ANDREW HARRISON

THERE were more questions than answers after the second day of the L’Ormarins Racing Festival held at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Given the closing odds, Jet Dark’s victory in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate was not quite the surprise that many had expected.

Even though he was some 12.5kg under sufferance with runner-up Rainbow Bridge, his official starting price was given as 9-1 and the tote paid an eye-brow raising R4.90.

Post-race Mike de Kock was lavish in his praise of this year’s sophomore crop but in hindsight, was it a case of a young and accomplished ‘miler’ taking on older horses that have may have lost a little ‘toe’?

Saturday’s result, and indeed the Greenpoint Stakes, shows that there is little to choose between Rainbow Bridge, Belgarion and Do It Again at level weights over 1600m.

All three were out-sprinted by their younger rival in the Queen’s Plate but there is a school of thought that Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again are over the hill. However, both are sure to be more effective over the 2000m Met trip. Belgarion suffered his first defeat as a gelding but Justin Snaith commented post-race that his charge was not a ‘miler’.

The result of the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes is also gave food for thought. Summer Pudding was ideally placed but never quickened from midfield and she had to be content with seventh position, just under five lengths off the winner.

 It was unfortunate that Summer Pudding lost her unbeaten record but she was reported to be coughing with a nasal discharge after the race. That would explain her lack lustre performance and could possibly see her participation in the Met out of the window.

Queen Supreme on the other hand was most impressive in victory. She was cruising a long way out and it would have taken a stellar effort from any of the opposition to close her down.

De Kock, who said this was mission accomplished for Queen Supreme, expressed empathy with his colleague Paul Peter.

“It’s not easy to travel – sometimes we get lucky. Then first time from a wide gate on a new course in a field of this calibre. I’m sure Summer Pudding will be back,” he added.

Queen Supreme is definitely not over the hill and with the Met only a furlong further and a sex allowance in her favour, De Kock must have thoughts of having a tilt.

 While all the Met ante-post money prior to the running of the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate was for Belgarion, who had steadily shortened in, Saturday’s racing changed the complexion of the big race betting.

Hollywoodbets spokesman Patrick Bradley, writing in the Sporting Post, summed up matters. “After Saturday we shortened Paddock Stakes dual winner Queen Supreme in to 8-1, and the possibility is that she could still opt for the Majorca ahead of the Met.

“Also shortening were stablemates Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat, as well as Do It Again, who ran fourth in the Queen’s Plate. Paul Peter’s Summer Pudding was drifted out to 11-2, although I think a line can possibly be drawn through her run as a vet exam after her unplaced run showed she had mucous on her lungs and was coughing. 

“Belgarion should strip a far bigger threat over the 2000m of the Cape Met.

“The biggest shorteners were Premier Trophy placers African Night Sky and stablemate Sachdev into 25’s.”

With just under three weeks to go, this year’s Met on Saturday 30 January, is panning out into one of the most interesting in some years.