Jet Dark retained his L’ormarins Queen’s Plate crown in devastating fashion when in a repeat of a year ago he quickened impressively down the inside at Kenilworth to win by a widening two and a quarter lengths. 

And that was the highlight of another dream day for Justin Snaith, who had earlier taken the G1 Paddock Stakes and G2 Premier Trophy, and later the G3 Okapi Chairmans Cup for a clean sweep of the day’s graded races.

As expected the pace was on in the Queen’s Plate and the grey After The Rain won the battle for early ascendancy followed by his fellow front runners Pomp And Power and Seeking The Stars.

The field quickly spread out with Rainbow Bridge and Linebacker positioned threateningly in midfield and Kommetdieding and Jet Dark further back. 

Seeking The Stars took it up after they turned for home and for a while looked capable of repeating his Green Point Stakes heroics. 

Rainbow Bridge always looked like having his measure, but then had absolutely no answer to the express finish of the winner under an inspired S’Manga Khumalo.

And the champion was just outrun for second by Kommetdieding who also finished with a wet sail. 

But the conditioners of both will be very happy with their prep runs before the Cape Met. 

Seeking The Stars gamely soldiered on for fourth while Guineas runner up Pomp And Power was best of the four three-year-olds in fifth. 

Earlier in an absolute thriller favourite Captain’s Ransom just held on to deny Chansonette and Marina in the G1 Cartier Paddock Stakes. Completing a quick graded double for owner Suzette Viljoen and jockey Richard Fourie.

Fourie had four winners in all on the day, later adding Han Solo for Glen Kotzen, and Doublemint in the Chairman’s.

“She made it difficult for me today and wasn’t quite herself. But what a talent she is,” commented a relieved jockey after Captain’s Ransom’s triumph. 

“I don’t think she quite gets the 1800. But when you are as good as she is….” said an equally impressed Snaith.  

WSB Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette ran an absolute cracker and clearly has a very bright future. 

Hoedspruit had got the graded part of the program off to a rocky start for favourite backers when the 5-1 shot came home in the G2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy.

Snaith stable mate Do It Again was very well treated by the race conditions, and went off a warm 5-10 chance. 

But after being put in a perfect position by Anton Marcus the seven-year-old was a spent force halfway up the straight and eventually trailed in a one-paced sixth. 

Fourie had raced south of midfield on Hoedspruit but produced a perfectly timed finish down the inside rail to score by a hard-fought half-length. 

Super Silvano was a game second while Firealley confirmed his recent improvement with a creditable third on far worse weight terms.