Formerly known as the Queen’s Plate, the 2023 version will see the now-named King’s Plate run at Kenilworth for the best milers in SA. It remains a Weight for Age, Grade 1 contest and has attracted a field of 10 competitors, after the withdrawal of Waterberry Lane (sold).To help Interbet punters form an opinion here are ratings for each entry, including a career peak speed figure followed by a performance metric taking class, form/physical condition, the connections, and likely pace/running styles into account.
| Entry Name | Peak Speed Figure | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| GOLDEN DUCAT | 110 | 117 |
| TRIP OF FORTUNE | 112 | 121 |
| ZAPATILLAS | 108+ | 115 |
| RUSSIAN ROCK | 110 | 118 |
| AL MUTHANA | 109 | 114 |
| SPEED MACHINE | 108 | 109 |
| KOMMETDIEDING | 115 | 123 |
| CHARLES DICKENS | 120+ | 128 |
| JET DARK | 117 | 125 |
| LINEBACKER | 112 | 117 |
Charles Dickens tops both the speed figure and performance metric categories. If he merely repeats or builds upon his Cape Guineas speed score of 120 then he will be virtually impossible to defeat carrying 55 kg’s. Minor quibbles against Candice Bass Robinson’s charge are a wide draw and uncertain pace, whilst jockey, Domeyer has undergone a brutal wasting regime to make the weight. But measured purely on exceptional figures recorded during a six-start career, he is a sensational talent and deserving heavy 5/10 favourite.
Jet Dark’s best speed score of 117 is not far behind and trainer Justin Snaith is out to make a statement about the defending champion. He is drawn one gate further out and is a somewhat fickle customer, yet on a going day this five-year-old entire is deadly over a mile.
Third on our ranking’s list is proven G1 middle distance hero, Kommetdieding who would probably prefer further but is accomplished enough to harass the top two if they underperform slightly. He is offered at odds of 6/1 on Interbet.
Trip of Fortune is next best. He is in the prime of his career and may be even better than rated so the 18/1 longshot is a strong place contender yet Bass Racing stablemate, Charles Dickens has way more imposing credentials.
It would be a massive surprise if anything else outside these four mentioned challenge for King’s Plate honours, and the betting market indicates that the race is simpler still and will resolve itself into a straight shoot-out between potential super-star, Charles Dickens and defending champ, Jet Dark quoted at 9/2.
Trifecta and Quartet players spreading wide in the lower slots might lob well drawn pace-pressers Russian Rock, Golden Ducat and Zapatillas onto their tickets and hope they luck into easy trips and outrun their outsider odds. Linebacker and Al Muthana have solid back form and will try use their closing bursts to dash into a share of the prizes, though Speed Machine is well shy on speed figs and a mudlark better suited to the Winter slop than a firm summer track.
Grades for Race 8 – the 2023 King’s Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday 7th January:
| A = 9 | B = 10 | C = 8, 2 |
