DAVID THISELTON
BELGARION is the most forward horse in today’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and looks set to add a second Grade 1 victory to his ever impressive CV.
Meanwhile, Summer Pudding is in fine fettle to increase her unbeaten run to ten ahead of the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, although she has never faced a horse as classy as the defending champion Queen Supreme and her current price of 7/10 is likely to drift.
Rainbow has not yet shown any sign of decline as a six-year-old, but he is not going to be getting any better.
Belgarion, on the other hand, put up the best performance of career in his last start in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes when beating Rainbow Bridge at level weights by 0,40 lengths and looks to be on the up.
He won a tad cosily after running on powerfully from last.
Both he and Rainbow Bridge would have come on from that run as it was their first outing of the season.
However, Rainbow Bridge has shown a tendency to run a bit flat in his second run after a layoff.
That is certainly not a problem Belgarion has as he won the Vodacom Durban July in his second start after a five month layoff.
Cirillo was beaten only 0,45 lengths in the Green Point but that was his third run of the season. Furthermore, his career record shows him to be consistently just behind the best.
Whilst Do It Again’s overall performance declined last season, his form in the second half whilst in KZN was a lot better than his earlier Cape Town form. This was due to an ulcer problem which had led to poor eating habits during the Cape Summer season being treated and cured. This year Do It Again comes into the Queen’s Plate fresh as it his first outing of the season. As a four-year-old he won the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge after an identical layoff of just over four months so he is going to be the dark horse. Can he reproduce his best form?
The time is ripe for a newcomer to burst on to the scene but on form Silver Opreator does not look close to as lively a competitor as his Adam Marcus-trained stablemate Vardy was at this time last year. Silver Operator is held by all of Belgarion, Rainbow Bridge and Cirillo on a line through all of Captain of Stealth, Wild Coast and African Night Sky.
A more likely candidate for an upset is Jet Dark. He flew up from well back in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Guineas for a 1,65 length fourth. The three-year-old male crop’s reputation took a hammering in that race because a 100/1 shot won but there is no doubting the ability of the race’s runner up Linebacker. Jet Dark has beaten Line backer once and finished just 1,45 lengths behind him in the Guineas. He still looked a touch green too so can improve again.
Sovereign Spirit has a tough task at the weights being rated 28 points lower than Rainbow Bridge. However, quickened well off a crawl to win the Grade 2 Campanajo 2200 on Vodacom Durban July day, so it will be interesting to see what he is capable of against this opposition off a likely quicker pace over a shorter trip, but he does strike as one who will be capable of raising his game.
Hurricane Harry, who is one of four Justin Snaith-trained runners, looks outgunned but as a handy to front-running sort drawn in pole he could ensure a decent pace.
In the Paddock Stakes Paul Peter is not concerned about Summer Pudding’s wide draw as this will give her freedom to travel at her own pace rather than being boxed in. She has clearly come back stronger this season and was super impressive when destroying the Summer Cup field carrying 59.5kg. She will be using that big action to power home today again, although the ground will be faster so she won’t be able to afford the flat spot she hit at the top of the straight as a three-year-old. The handicappers raised her to 129 after the Summer Cup, three points clear of Queen Supreme.
However, Queen Supreme is Northern Hemisphere-bred so has effectively matured six months into a fully grown mare since winning the Paddock Stakes last year. She was impressive in her last two runs on the Highveld and when winning her last race by 4,25 lengths against decent opposition it was clear that she oozed class. She has a good draw, so it could well be a thriller.
Clouds Unfold is not out of it either. She does have a stamina doubt though, although trainer Candice Bass-Robinson said jockey Aldo Domeyer believed she would get the trip. He will be bringing her from off the pace as usual so the two principles will be wary of going too early as this could play into her hands.
Princess Calla is a fascinating runner too as she is still progressing and has always struck as one who was looking for this trip.
The same could be said for Chat Ching and Dazzling Sun, who were just behind Princess Calla in the Cape Fillies Guineas.
Silvano’s Pride is always dangerous from the front over this trip and they won’t be able to let her go too far ahead.
Driving Miss Daisy is hard to assess as one who is lazy at home but she was runner up last year and herself and Hearstwings, who is thriving in the Cape, can’t be ignored for the quartet.
The remainder, Miyabi Gold, Kelpie and Sing Out Loud are no slouches either in what is a vintage renewal.
The Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy looks to be at the mercy of the top class Golden Ducat.
