The Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate is not only full of class but full of pace too so this 161st renewal of South Africa’s premier weight for age mile is one of the most intriguing in recent times and is backed up by a top class renewal of one of SA’s most important stud book races, the Grade 1 the weight for age Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes for fillies and mares.
The Queen’s Plate should set up well for Linebacker who jumps from a good draw of three.
There will be pace from pole position, the middle and the outside in the eleven horse field through After The Rain, Seeking The Stars (drawn four) and Pomp and Power (drawn nine).
If number two drawn Rainbow Bridge is dropped out Linebacker could end up handy on the rail, the same position Jet Dark came from to win last year and there will be the same three metre spur in place at the 600m mark.
Linebacker has a fine turn of foot and a fine record over this trip with one Grade 2 victory, a narrow Grade 1 second, a Grade 2 second and a Grade 2 third.
His 0,20 length Grade 1 second was in last season’s Cape Guineas over this course and distance and he was most unlucky in that race as he was caught wide throughout and yet ran on strongly and hanging inward away from the whip in the final strides might well have cost him victory.
The Green Point Stakes, where he found no extra late and finished third, would have brought him on but on the downside the Met presented by WSB is likely his main mission. Craig Zackey won the Queen’s Plate two years ago on Vardy and rides Linebacker for the first time.
Kommetdieding is proven class and would have come on from his last run. He has a tricky draw of eight but with so much pace up front should be able to slot in and will be running on strongly at the line.
Jet Dark was beaten 1,45 lengths by Linebacker in last season’s Cape Guineas and was also unlucky as he had to come from last. Jet Dark then proved how good he is over a mile by becoming only the second three-year-old in 48 years to win the Queen’s Plate, running on down the inside from a handy position.
He was given way too much to do in the Green Point and it will be no surprise to see him keep up his career record of winning every one of his odd numbered races, but he does have a trickier draw of five this year as opposed to two last year.
Rainbow Bridge, who two thirds and a second to his name in this race, should make a bold bid running on from off the pace but the Met will also be his main aim.
Seeking The Stars won the Green Point and should make a bold bid from the front. He has exceptional cornering speed and the field will have to go all out to catch him in the straight.
Warrior beat Rascallion and Kommetdieding last time out when running fresh and staying on strongly from a handy position. He looks to have plenty of scope so is one of the dark horses.
Pacaya will relish the strong pace up front and is another dark horse as he has likely not shown his best yet and looks capable of running on strongly.
Pomp And Power showed his front-running ability when runner up in the Cape Guineas and does not know how to lie down. However, if Seeking The Stars moves ahead of After The Rain at the turn he might be caught wide outside of the latter on the turn.
Trip Of Fortune will be out to prove a point as he was taken out in the Cape Guineas when in a position to run on and one can never ignore Grade 1 runners from the Bass-Robinson yard.
After The Rain is a joy to watch with his huge, if somewhat awkward, stride but this is a big step up in class.
Good Traveller is the Grade 1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner but this is a lot stronger and he looks outgunned.
It is a race for the purist and they are selected in the order mentioned.
In the Paddock Stakes Marina is unexposed at this level but will stay every inch of the trip and from a good draw of three could mow them down late.
Captain’s Ransom has a good draw of four and this top class Captain Al filly should get the step up in trip as she is out of a half-sister to a classy horse in Japan who won up to 2800m.
Princess Calla, third last year, has always struck as one who would get better as she matured and should be right there. She only has three-quarters of a length to find on Captain’s Ransom from their last meeting over 1500m.
Chansonette, the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner, is by Vercingetorix, who does impart speed and is out of a Querari sprinter but she is a rangy type and from another pole position draw it would be no great surprise if she upset her older rivals.
She’s A Keeper has plenty of class and is ideally distance suited but has a tricky draw.
Rain In Newmarket was touched off by Marina last time over this trip in the Grade 3 Victress Stakes although it was the second time she had been defeated by the latter over this trip and she has another tricky draw.
Pretty Betty has been well beaten by Marina in her last two starts but has her third run after a layoff and if bouncing back could earn a cheque.
goldcircle.co.za – David Thiselton
