It is LKP day on Saturday and Jet Dark will be out to make it three wins in a row in South Africa’s most prestigious weight for age mile (L’Ormarins).

Charles Dickens And Captain’s Ransom Are Hot Favourites

The South African racing community are bracing themselves for L’Ormarins King’s Plate day this Saturday (January 7), which will be one of the most star-studded meetings seen in recent years.

The King’s Plate was known as the Queen’s Plate during the long reign of the recently late Queen Elizabeth II.

The final field for the King’s Plate was announced last Wednesday.

It saw eleven high class thoroughbreds declared.

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Charles Dickens will be attempting to become only the third three-year-old to win the King’s Plate since Yataghan won it 50 years ago in 1973 and yet, despite also being drawn wide in nine, he is made a 5/10 shot by Hollywoodbets.

Such is this Drakenstein Stud homebred colt’s reputation.

Two years ago the Justin Snaith-trained son of Trippi, Jet Dark, became the second three-year-old to win this big race since Yataghan.

The other three-year-old to have done it this century is the Snaith-trained Gimmethegreenlight, who won it eleven years ago on January 7, 2012.

Jet Dark is also drawn wide, in ten, and is a 9/2 shot with Hollywoodbets to win the prestigious weight for age event for the third time in succession.

Kommetdieding, drawn eight, was last year’s runner up and is an 11/2 shot.

The other runners are 16/1 and higher.

Another point of interest is that Christophe Soumillon has been given the ride on the Eric Sands-trained Golden Ducat.

The France-based Belgian has three other good rides on the day on the Peter Muscutt-trained Isivunguvungu in the The Franschhoek Motor Museum Winchester Sprint Cup over 1000m, the Mike de KOck-trained Desert Miracle in the Grade 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m and the Gavin van Zyl-trained Winter Air in a handicap.

Meanwhile the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes saw a field of eight top class females declared.

The defending champion, the Snaith-trained five-year-old mare Captain’s Ransom, has a nice draw of three and has been made an even money shot by Hollywoodbets.

This 1800m trip is at the upper end of her stamina range. If it was over a mile, she would likely be the same odds as Charles Dickens.

Marina would have progressed since her narrow third in this race last season and is third favourite at 5/1. She is capable of coming from off the pace so the draw of six should not be a concern.

The second favourite at 33/10 is the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water, who jumps from draw seven. She enjoys this course having won the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m in her only ever appearance here on WSB Met day last year.

Last season’s Equus three-year-old champion Rain In Holland has failed to recapture her Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara-winning form so far this season, but will appreciate being back in Grade 1 company because she is capable of finishing resolutely, particularly in strongly paced races. She is out at 10/1 due to her two below par comeback runs following a procedure for an entrapped epiglottis, but she does have the advantages of pole position and Piere Strydom aboard.

Ahead of her in the betting is 8/1 chance Make It Snappy, winner of the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and one who could still be anything considering she has only had four career starts. This Dynasty filly should enjoy the step up to 1800m, but she does have to overcome the widest draw of all.

The other two runners are Cape Fillies Guineas third-placed Hold My Hand and Echo Of Life, a Candice Bass-Robinson-trained stablemate to Marina who has won three times but who was well beaten in the Cape Fillies Guineas.

CLICK HERE to see all the fields in the action-packed LKP meeting.

Canadian Summer wins the Flamboyant Stakes in comfortable fashion under regular pilot Jason Gates (Candiese Lenferna).

Canadian Summer Proves Herself A Guineas Candidate

The Grade 1 Thekwini winner, the Darryl Moore-trained Canadian Summer, showed yesterday at Hollywoodbets Greyville she is no one season wonder as she easily won the R125 000 Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m under Jason Gates, despite being the only runner carrying a Grade 1 penalty in the wfa plus penalties event.

The 104 merit rated daughter of Oratorio beat seven older rivals, including 112 merit rated Sound Of Warning, who was having her first try at 1600m and was beaten 4,40 lengths into fifth.

The win capped a fine weekend for owner Preggie Somasundram. He banked an R80 000 winning owner’s cheque on Friday night as the Louis Goosen-trained Princess Tea held on to her lead in the Hollywoodbets KZN Sizzling Summer Challenge log with a second place finish. Furthermore, another of his horses, the Darryl Moore-trained Question Master, won

on Friday night.

Canadian Summer had no cover throughout yesterday, sitting in second place in the running on the flank of the pacemaker Monashada.

However, she found plenty off the slow pace and ran out a comfortable 2,10 length winner from the progressive Dean Kannemeyer-trained Futura filly Dawnofanewday, who sat behind the winner in the running and stayed on.

The Alyson Wright-trained Master Of My Fate mare Top Me Up Holly was next best ahead of Monashada.

Canadian Summer started 18-10 favourite and in soft going stopped the clock in 99,06 seconds.

Candadian Summer’s work in the build up had apparently not been the best and Moore said afterwards, “I must thank my old boss and mentor Charles Laird who helps me with ideas on her programme.”

The Oldlands Stud-bred filly was bought for R80 000 at the BSA August 2yo Sale.

She is by retired Avontuur stallion Oratorio (Danehill) out of the two-time winning Silvano mare Autumn Splendour.

It was Candaian Summer’s fourth win. She has placed second in all three of her other starts and has earned R585 750.

It would be no surprise to see her targeted at the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein Standside on February 4.

The Listed Christmas Handicap over 1600m, postponed from Boxing Day, saw a fine training feat by the Paul Lafferty yard as the Silvano four-year-old filly Bella Siccome registered her fourth successive victory and her first black type.

She was brought home by Siphesihle Hlengwa in a blanket finish in which the first six were separated by just 1,40 lengths.

Hlengwa was unable to claim his usual 2,5kg because of it being a black type race.

It was a good weekend for Hlengwa.

On Friday night he secured second place in the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Apprentice Challenge to land R6,000 and he also won an additional R5,000 for having the highest points average.

Bella Siccome cost a bargain R120,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale, considering she is by multiple champion sire Silvano out of the Listed-winning Dynasty mare Bella Spumante.

She is owned by Messrs C J Williamson, C M Hill, J Small, N R Tovey & Mrs M A Tovey.

Picture: Oratorio will be well represented at the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale

Avontuur’s CPYS Draft Is Packed With Class

Picture: Oratorio will be well represented at the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale

Avontuur Stud is back at the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, powered by Tattersalls, on Thursday, 12 January. General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh invites buyers to view their small, powerful draft currently on the farm, or at the Cape International Convention Centre (CTICC) from Tuesday, 10 January. She provided pen pics of Avontuur’s lots on offer:

Lot 23 MUSICAL SCORE – bay colt by Oratorio ex Esteemal by Captain Al:

“A very impressive first foal for this talented and versatile race mare. He is a very good walker with one powerful engine, speedy type. This colt hails from the famous ‘E’ family that has produced numerous classic winners.

Lot 64 ICARAI – bay filly by Oratorioe ex Miss Ipanema (Aus.) by General Nadim

“A well grown and correct, scopey filly. She is out of a Graded-placed mare and is the half-sister to the 10-time stakes wining Carioca. From an international family.”

Lot 66 SET TO MUSIC – bay colt by Oratorio ex Muamba (Arg) by Pure Prize

“Here is a colt with great length and scope and he is very athletic, will need some time to fill out his frame. A beautiful type, typical of what the mare can give us. He is a half-brother to Varumba and multiple other winners including the recent easy winner at Kenilworth Live My Life and Gold Rush entrant, Typeset.”

Lot 82 VALIEVA – bay filly by Var ex Return To Power by Trippi

“The first foal of a three-time winning mare, this filly is closely related to G1 winner Rivarine and G3 winner Delta Queen, from the awesome family of Pocket Power and River Jetez. A precocious, attractive active filly, typical of her sire. The only VAR on the sale.

Lot 95 HEMISPHERE – bay colt by Vercingetorix ex Star Burst Galaxy by Var.

“Smashing colt that ticks all the boxes: by a sensational sire out of a 9-time stake wining daughter of the exciting broodmare sire VAR. Oozes quality and class.”

Lot 98 SOLARTRIP – bay colt by Querari ex Sunset Tripp by Trippi

“His dam was a fast stakes winner of 6 races and the colt is by the champion sire of two-year-olds – a speedy cross. He’s a very tall athletic and active colt.”

Lot 104 RAFA BAY – bay colt by Rafeef ex Torra Bay (Aus) by Cape Cross

“His dam is a stakes winner of 5 races and he comes from an illustrious Australian family. A big strong and imposing colt, he is a speed machine and a credit to both his sire and dam.”

Lot 25 – Good Living, colt by Querari

Impressive four from up-and-coming Narrow Creek

Narrow Creek Stud, a most respectable eighth on the 2021/2 National Breeders’ Log with a terrific 60% winners to runners, has a quartet of fine yearlings drafted to the Cape Premier Yearling Sale on 12 January at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

Lot 25 – Good Living, by Querari, the first colt foal out of Ever Fair (Captain Al), from an international female line packed with black type. John Everett of Narrow Creek said: “In my view Good Living is the best of the four. He is a real racehorse to me, a high-quality type with scope.” (Lot 25 see Picture above)

Lot 83 – Bronc, a bay colt by Erupt out of Rodeo Sioux, by Casey Tibbs. He is a half-brother to G1 winner Red Saxon (Red Ray) and is described as “a high-quality colt with a forward look about him.” (Lot 83 Picture below)

Lot 84 – White Waters is a chestnut filly by Erupt out of Rydethecreek, by Parade Leader, whose five running foals so far include G2 winner Alexis. “She is well grown, there is a lot of horse to work with here, she is nice and big.” (Lot 84 Picture below)

Lot 120 – Midwicket, a One World filly out of Between the Covers who will pass through the ring near the end of the sale and is worth waiting for. “She is from the winning family of Doosra and Caughtintheslips, a well grown and precocious filly I expect to have plenty of speed,” Everett said (Lot 120 picture below).

Sandown Stud’s single entry at CPYS 2023 is the above Erupt colt

Sandown’s Single CPYS Entry Holds Promise

James Armitage’s Sandown Stud returns to the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, powered by Tattersalls, for the first time since 2012 and his single entry, Lot 52, is well worth a look.

This is an unnamed colt by Erupt out of stakes winner Kinematic Countess (Count Du Bois), who has produced three winners from four foals to race, including Justin Snaith’s promising Kalahari Ferrari, and looks to have a top horse pending.

Said Armitage: “He is a scopey colt with a nice hindquarter and a good length of rein. He is going to develop into a beautiful horse.”

Rachel Venniker had two seconds at the final meeting of the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge on Friday night at Hollywoodbets Greyville, including on the Andre Nel-trained Lillybelle. She easily won the Apprentice Challenge. (Candiese Lenferna)

Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge Winners

Winning TRAINER – Garth Puller

Winning JOCKEY – Keagen de MeloWinning HORSE – Princess Tea (owned by Mr Preggie Somasundram, trained by Louis Goosen)Winning APPRENTICE – Rachel Venniker

BONUS PRIZES for Best Average Points per Ride/Runner

Best Points Per Ride: Jockey – Keagen de Melo

Best Points Per Ride: Apprentice – Siphesihle HlengwaBest Points Per Runner: Trainer – Wendy Whitehead