Turf Talk Newsletter – 11 October, 2024

L'Ormarins King's Plate Stake Increased To R3 Million

Stakes increase to R3 million for 2025 L’Ormarins King’s Plate taking place January 4th at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth

South Africa, October 2024 – It’s official! The highly anticipated running of the 164th L’Ormarins King’s Plate is set to take place on January 4th, 2025, promising a spectacular day of racing at the iconic Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Adding to the excitement is the announcement of a significant increase in prize money for the main event. Runners in the Gr 1 feature, hailed as the country’s premier weight-for-age mile, will compete for R3 million in stakes, an increase of 50% from the previous year.

The first Gr 1 feature race meeting of the New Year, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (LKP) is named after the original silver plate that was presented to the winner by Queen Victoria, after the inaugural running of the race in 1861.

A race steeped in history, previous winners include champion sires Jet Master and Gimmethegreenlight, as well as multiple Equus award winning champions Pocket Power, Do It Again, Jet Dark and Charles Dickens.

The L’Ormarins King’s Plate not only showcases some of the country’s highest rated racehorses, but also celebrates the elegance and sophistication associated iconic race meetings such as Royal Ascot, Goodwood Festival, and the Kentucky Derby.

With its classic dress code of blue and white, patrons are encouraged to elevate their daytime attire and come together in celebration of racing heritage and contemporary elegance.

As excitement builds towards the event, further race card and hospitality packages will be announced in the coming weeks, including Stud Club and Style Village tickets, which are set to go on sale at the end of November.

About L’Ormarins King‘s Plate:

The L’Ormarins King’s Plate (formerly Queen’s Plate under Queen Elizabeth II reign) is regarded as South Africa’s premier weight-for-age mile. First run in 1861, the race meeting sees the country’s best jockeys and horses competing for lucrative prize money, with a grand prize of R3 million for the main event on the card. World-renowned wine label L’Ormarins has been a primary sponsor of the race since 2005.

Website: https://lormarinskingsplate.co.za/

Instagram: @lkp_ct

For more information and images contact emma@narrativepr.co.za

One Stripe Faces A Big Test In His Comeback

One Stripe, pictured winning the Gr 3 Winter Nursery in his last start in May, steps up in trip to 1400m on Saturday (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

An intriguing Progress Plate over 1400m is clearly the most notable event on a 10-race programme at Hollywoodbets Durbanville tomorrow with several Cape Guineas prospects making their seasonal debuts, including One Stripe, last season’s Western Cape Champion Juvenile.

One Stripe, a winner of his last three starts before a five-month break, faces a real tough test on his reappearance having to concede 3kgs to his very useful stable companions Talk To The Master and All Out For Six, and 6kgs to the highly rated Johan Janse Van Vuuren-trained Bjorn Ironside.

All four have their sights set on the R2-million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas on 14 December and it’s a fair assumption that they are not fully wound up for tomorrow’s clash.

But, chatting to Vaughan Marshall yesterday he reports that One Stripe is doing very well at home and, unlike Talk To The Master and All Out For Six, has had the benefit of a grass gallop.

“He worked on the grass at the Breakfast Gallops at Durbanville on 17 October and has progressed really well from there”, added Marshall.

Gavin Lerena flew into town recently to work the exciting son of One World and was delighted with the way the colt is going about his business.

Throw into the mix the 2023 Guineas (Gr 1) winner Snow Pilot, who is very favourably weighted here, and we have all the ingredients for a really interesting contest.

Snow Pilot was last seen in July when unplaced in the Mercury Sprint (Gr 1) and has not been on the grass since, but Justin Snaith reports that the son of Lancaster Bomber is doing well at home.

“I have him as well and as fit as I can without a proper grass gallop and although short of peak fitness, he is so well handicapped here, his class could bring him through,” commented Snaith.

He quickly added, “and don’t write off Underworld! Although not well treated in terms of the conditions of the race, he has come on well from his last start and may have the edge over his rivals in the fitness department.”

With only seven runners going to post, pace and riding tactics could play a vital role in the outcome.

Marshall fully appreciates that giving weight to Snow Pilot (when at weight-for-age he would be receiving 6,5kgs) is a tall order, but he is quietly confident that One Stripe can pull it off and suggests that All Out For Six will give a good account of himself.

That being said, Snow Pilot, with Richard Fourie in the pilot seat, is an obvious must-inclusion for all exotic bets!

Major Master can get punters off to a flying start in the opener, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, scheduled to go off at 12:00. The Candice Bass-Robinson inmate caught the eye when finishing strongly over 1250m on debut behind Let It Be Said. He steps up to 1400m here and he should take all the beating, with fellow Lammerskraal-bred Western World the principal threat.

The Bass-Robinson and Domeyer combination could also be on the mark in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, with Masterofthedesert. The son of Master Of My Fate was beaten but not disgraced when sent out an odds-on favourite last time and from an excellent barrier position, Masterofthedesert will have every chance of making amends here. Dawn’s Early Night is a likely improver and warrants respect.

The fast-improving Courtly appeals as an exotic bet banker in the fifth race, a Maiden Plate over 2000m. The big-striding Snaith-trained 3yo son of Act Of War was denied victory in the final few strides of his most recent start over 1800m and he leaves the impression that the further he goes, the better Courtly will be. This will be only his fourth career outing and there should be plenty more to come. Congressman, Dreamalittledream and Sansa Stark could complete the Quartet.

Captain Arrow was a fluent winner of his seasonal comeback four weeks ago and he should follow up in the tenth race, the Cape A Stakes over 1000m. His record at the country course is excellent and he appeals as a banker in the last leg of Jackpot Two which commences in the seventh race.

The consistent Dance Variety has not raced since April. He could need this run, and he will find it tough to concede 3kgs to Captain Arrow who has had the benefit of a recent race. Interestingly Highveld-based Clinton Binda saddles two runners in this race, the Hollywood Syndicate-owned pair of Ziyasha and Qhawe Lami at opposite ends of the weight spectrum.

Frances Ethel The First Choice In What Looks A Field Race

Frances Ethel is the favourite and tentative selection for a wide open Pinnacle Stakes event on Saturday at Turffontein Inside (JC Photos)

A Pinnacle stakes race over 1600m that features a number of Betway Summer Cup entries is the headliner at the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow.

Frances Ethel prefers further but is said to be in fine shape at present and could run well fresh from draw two. Atticus Finch ended off last season well and has a fair draw over a suitable trip in his comeback run. Silver Sanctuary was a narrow runner up in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Filllies Guineas over this trip and in her comeback run is draw wide in ten and she will need it, but her class could give her a chance. Future Pearl would prefer further but is capable of a flying finish and however he does here he could present good value in the Summer Cup. Beating Wings has class and could run well from a good draw, although she is another who would prefer further. Mercantour will be fit with two runs under the belt this season, but even as a five-year-old she still has to prove she gets this trip. It is hard to ignore any of the other runners who are Winchester Mansion, Puerto Manzano, Litigation, Aragosta, Safe Passage, Johnny Hero and River Romeo. However, only two horses have had a run this season Puerto Manzano, who has had one run, and Mercantour, who has had two, so it is a very tricky race.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1450m ilted has finished strongly over this trip before and should go close in this line up from a plum draw. Mountain High looks the only danger on form but returns from a five month layoff.

In the second leg Tamarisk Tree is in hard-knocking form and is well drawn over a suitable trip and he should be right there. Apache Son is drawn in pole and should relish this trip, so he will be a big player too.

In the sixth race over 1450m Guy Gibson has class and was not disgraced behind the classy Back In Business over 1200m last time in his first run for nearly six months. The form has been franked, so he could be involved here over a suitable trip. Gimmeanotherchance is well weighted here according to official merit ratings and is distance suited but he comes off a well beaten comeback run in the JoBurg Spring Challenge over this course and distance and this run comes soon thereafter. Fatal Flaw showed her class in her last two starts as a juvenile when finishing runner up to crack filly Quid pro Quo in a Gr 2 and Gr 1 over 1400m and 1600m resepectively and she could make her presence felt here. Daring Dash won well last time and could progress this season, but he does officially have a tough task at the weights. Tail Of The Comet has a lot of class and is ideally distance suited but he does return from a layoff of two-and-a-half months and two last place finishes in his last two runs.

In the seventh race over 2000m Forgiveness comes off a good win over 1600m and should be coming into her own so can do well here as she has a close second to her name over 2000m. I Am Regal has run two fine races in succession over this trip and can be involved despite a three point raise. Avoontoast is 1,5kg better off with I Am Regal for a 1,50 length beating and is a must include.

The last leg of the Pick 6 over 2000m could be fought out by Hat’s Queen and Boom Boom. Hat’s Queen did well when stepped up to 1800m and despite a six point raise should enjoy the further step up in trip. Boom Boom did well in his first try at 1800m and from a plum draw here could go close over a further step up in trip.

In the first leg of the Bipot Choisanaada went close on debut over 1160m and should relish the step up in trip to 1450m so can be bankered as he has a fair draw.

In the first leg of the PA over 2600m Damova, Sneak Preview and Rainy Season should be enough to get punters through.

Thrilling Weekend Action In SA And Abroad

Shadow Of Light has been supplemented for the Dewhurst Stakes on the Newmarket Rowley Mile on Saturday (Picture: SkySportsRacing)

Tab4Racing

WEEKEND RACING HIGHLIGHTS: 12 – 13 October

This weekend brings thrilling racing action from South Africa, the UK, Hong Kong and Malaysia. It starts with the customary Friday fare from Fairview, where leading trainers Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith look unlikely to dominate and bumper payouts are likely. Trainer Justin Snaith sends out a potential Pick 6 banker at Durbanville on Saturday, when Stuart Pettigrew has a potential joker in the pack in the topliner at Turffontein. Trainers Charlie Appleby and Aiden O’Brien saddle the top contenders in Group races at Newmarket today and tomorrow and there’s a quality field for a rich feature at Sha Tin on Sunday. Great entertainment!

SATURDAY HIGHLIGHTS

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBANVILLE: COLLATERAL FORMLINES POINT TO DAIMYO

Computform’s collateral formlines for Race 4 suggest Snaith’s up-and-coming gelding Daimyo is the one to beat in this 2000m contest. He had three of his five rivals behind him in a recent race won by Call To Unite. And, and on another line of form through the same horse, he should also have the beating of stablemate Navy Strength. The other runner Marshall Field looks outclassed.

TURFFONTEIN: MERCANTOUR CAN MAKE HIS FITNESS COUNT

There are no fewer than 10 Graded winners in Race 5, a Pinnacle Plate over 1600m on the Inside track. With major features on the horizon, the race will serve as a preparatory outing for the likes of Winchester Mansion, Silver Sanctuary, Frances Ethel and Litigation. With obvious question marks about the fitness of most runners, the race looks an ideal opportunity for Pettigrew’s five-year-old sprinter Mercantour. He hasn’t won over this trip yet, but is well weighted and has encouraging form over 1450m and 1500m. He looks the fittest horse in the race, having raced three times after a rest, and can take advantage if more talented rivals are race-rusty. Certainly, he will never get a better chance of beating a field of this calibre.

SUGGESTED R243 (50%) PICK 6 PERM (Leg 1 Race 3 @ 13:30):

Leg 1: 3, 4

Leg 2: 1, 4, 6

Leg 3: 6, 8, 12

Leg 4: 3, 4, 10

Leg 5: 1, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 2, 6

NEWMARKET UK: DON’T MISS COOLMORE-GODOLPHIN BATTLE

Horseracing powerhouses Coolmore and Godolphin do battle with five of the six runners in an exciting renewal of the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes over 1400m on the Rowley Mile circuit. Godolphin’s Shadow Of Light, the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes victor, has been supplemented at a cost of 35,000 Pounds and steps up from 1200m for a race that usually decides the leading juvenile colt of the season. Appleby said: “We are very pleased with what we have seen so far from him and feel that he has the potential to stretch out to seven furlongs (1400m).” Note that Appleby’s preferred jockey James Doyle is booked for unbeaten Group 2 winner Ancient Wisdom, while O’Brien has entered promising The Lion In Winter in an attempt to win the Dewhurst for the ninth time. This promises to be a cracking race – don’t miss it.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

SELANGOR MALAYSIA: BIG GUNS GO TO WAR AGAIN

Antipodean and Golden Pegasus, who fought out a thrilling showdown in last month’s Grade 1 Selangor Gold Cup, face off again in Race 7, the Group 3 Sports Toto Supreme Challenge Cup 2024 over 1400m. Antipodean, who claimed victory by a head, is undefeated in two outings over this distance and may have the edge in what promises to be a close contest once more. Berry Bliss, who defeated Golden Pegasus in September, also enters the reckoning.

SHA TIN HONG KONG: GALAXY PATCH CAN RUIN PURTON PARTY

Champion jockey Zac Purton is bidding for his fifth win in the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap over 1600m and will be hoping that Beauty Eternal’s class will prove decisive in a strong field. There is a strong case to be made, however, for fellow Group 1 winner Galaxy Patch. Pierre Ng’s five-year-old enjoyed an outstanding season last term and kicks off his new campaign with his sights set on December’s Hong Kong Mile. He looks well-positioned to start with a victory.

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE: NATYAM TO SHINE IN MICHAELMAS

Seven closely-matched runners will contest the PinkDrive Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m, but trainer Gareth van Zyl’s sparingly raced Natyam looks like he’s more or less on the right mark off a rating of 97. He’s distance suited after running on strongly in two recent starts over 1800m and should be cherry ripe to land his first win of the season. Frank Robinson’s coupling of Mexican Pete (good prep run in a sprint last week) and versatile Madison Valley bear watching, while Cape Eagle is a class act and should run well despite a big weight.

British "Swallows" Have Made A Big Contribution To SA Racing

The Hon Gillian & Alec Foster lead in Gr3 Okapi Chairman’s Cup winner, Doublemint

The term ‘Swallows’ was coined in the 1950s to describe wealthy travellers from abroad who spent their holidays enjoying the South African summer, particularly in Cape Town.

In Charl Pretorius’s latest Off The Record column he touches on the significant impact “Swallows” have had on the South African horseracing industry.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE “SWALLOWS” IMPACT ON SA RACING

Hollie Doyle Provides Insight Into This Weekend's Racing

Hollie heads to France on Saturday to ride an improving juvenile for boss Archie Watson and reveals her fancies for both the Dewhurst and Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

LISTED CHANCE FOR PROMISING ELIXIR

I am back in France on Saturday, hoping to go one better than I did on the gallant Bradsell in last weekend’s Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp when I partner a promising Archie Watson two-year-old.

ETERNAL ELIXIR runs in the Listed Prix Saraca (3.07) over 7f at Chantilly – live on Sky Sports Racing – where he faces six rivals, including fellow British raider Yaroogh from the powerful Newmarket stable of William Haggas.

A lovely horse who we’ve always thought highly of, Eternal Elixir is worth his place in the line-up after finishing third in another Listed contest last month in the Ascendant Stakes at Haydock.

Salem Rashid Bin Ghadayer’s colt broke his duck on testing ground in a Ffos Las novice over 7½f the previous month, where he won going away for Josh Bryan, so he should handle the ground and remains open to further improvement on just his fourth career start.

BRADSELL LOST NOTHING IN DEFEAT

Bradsell was so courageous in defeat in the Abbaye last Sunday and Archie (Watson) is happy with the way he’s come out of the race. The ground was much softer than ideal for him, but he still travelled well throughout the race and battled hard to finish second to Ed Walker’s mare Makarova, ridden by my husband Tom (Marquand).

It was a valiant attempt at a third consecutive Group 1, following successes in both the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five, and while finishing second is never nice, especially in the big races, I’d rather be beaten by Tom than anyone else.

It’s all systems go now for the Breeders’ Cup for Bradsell, who will take his chance in the Turf Sprint at Del Mar in a few weeks’ time – an experience I’m really looking forward to. He will head the European challenge and shouldn’t have any ground concerns out there.

I’m not sure what’s in the pipeline for Nashwa, who made her belated reappearance in last weekend’s Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes. She ultimately needed the run, getting tired in the closing stages, but she didn’t have a hard race and will come on for it. Imad Alsagar’s mare holds two entries on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot next weekend.

GOODWOOD DATE FOR MURPHY FILLY

I am likely to be at Goodwood on Sunday to ride Amy Murphy’s filly SPIRITUALISM in the William Hill / British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (2.25).

She will need to act on testing ground to figure in the 6f dash, but she ran well on soft ground in France on debut and showed enough on the All-Weather at Lingfield last month to hold a decent chance if she does.

SHADOW CAN TAME LION IN DEWHURST

The Lion In Winter has been the talk of the town since winning the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York so impressively, and the Sea The Stars colt puts his burgeoning reputation on the line in Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes (3.00) at Newmarket.

He could be another superstar for Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore operation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Godolphin’s Shadow Of Light manages to get the better of him.

Beating O’Brien’s previous Group 1 winner Whistlejacket by a commanding four lengths in the Middle Park last month was some achievement, and Charlie Appleby’s colt is clearly still on an upward trajectory.

HAYLEY HOLDS CESAREWITCH ACES

I’d love to see Hayley Turner win the second leg of the famous ‘Autumn Double’ at Newmarket with victory in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap (3.40) on Irish raider Jacovec Cavern.

This gelding made a solid start for Emmet Mullins at Galway, returning from 15 months off to be second in a 2m handicap, and had some useful form in staying handicaps on these shores for Mick Channon as a three-year-old.

It looks wide open, but off such a light weight he has the credentials to give Hayley a great ride in a race that could be dominated by the Irish, who are responsible for no fewer than six of the market principals.

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.

Ten Years On From The Louis The King Fairytale

Louis The King wins the Summer Cup (JC Photos)

At this time ten years ago The Geoff Woodruff-trained sales reject Louis The King had become only the second horse in history after the great Horse Chestnut to land the SA Triple Crown and he was being prepared for the Summer Cup, which he also went on to win.

He won the Triple Crown races under Robbie Fradd and the Summer Cup under Piere Strydom.

Louis The King failed to elicit a single bid at the sales and was then purchased for a mere R60,000 in a deal that was done and dusted in the car park.

He went on to win seven races in all, including three Gr 1s, and earned in excess of R5 million.

The story behind the smart colt began on May 12, 2010 at Durbanville, when George Kahan of The Alchemy Stud bought the unraced Rich Man’s Gold mare Pamushana, consigned by Drakenstein Stud and in foal to Black Minnaloushe, for R20,000. The colt was born on 28 August 2010.

George’s son Phillip Kahan said about ten years ago, “He was an early foal, so we thought we would have a big strong colt that could be sold at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 or Book 2, but he just wasn’t ready in time. We have always sent quality stock to the Durban (KZN Yearling) Sale as it is one of our ambitions to win the R1 million breeders race.

“I always rated him and he was our nicest horse on that sale. I thought he would easily get between R120,000 and R180,000. However, he didn’t get a single bid and we had to buy him back for R55,000. The buyers just didn’t fancy the mating.

He continued, “The mare was unraced and the only thing he had going for him was that he was by Black Minnaloushe. But, the market at that stage had gone off Black Minnaloushe. They wrote him off too early.”

Kahan was obviously disappointed, but fate then played its hand.

He continued, “I later bumped into Geoff Woodruff walking in with his son and daughter.

“He told me that he had just moved from the Vaal to Randjesfontein, so joked that the best he could do was buy me a drink. He was actually just there to drop off some tickets for the July.”

The deal that could become part of racing folklore was then made in the car park.

“I told Geoff that I had been unable to sell our best lot. He asked about the colt and how much I wanted for him. I said a minimum of R60,000. He agreed there and then to the price and said ‘send him up’. I insisted that he come and have a look at him first, but he said ‘Phillip, I’ve known you for 20 years, you say it’s your best lot, I trust you.’

“The price was in fact less than the service fee of Black Minnaloushe (The first season fee set by Maine Chance Farms in the 2007/2008 season for the Irish 2000 Guineas winner and leading first crop sire in New Zealand was R90,000).

“I insisted again that he have a look at him and he went over and had a look over the stable door. Geoff is an absolute gentleman and deserves every success he has.”

Woodruff recounted, “I hadn’t even got back to Johannesburg yet when Tiaan van der Vyver (a racehorse owner) phoned. He had gone over to have a look at another horse at my pre-trainer Sharon Patterson’s Bayshore Barn centre. I asked him to have look at the Black Minnaloushe colt too.”

Van der Vyver liked what he saw and bought him. He then named the colt after his son Louis, in whose name he also raced.

The colt was the first racehorse that Louis had ever owned.

It turned into one of SA racing’s all time fairytale stories.

Louis The King stood at Sorrento Stud and produced the Gr 3 winner Montien and the Listed winner Pamushana’s Pride.

Today's Question

Picture: The picture gives a clue to the answer.

Question: Which legendary racehorse won for the seventh time at the Royal Ascot meeting 90 years ago in 1934.

FIELDS, Saturday 12 OCTOBER

Turffontein Inside

Hollywoodbets Durbanville

FIELDS, Sunday 13 OCTOBER

Hollywoodbets Greyville

Today’s Question Answer

Brown Jack, a Chaltenham Champion Hurdle winner who switched to the flat, won the Ascot Stakes at the 1928 Royal Ascot meeting and then won the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the Royal neeting six times in succession from 1929 to 1934.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT BROWN JACK