classic winner Front And Centre is favourite to give Crawford his third success in the Cartier Paddock Stakes and the Philippi trainer reasons: “She has done very well, has had a great preparation for this race, looks outstanding and I think she is the horse to beat. We supplemented Water Spirit because we would like a true-run race.”

It’s five years since Futura presaged his Met win by taking the Queen’s Plate and Crawford expects a better run from Undercover Agent than his 25-1 price would suggest. “I am not going to say he can win because it’s a helluva race, probably one of the better Queen’s Plates we have seen in a long time, but he will be competitive. I don’t think you can read a lot into his WSB Green Point run. He was badly interfered with – he got banged into the fence twice – and yet he still managed to run on into fifth. He is a far better horse than that, his work is really good and a mile is where his best form lies.”

Crawford is also expecting a bold showing from 6-1 joint second favourite Charles in the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap. “Unfortunately he had a setback [a nasal discharge] that prevented him running in the Premiers but he has come through it well and his handicap mark is in his favour. He is going to do well over 1 800m and I think we can expect a very competitive run.

“Dynasty’s Blossom [ex Joey Ramsden] has only been with me for a short time so I don’t know much about her but she has shown her ability to stay well.”

Gimme One Night aims to repeat last year’s success in the Heineken Chairman’s Cup and give his stable its third consecutive success in the 2 500m race. Apparently his chance is better than the current 7-1 might suggest: “It was a really muddling pace in the WSB Summer Stayers last time and he ended up leading which is not what he likes. They then sprinted past him but he ran on to only just get beaten into third. He is in great form and he will run a very good race.”

When Adam Marcus started training nearly eight years ago many of his small string were owned, or part-owned, by his father Basil who, incidentally, rode the first of his three Queen’s Plate winners 43 years ago. Today Marcus jnr numbers some of the biggest owners in the land among his select team and he joins Mike de Kock and Justin Snaith as the only trainers with more than one runner in Saturday’s highlight.

Vardy is the main contender and, despite his Green Point win, very much the dark horse of the race. “Going into the Green Point I was of the opinion that Vardy had a lot of improvement still to come because he had had a long lay-off, an operation and only one gallop. He has come on from that win and, while we are coming up against horses that are also improving, he is a good place and I couldn’t be happier with him.”

And how difficult is it going to be for Vardy, or any of the other Cape Town horses for that matter, to beat Uncle Anton’s mount Hawwaam?

“He is a short-priced favourite and I think that is a fair assessment because he looks to be special. He had plenty in hand when he won the Premier but it will be interesting to see how he does against the likes of Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge because he hasn’t come up against horses of that level before – and with Vardy we will certainly try to give him a run.”

Marcus, renowned for the thought he gives each horse, has decided to try different tactics with second string Twist Of Fate. “I am learning a lot about him and I now don’t think he is a horse that needs to be bounced out. Maybe he could get away with really grinding through to the line, and showing a lot of heart, when he was a three-year-old but I don’t think he is going to get away with that against horses of this quality. He is doing well and you know what? At his best he is not far behind the best so we are really hopeful.”

By Michael Clower

The Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate meeting on Saturday could produce a banker in Front And Centre.

This classy daughter of Dynasty cost herself in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 last season by hanging badly inward. However, she has apparently been cured of that antic and from draw two with Anton Marcus up she looks tough to oppose as she is improving all the time.

The Northern Hemisphere-bred Queen Supreme, who has not yet actually turned four, receives a 1kg hemisphere allowance. She ran an outstanding 1,6 length fourth in the Gauteng Summer Cup and would have strengthened and improved a lot since, so from draw eight will be the chief threat.

Snapscan has also strengthened and improved, which is not surprising being by Oratorio, and she comes off an easy win over this trip in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes in which she went from last to first.

She was well beaten in last year’s Woolavington 2000 but did have the winner of that race, Silvano’s Pride, well beaten in the Victress. She was receiving 3kg from the latter in the Victress and beat her by 3,55 lengths but she was likely more forward as it was her third run of the season. Therefore she will still have something to prove in the Paddock Stakes running against fillies who will be at their peaks, but she is beginning to look the part despite not being imposing.

Santa Clara produced an electric performance in last season’s Grade 2 KRA Fillies Guineas and being by Duke Of Marmalade she will also be coming into her own. However, she has disappointed since that run, first in the Woolavington, then the Garden Province and she has been beaten cosily by Silvano’s Pride and Front And Centre in two respective 1400m outings this season. However, she had tough draws in the former two events and likely needed the latter two. Furthermore, she has never before run over 1800m and that should be her ideal trip, so she could surprise like she did in the KRA Fillies Guineas.

Silvano’s Pride will be cherry ripe having her third run after a rest. The rest will be wary of her trying to gallop them into the ground like she did in the Woolavington, which was also her third run after a layoff. She does have the widest draw of all so might have to do some work to get to the front and that could be her undoing. 

Miyabi Gold beat Snapscan over 1800m in her seasonal reappearance but the form was reversed in the Victress where she was beaten 3,25 lengths. However, she is now 2,5kg better off and being by Silvano will still be as good as ever as a five-year-old and can place.

Driving Miss Daisy is a big three-year-old who is unknown over this trip, but as she was running on well for second in the Cape Fillies Guineas she could be a dark horse here.

Platinum Class looked promising last season but has run two disappointing races this term and has to bounce back.

Drama Queen ran fifth in the Cape Fillies Guineas and could improve over this trip but she would be a surprise winner.   

Water Spirit and Castellano are way out at the weights here and look held.

By David Thiselton

Bernard Fayd’Herbe is a rare visitor to KZN in the off season so when he does make an appearance it is best to take note.

He was aboard King Cyrus when Andre Nel’s runner made his debut at Kenilworth where he found some market support before finishing a little less than five lengths off Cape Of Storms.

That was back in November last year but Nel has a happy knack of earmarking horses that are likely to take to the poly track which is probably the reason for his move to Byron Forster who runs his Summerveld yard.

King Cyrus gets his chance in the first on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today but he may have to take a back seat to the filly Glitter And Gold.

Johan Janse van Vuuren has a solid Summerveld base with seasoned trainer Pat Lunn at the helm and Glitter And Gold made a smart poly debut when second to Whizz Of Odds last time out. Gavin van Zyl’s filly looks headed for bigger things come Champions Season which puts that form into perspective.

Track & Ball have her in the red with King Cyrus second favourite at 4-1.

Fayd’Herbe is often the go-to man for Frank Robinson, the two teaming up recently with Roy’s Riviera in the Flamboyant Stakes on Boxing Day. He has two rides for Robinson, Do Or Dare an obvious stable fancy in the second. The gelding doesn’t know how to run a bad race but has also been costly to follow – a beaten favourite in his last four outings.

With Fayd’Herbe up he may be worth another chance in spite of Chattertons Keeper and Ralph The Rascal more fancied in the market.

Ralph The Rascal impressed in his barrier trial, never coming off the bit and can feature in what stacks up as modest company. Chattertons Keeper was not too far back on debut behind the highly regarded Trip To Africa and should come on from that effort. However, his position at the top of the boards may be more due to the presence of Anton Marcus in the saddle for Wendy Whitehead, not a common combination.

Fayd’Herbe teams up with Princess Analia for Robinson in the fifth where the 12-1 currently on offer looks fairly generous given that she is down in class and back on the poly where she boasts some of her better form. Although only a four-time winner, she does seem better than her recent form suggests and you ignore at your peril.

American Princess, blinkered for the first time with Marcus aboard, is ruling favourite ahead of Dean Kannemeyer’s runner Arrabiata, these two dominating the market.

Fayd’Herbe’s agent was on the blower to Louis Goosen for the ride on Truly Wicked in the fourth with Marcus hoping to change the fortunes of Roy’s Physco who is still looking for his second win after a string of placed efforts.

He looked a winner last time out before Romanesca bulleted home from the tail of the field to win going away. He has a worrying tendency to always find one or two better on the day.

Truly Wicked’s merit rating has been dropping steadily and he looks competitive off his new mark. Marcus has jumped ship to partner the market leader but Fayd’Herbe is a more than capable replacement.

By Andrew Harrison

The field for Saturday’s R1.5 million L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate is back in double figures after last year’s nine when Legal Eagle tasted defeat for the first time in four years.

Mike de Kock, successful just once so far with Mother Russia in 2011, will – as expected – be two-handed with last year’s runner-up Soqrat (Callan Murray) and hot favourite Hawwaam (Anton Marcus). Bernard Fayd’Herbe replaces the injured Robert Khathi on 66-1 shot Crown Towers.

Fayd’Herbe has won the race five times starting with Trademark 19 years ago while Marcus rode the first of his seven Queen’s Plate winners on Empress Club back in 1993. Richard Fourie, successful on Do It Again 12 months ago, is the only other riding in the Kenilworth showpiece to have won it before.

Hawwaam is marginally odds-on with most bookmakers at around 19-20 while Sun Met winner Rainbow Bridge, beaten over three lengths into third last year, shares second favouritism at 11-2 with Soqrat who failed by only a neck 12 months ago. Do It Again and Green Point winner Vardy are both on 6-1 with the others well into double figures. You have to go back to 13-1 shot Gimmethegreenlight in 2012 to find a Queen’s Plate winner starting at a bigger price than 7-1.

The 11 declared for the Cartier Paddock Stakes is the smallest for the 1 800m Grade 1 since Beach Beauty, and more particularly the subsequently scratched Igugu, scared off all but four others in 2012. Beach Beauty started odds-on that day but was beaten by Thunder Dance ridden by the now Hong Kong star Karis Teetan for Brett Crawford who supplies the 18-10 favourite Front And Centre.

Champion sprinter Kasimir reappears in the Design Indaba Pinnacle and on Friday Candice Bass-Robinson runs five in a bid to extend her remarkable record in the Cartier Sceptre Stakes. Victory for one of them would mean that the Milnerton trainer has won the 1 200m Grade 2 in each of the four years she has held a licence. Last year’s winner Clouds Unfold is the shortest-priced of the quintet at 9-2 and the Sean Tarry-trained Celtic Sea is favourite at 16-10.

By Michael Clower

“This is the biggest weekend of the year in my opinion and a lot of time has gone into planning for it,” says Justin Snaith. “I have put horses away for the last two months and that is part of the reason why the yard has been quiet recently [he hasn’t had a winner at the last three Cape Town meetings]. It’s going to be exciting.”

It wasn’t when he found stable star Do It Again coughing two days after that Green Point rough house but the dual champion trainer is confident that the antibiotic won’t leave the horse flat. “We know the ones that can flatten horses and we make sure we don’t use them. The one Do It Again had was only aimed at the respiratory. It was also a mild one that is easy on the stomach.”

But the five-year-old’s preparation was interrupted. How much of a problem is that going to be? “Last Saturday was his best work-out yet so we are getting there and I’m very happy with him. Obviously it’s a tough field and the Jo’burg boys are confident but that just makes it good racing in my book.

“That said, the way things have turned out we could be better aimed towards the Sun Met but this, remember, is Do It Again. For me he is still the best horse in the race and it’s really just a matter of whether I have got him 100%.”

Richard Fourie’s mount won last year’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate but his Vodacom Durban July performances suggest he could be a better horse over further than a mile. Snaith does not agree. “When he is ready and revved up he can run any distance. But the length of the rest he had between the July and the Green Point was too long. Five months out of a horse’s career is ridiculous and in the Green Point it was as if I had brought him back from a major injury. He was half-asleep. But he is waking up now.”

This time the gelding will have a pacemaker. “We have had too many races in Cape Town lately where they have just cantered, and some where the feature has been run in a slower time than a maiden on the same day. We can’t have that and so Crown Towers is running to ensure that the pace is an honest one.”

And how worried is he by Hawwaam? The normally bullish Snaith did not answer the question in the manner you might have expected or in the way the punter would have hoped, but what he said went a long way towards explaining how he deals with the pressure of expectation from the racing public in general and from owners in particular.

He took his time about answering too. “I have gone into this race like I have done with almost every other race in my career. I don’t care who is in it – Hawwaam or any other you like to name – because it makes no difference to me. I focus purely on my own horses. I feel this is the best way and mine will be there on Saturday as ready as they can be. And, trust me, we normally get it right.”

He certainly did last year when he also won the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap as well as the Cartier Paddock Stakes for the third successive season. Can Silvano’s Pride, Miyabi Gold or Platinum Class make it four?

“Their last start [all in the Victress Stakes just before Christmas] was a bit of a flat run and the reason was so that they should be ready for Saturday. They are equally talented and I think Myabi Gold is going to be a massive runner but Silvano’s Pride needs things to go her way. I have had an issue with Platinum Class’s feet and her form suggests she is better on the soft but we are hoping for an improved effort.”

And in the other features? “You can expect a very good run from Belgarion and Nexus at the weights in the Peninsula Handicap. I think they are good enough to be in the Met but instead I am saving them for Durban.

“A fast pace in the Heineken Chairman’s Cup would play into Strathdon’s hands – it was too slow in the Cape Summer Stayers – and a slow one would suit Doublemint.”

By Michael Clower

Ten horses ranging from Do It Again on a 136 merit rating down to Crown Towers on 103 will line up for Saturday’s premier weight for age mile, the Grade 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate, and it will arguably be the best field seen in South Africa this century. 

There has been a record sale of early tickets for the glamorous event and there should be a vibe on course in keeping with the meeting’s status as “the Royal Ascot of South Africa.”   

Last year’s Queen’s Plate was dubbed “the race of the century” due to the presence of Do It Again, Rainbow Bridge, Undercover Agent, Soqrat, Legal Eagle and the filly Snowdance. The first four of those mentioned will be lining up again and with the addition of Hawwaam, Vardy, One World and Twist Of Fate it could be argued that it is an even better field this year, although it does not contain as many Grade 1 winners. Hat Puntano’s presence ensured seven Grade 1 winners were in the race last year, compared to five this year. 

The second lowest merit rated horse this year is the 116 merit rated Pack Leader, who did beat both Undercover Agent and Do It Again in the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m last time, although he was receiving 2kg and will now face them at level weights.

Do It Again is the Queen’s Plate title holder and is the reigning Equus Horse Of The Year as well as being the Equus Champion Miler, Champion Middle distance horse and Champion Older Male.

That he is at such big odds compared to the hot favourite Hawwaam is partly due to his below par Green Point run.

However, trainer Justin Snaith is not concerned about that outing.

He said, “It was a bit of a quiet run but it was extremely rough. He was bullied the whole way around the turn and in the straight he wasn’t going well enough and was cut off. But he also just needed the run. It was too long since his previous race.  There was nothing for him to run in and he fell asleep just sitting waiting for the Green Point. But he has now had that run plus a gallop on the Kenilworth grass last Tuesday. Under the circumstances he is going to make up a lot of ground on those that beat him in the Green Point. He is ready but it is a very good field. It’s very exciting.”

Snaith admitted that Crown Towers had been entered to ensure a good pace. This four-year-old Camelot gelding has landed the perfect draw to make the most of this role, ten out of ten. Bernard Fayd’Herbe will thus be able to decide what he is going to do as the race unfolds.

Track And Ball have the Mike de Kock pair Hawwaam and Soqrat at the top of the boards at 9/10 and 5,25/1 respectively. Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge are next best on 5,50/1 apiece and the Green Point winner Vardy is quoted at 6,5/1. One World is 14/1, Twist Of Fate and Undercover Agent are each 28/1, Pack Leader is 44/1 and Crown Towers is 66/1.

Hawwaam is a winner of eight from just nine starts. However, he can still be called unexposed as he has won most of his races with consummate ease. The one win where he did have to do a little bit of work was in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 where he beat Twist Of Fate by 1,60 lengths, but that race did not pan out well for him. On the other hand, despite being a three-time Grade 1 winner, he has not faced horses as strong as Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge, so nobody knows exactly how good he is. He has some temperament issues and everybody in the country will be hoping there is no repeat of the starting stall antic which saw him having to be scratched from the Vodacom Durban July.

Hawwaam has drawn in pole.

Twist Of Fate is drawn two. He has a huge heart and will try his best. The trip is interesting considering he won the Politician Stakes over 1800m last year despite pulling. He could give some cheek.

Pack Leader is drawn three. This five-year-old was generally kept to longer trips in previous seasons, so is interesting here as he was dropped out from a wide draw in the Green Point and ran on well for fourth. He now has his third run after a layoff.

Do It Again is drawn four as opposed to six out of nine last year.

The Green Point winner Vardy is drawn five. He has always had class and a turn of foot and he was always going to come into his own as a four-year-old this season. He faces Rainbow Bridge, Undercover Agent and Do It Again on 2kg worse terms but should still beat them on paper, although obviously the Green Point can’t be taken at face value as most of the runners were returning from layoffs, Vardy included. 

Soqrat is drawn six and will be hoping to go one better than his narrow second last year. He is the ultimate professional as he can be turned on and off at will and he has a fine burst of speed and the ability to sustain a finish.

One World, who was runner up in the Green Point is drawn seven, He is versatile and can lead or run on from off them.

Rainbow Bridge, who has a fine turn of foot, is draw eight compared to four last year when staying on for a 3,05 length third.

Undercover Agent, who likes to be up there, is drawn nine and although courageous he looks held by Do It Again, Rainbow Bridge and Soqrat. 

This not to be missed race is off at 16h45 at Kenilworth on Saturday. 

By David Thiselton