Snow Pilot, pictured winning last season’s Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, could become the second successive Drakenstein Stud homebred to win the race Drakenstein’s Gaynor Rupert has made famous and he would in that case become the third Drakenstein Stud-bred to win the big race. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
All eyes will be on the Gr 1 weight for age L’Ormarins King’s Plate on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and Snow Pilot looks set to give Justin Snaith a fifth win in the country’s most prestigious weight for age mile.
The wide draw of 13 out of 13 might be seen as a detractor to some, but as he is a front-runner it might be too his advantage as he can take his time to get into his favourite role. He has blossomed this season into an impressive specimen and is able to kick on after setting a brisk pace. He will be hard to catch in the straight, although he might be vulnerable late as he did go fast over 1400m last time and despite having won the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas last season his optimum might be 1400m.
See It Again was a disappointment to his connections in last year’s King’s Plate despite having finished second to the celebrated Charles Dickens. He has since been gelded and if performing to his best tomorrow he must be a big runner, although for a handy type who needs cover his draw of eight is tricky. Rachel Venniker knows him well as she does all the work on him and has won on him three times, so she will be an able replacement for the peerless Piere Strydom.
One Stripe is the best three-year-old around and his performances can’t be faulted. He is weighted to beat Snow Pilot on the form of their last meeting over 1400m, although Snow Pilot came on a lot from that run and was visually more impressive the next time out. One Stripe has inherited the resolve of his sire One World and also has a fine kick. He can make the step up and would not be a surprise winner of this open weight for age mile, despite it having been won only twice by a three-year-old since 1973. The latter was the year in which Yataghan joined Chichester and In Full Flight as the third three-year-old winner in the space of four renewals.
Oriental Charm is another one to have blossomed this season and he won the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes in fine style from the front. Perhaps, he could secure the rail from draw three and get a nice tow from Snow Pilot.
Gimme A Prince’s class is not in question, but he is unexposed at a mile as he has only run once over this trip and he ran on well on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth old course. He will have more straight to work with here after likely being dropped out from draw ten, but will he stay the mile in this class?
Royal Aussie ran on strongly for third last season and can repeat the feat from draw six.
Great Plains was only beaten 2,75 lengths by One Stripe in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and will enjoy the likely strong pace here, so could be a dark horse.
King Regent is another dark horse because if breaking on terms he has an exceptional turn of foot. he has some big scalps to his name, including Princess Calla at level weights over 1250m, and he stays a mile.
Atticus Finch is a relatively lightly race five-year-old and this Betway Summer Cup winner looks to have improved. He could be a surprise package too from a good draw as four of his six career wins have been over this trip.
At My Command is a perennial bridesmaid, who was beaten 4,35 lengths into third in the Cape Guineas won by Charles Dickens and that sort of performance here could see him in the frame.
Lucky Lad is a dual Gr 1 winner over 1200m and has failed at both attempts at a mile. However, he suffered bad interference the first time and the second time was in a Gr 1 weight for age mile just a week after winning a Gr 1 sprint. He has had a breathing operation before, but has a fine turn of foot and if able to be switched off he could surprise.
Montien was fifth last year and is in good form so could earn.
They are selected in the order mentioned.
