One Stripe is pictured winning this season’s Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. (Picture: Waynr Marks).
One Stripe To Be Crowned King Of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
“One Stripe is super fit and very well within himself,” the words of Vaughan Marshall as the 3yo son of One World heads into the Grade 1 R3-million L’Ormarins King’s Plate (WFA) over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Unbeaten over the course and distance, One Stripe has won five of his seven starts to date including the R500 000 Cape Punters Cup (Gr2) in November and the R2-million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1) three weeks ago, and in the process has banked nearly R2,4-million in prize money.
But arguably the biggest clue to his chances of beating the older brigade in the 2024 King’s Plate came when he ran second to Snow Pilot in a Progress Plate over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville back in October. On that occasion One Stripe met the former Guineas winner on 7,5kgs worse terms than weight-for-age and was only a length in arrears of Justin Snaith’s charge at the line. One Stripe is now 6kgs better off with Snow Pilot and there is every reason to believe that Marshall’s runner holds a clear advantage over Snow Pilot, particularly given that the latter is drawn widest of all.
The ante-post betting market suggests that Oriental Charm and See It Again, along with Snow Pilot, could pose the biggest threat to One Stripe. Neither Oriental Charm nor See It Again are necessarily at their very best over 1600m, but Oriental Charm began his 4yo career on the front foot when beating five rivals in the R600 000 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes (Gr2) over a mile. Brett Crawford reports that Oriental Charm has progressed nicely from that auspicious seasonal debut and the son of Vercingetorix should have every chance from a handy draw. “The WSB Cape Town Met over 2000m on 25 January remains his principal target, but Oriental Charm is in a very good space and his chances in the King’s Plate cannot be underestimated,” added Crawford.
See It Again finished second to Charles Dickens in last year’s renewal of the King’s Plate and is also a former winner of the WSB Green Point Stakes. The 5yo son of Twice Over was gelded on 23 August after a slightly disappointing KZN Champions Season and he won his comeback run over 1600m on 3 November with consummate ease before finishing a highly creditable fifth under top weight in the R6-million Betway Summer Cup (Handicap) over 2000m at Turffontein. He was shipped to Cape Town directly from Johannesburg and Michael Roberts is more than happy with See It Again’s condition coming into the race. “See It Again is doing really well, and I expect him to make his presence felt in a big way,” commented Roberts. With Piere Strydom having been injured a few days ago, Rachel Venniker has been confirmed to partner See It Again and winning her first Grade 1 in one of the country’s “majors” will be a dream come true for the world-class rider.
Gimme A Prince has very strong claims and Dean Kannemeyer is cautiously optimistic that the 6yo son of Gimmethegreenlight will go very close to winning. “He is flying at home, and I have always been of the belief that he has the class and the versatility to win a King’s Plate. We were denied the opportunity last year when Gimme A Prince suffered a knee injury after finishing a close second to Charles Dickens in the 2023 Matchem Stakes, but he has come back strong from a year off the track and his prep has been flawless,” added Kannemeyer.
Visiting Champion jockey, Oisin Murphy, rides Royal Aussie for the Snaith team and the combination could take home share of the prize money while At My Command’s run in the Merchants, when he was drawn on the wrong side of the track, is best ignored. On best form he could get into the mix. Great Plains, the only other 3yo in the 13-strong line-up, is very smart and progressive but he should be safely held by One Stripe.
To summarise, I am in the camp of One Stripe to provide Vaughan Marshall with his first ever victory in the King’s Plate, but with plenty of respect for all the aforementioned, in particular Gimme A Prince, See It Again and Oriental Charm.
The R1-million Cartier Paddock Stakes (F&M) (WFA) (Gr1) over 1800m has attracted a field of 11 runners, including two three-year-olds – Little Suzie and World of Alice. On varying formlines, a strong case can be made for all of Double Grand Slam (Fourie), Red Palace (Zackey), Saartjie (Orffer), Rascova (Lerena) and Silver Sanctuary (Murphy) and I believe the race to be a little more competitive than the ante-post market would suggest.
Silver Sanctuary’s only previous visit to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth was when finishing a close second to Beach Bomb in last season’s WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. Her run in the Betway Summer Cup was too bad to be true but she re-appeared three weeks ago when a close second behind stable companion White Pearl over 1600m. This course and distance looks ideal for Silver Sanctuary and she looks fair each-way value at her current odds.
Red Palace makes her debut for the Kannemeyer stable and Dean reports that her work has been solid leading into the race. She is marginally better off with Saartjie than when narrowly beating Andre Nel’s runner in the Gold Bracelet (Gr2) over 2000m back in July. The market leader Double Grand Slam has been a model of consistency for the last 12 months and was a good winner of the Summer Bowl over 1600m in November. She steps up to 1800m for the first time in her career which is perhaps a slight question mark, depending on how the race is run. There has never been much to choose between Double Grand Slam and Rascova and they race off the identical mark of 119.
Little Suzie and World Of Alice are interesting as both are very progressive and likely to appreciate going 1800m for the first time in their fledgeling careers. While an intriguing contest, this is not the deepest renewal of the Cartier Paddock Stakes, and I would not be surprised to see either Little Suzie or World Of Alice step up to the plate and defy their long odds.
The first of an exceptional nine race programme is due off at 12:25, with the L’Ormarins King’s Plate slated to jump at 16:10. There is a Pick 6 carryover of R1-million and the opening leg, the Cartier Sceptre Stakes (Gr2) over 1200m, is scheduled to get under way at 14:15.
