Ridgemont Gr2 Green Point action from last Saturday as Dave The King (white cap) beats Garrix (red cap) with See It Again (pink cap) on the rail in third. All three are entered in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The 25 original entries for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate stood their ground at the first supplementary stage on Wednesday and there were no supplementary entries.
The field is shown below and below that is an analysis of the great event by Sarah Whitelaw.
L’ORMARINS KING’S PLATE (WFA) (Grade 1)
Open To Horses At Weight For Age
WFA: 3yrs-5kgs 4yrs-0kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 15 | Eight On Eighteen | (4C) | 60 | 129 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 1 | Dave The King | (6G) | 60 | 128 | A | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 17 | Gladatorian | (6G) | 60 | 127 | AT | Stuart Ferrie | |
| 10 | Sail The Seas | (4C) | 60 | 127 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 24 | Fire Attack | (4C) | 60 | 126 | A | Alec Laird | |
| 14 | The Real Prince | (5G) | 60 | 126 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 25 | Cosmic Speed | (4G) | 60 | 125 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 18 | See It Again | (6G) | 60 | 125 | BA | Justin Snaith | |
| 16 | Garrix | (4G) | 60 | 123 | A | Piet / Elbert Steyn | |
| 9 | Questioning | (5G) | 60 | 123 | BA | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 4 | Sugar Mountain | (7G) | 60 | 123 | A | Candice Bass | |
| 5 | Great Plains | (4G) | 60 | 122 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 6 | Snow Pilot | (5H) | 60 | 122 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 22 | Jet Force | (4G) | 60 | 120 | A | Des A McLachlan | |
| 21 | Legal Counsel | (4G) | 60 | 113 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 13 | Legend Of Arthur | (4C) | 60 | 112 | AT | Sean Tarry | |
| 20 | #His Majesty (IRE) | (5H) | 60 | 107 | A | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 11 | La Pulga | (4G) | 60 | 95 | A | Candice Bass | |
| 23 | Mon Petit Cherie | (4F) | 57.5 | 120 | A | James Crawford | |
| 8 | Red Palace | (5M) | 57.5 | 119 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 3 | Jan Van Goyen | (3C) | 55 | 118 | A | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 7 | Happy Verse | (3C) | 55 | 113 | A | Justin Snaith | |
| 2 | Gimmie Rules | (3C) | 55 | 111 | A | Dean Kannemeyer | |
| 12 | Good For You | (3G) | 55 | 110 | CA | Glen Kotzen | |
| 19 | Vapour Trail | (3C) | 55 | 107 | A | Vaughan Marshall | |
| (25) | |||||||
Sarah Whitelaw
The G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate continues to be one of the highlights on the South African calender.
First run in 1861, the King’s Plate has been won of some of the greatest thoroughbreds ever to grace the local turf.
A host of traditions and history accompany the King’s Plate. The first running of the race saw Queen Victoria donate a silver plate and 500 guineas to the winner. The King’s Plate has maintained its royal connection subsequently, with the British High Commissioner among the previous guests.
Today, the L’Ormarins sponsored showpiece is famed for guests being asked to attend the event in the sponsors’ blue and white colours, while every year upping the ante in terms of entertainment and excitement. The sight of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth decked out in blue and white remains one of the great sights of the South African racing calender.
Equally notably, the winner of the race receives a berth to that year’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, one of the world’s greatest turf races.
A number of key feature races in the months and weeks prior to the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth feature often produce subsequent King’s Plate contenders, with this list including the G2 Allied Steelrode-Onamission Charity Mile, G1 Betway Summer Cup, G2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes, and G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.
While last year’s winner One Stripe is a notable absentee from the 2026 King’s Plate, the race still promises to be an exciting and memorable contest.
Reigning South African Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen is one of 25 thoroughbreds who have been entered for the 2025L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Eight On Eighteen, unraced since finishing second in last season’s G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, is one of 11 Grade One winners nominated for the race, with this tally including Eight On Eighteen’s July conqueror The Real Prince.
Other exciting potential contenders include champion, and brilliant recent G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner, Jan Van Goyen, Dave The King, Garrix, See It Again and Sail The Seas, the first four home in the Ridgemont Green Point Stakes, and G1 winners Cosmic Speed, Fire Attack, Gladatorian, Good For You, Legend Of Arthur and Snow Pilot.
Interestingly, The Real Prince could be joined in the line up by his full-brother Gimmie Rules, while One Stripe’s three-parts brother Vapour Trail is another potential contender.
