The one everyone wants to win (photo: LQP)
Saturday, 7 January 2017 sees the 156th running of the R1,5 million L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. Eleven runners line up for South Africa’s most prestigious WFA mile and we chatted to the stables about their runners.
Sean Tarry
Sean Tarry returns to defend his title (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Champion trainer Sean Tarry returns with defending champion, 2016 Horse Of The Year, Legal Eagle and his SA Classic / Daily News 2000 star, French Navy.
A five year old son of Greys Inn, Legal Eagle has regular rider Anton Marcus in the saddle and jumps from stall gate 3. Sean says, “I’m pretty pleased with both horses. Both have been in the Cape for quite a well now and are doing well. Legal Eagle has done everything right. I haven’t been too hard on him since his last win (the Green Point Stakes on 3 December). Yes, he’s got things in his favour, but we never take any race for granted and we have a healthy respect for Marinaresco. Anton knows him well which is an advantage. Even though it’s a big day, I’ve tried to leave a little to work with as we’re aiming for the QP and Met again.”
Five year old Count Dubois gelding French Navy had a 5 month break after his outing in last year’s Vodacom Durban July (finishing less than 4 lengths behind The Conglomerate). He had a comeback sprint over 1160m at Turffontein mid-December and Saturday’s Queen’s Plate will be his second run back after a rest. He has never run in the Cape before, so it will also be his debut around the left-handed Kenilworth track. He has the services of Weichong Marwing and has drawn 7. “French Navy is going to need this outing a little bit still. Obviously his main aim is the Met, but I’m actually quite pleased with the horse. I think he’s moving better this season than last season and I think we’re going to see a nice performance. French Navy is not a model – he’s a workmanlike horse, quite thick set and strong. He looks like a horse you’d go to war on. Weichong has ridden him in his last 4 starts and has done precious little wrong. Let’s see how they go here.”
Candice Bass-Robinson
Candice Bass-Robinson – the draw’s a factor (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Candice-Bass Robinson is tackling her first Cape Summer of Champions under her own name and is doing so with aplomb. Displaying all the hallmarks that we have come to expect from the Mike Bass Racing, the string have been judiciously campaigned to peak at the right time. She saddles last season’s talking horse, Marinaresco who had a 3 month layoff after posting a flying second in the 2016 Vodacom Durban July and finishing his 3yo term on an emotional high, winning the Gr1 Mike & Carol Bass Champions Cup on Super Sunday. The 4yo Silvano gelding hit the campaign trail early, posting a solid 3rd place in a 1200m Pinnacle Stakes on the Choice Carriers race day at the end of October, before mounting a spirited finish in the Green Point Stakes to finish less than half a length second to Legal Eagle over the Kenilworth mile. Regular pilot Grant van Niekerk has the ride on Saturday and they jump from the no 10 slot.
Mark Bass told us, “Marinaresco is doing very well and has come on well since his last run. We’re under no illusions – Legal Eagle is a hard horse to beat over a mile, but Marinaresco has had a fantastic prep and is as well as he can be. Grant’s very happy with him and we’re very happy with him. Obviously the draw’s a factor and no-one knows what sort of pace there’s going to be or how the race is going to pan out, but regardless, we’ll be competitive and we’re just hoping he can win for us on the day.”
Brett Crawford
Brett Crawford – will be giving it a go
Brett Crawford is a force to be reckoned with on feature days and fields a trio of runners in Captain America, Sail South and Midnite Zone. Six year old Captain America won the 2015 Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein and finished just behind Legal Eagle in 2016. He disposed of Futura by half a length in the 2015 Green Point Stakes and was 3 lengths off Legal Eagle in the 2016 renewal, so has proven class and ability at Gr1 level. He has drawn 8 and has Corne Orffer in the saddle.
Brett says, “Captain America is having his third run back since his short break at the end of last season, posting a solid win in the October Matchem Stakes and finishing 3rd behind Legal Eagle in the Green Point Stakes). Brett said, “He is doing very well and Corne rides him again on Saturday. He’s had a good prep and is fit and well. It’s a big task for him, but he’s well. Obviously we’re focussing on Saturday first and see how he comes out of that and then hopefully we’ll have a go at the Met.”
Sail South is a 6yo gelding by Sail From Seattle. He has a 5 draw and Richard Fourie has been engaged for the ride. After a short break after his Durban season, Sail South finished less than 2 lengths off Captain America in the Matchem Stakes, won a 1400m Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth in November and was was 4th to Legal Eagle in the Green Point Stakes. Brett comments, “Sail South has been in good form the last couple of months. Obviously on ratings he’s got a huge task ahead of him, but he did run a good race in the Green Point Stakes last time out where he finished 4th in the same sort of field. He’ll run well. He’s a very honest horse and I have no doubt he’ll put up a good showing, although it will be very tough for him. Richard Fourie is riding at the top of his game and will be a big help, no doubt.”
The 4yo Trippi gelding Midnite Zone is a half brother to former Sean Tarry inmate The Hangman and a full brother to another Tarry runner, Trip To Heaven, both of whom campaigned in the Chris van Niekerk silks. Midnite Zone didn’t have a KZN campaign, but also had a short rest after his last outing as a 3yo in June 2016. Since turning 4, he has had 3 outings, including finishing less than a length 3rd to stablemate Captain America in the Matchem Stakes, he was 2 lengths off fellow Queen’s Plate rival Silicone Valley in the 1200m Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth in November and then finished 6.65 lengths behind stablemate Sail South in a 1400m Kenilworth Pinnacle Stakes in November. Midnite Zone jumps from gate 7 and has MJ Byleveld in the irons. Brett says, “Midnite Zone is in good form and ran very well in the Matchem Stakes. This is the first time he tries a mile which won’t be easy, but we’ll give it a go and see.”
Michael Azzie
Michael Azzie – expecting a big race
Mike Azzie’s Triple Crown champion Abashiri got off to a bit of a slow start in Cape Town, but Mike says things are looking up for the 4yo son of Go Deputy.
“He didn’t travel very well and when he got off the float he didn’t want to touch his food and didn’t eat at all for 4 days prior to race. I said to Anthony (Delpech) ‘don’t even hit him, let him drop out, learn how to corner on the left hand bend, let him run on and have a learning curve.’ It was an absolute exercise for him. He actually lost a lot of weight prior to the race, but he’s built up nicely and is getting better and better every single day. He’s been staying with Eric Sands’ yard where my assistant Natalie has been looking after him and I’ve been travelling up and down. He’s really doing very well now and put up a phenomenal gallop on Monday. I’m expecting a big race in the Queen’s Plate and think we’ll have him spot on for the Sun Met.” Gavin Lerena has been drafted in for the ride and Mike says, “Karl Zechner broke his wrist and Anthony Delpech has a broken collar bone, so we’ve got Gavin on board on Saturday. Whenever I’ve had a good horse I always try and use Gavin as I think he’s a good horseman. I’ve always rated Gavin highly and he is a boy for the big occasions.” Abashiri will jump from gate 1 on Saturday.
Glen Puller
Glen Puller – stepping up to the big guns (pic: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Glen Puller’s lightly raced Jay Peg gelding Silicone Valley had a 4 month layoff after his last run as a 5yo and hit the new season running, beating a respectable field (including Marinaresco) in a 1200m Kenilworth Pinnacle Stakes and then finishing half a length second to Search Party in the Gr2 Cape Merchants. The Queen’s Plate will be the 3rd outing of his 6yo campaign, he has drawn 2 and up and coming young rider Donovan Dillon has been selected to take the reins on Saturday.
Assistant Warren Misplon commented, “He’s fit and well and Donovan rode him in work on Monday. His last run brought him on nicely and we’re expecting a decent run. We know we’re up against Gr1 company and we’re stepping up to the big guns, but we’ll see what he’s about.”
Joey Ramsden
Joey Ramsden – tough draw again (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Goodhope Racing’s 5yo Lonhro gelding, The Conglomerate has been campaigning in Johannesburg since overcoming the worst of the draws to triumph in the 2016 Vodacom Durban July. He had two sharp pipe openers in the lead up to the 2016 Summer Cup, finishing 7.25 lengths off Kangaroo Jack in the 1450m October Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge and 6.8 lengths behind New Predator in the 2016 Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile, before finishing less than 2 lengths behind Master Sabina in last year’s Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup in late November. The Conglomerate has again copped the widest of the draw, but has Piere Strydom in the saddle to help him with that.
Joey comments, “Obviously this is his first run back after a little break, but we gave him a good workout last Saturday and his work was exceptional.” Pressed on the draw and Striker’s talents for minimising their impact, he says, “He is capable, that’s for sure. I’ll leave it to him and hopefully both horse and pilot are in a good mood on Saturday.”
Justin Snaith
Justin Snaith – will be pleased to sneak into the top 5 (photo: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Straight talking Snaith spokesman Jono Snaith was typically candid about the chances of their charge, the 4yo Trippi gelding Fifty Cents on Saturday. “It looks like a two horse race. But, we can’t have the horse any better. He has had 12 career starts and never finished out of the money, however he’s never really taken on this type of class before and we’d be very pleased if he can sneak into the top 5 against the best milers in the country.” Fifty Cents is drawn 4 and current jockey log leader Greg Cheyne has the ride.
Mike de Kock
Mike De Kock – up against it (credit: hamishNIVENPhotography)
Globe-trotting trainer Mike de Kock saddles Bold Rex, who is part-owned by his trainer and is a son of Mike’s 2010 July winner Bold Silvano. The 3yo put up a good showing on his Cape Town debut, finishing half a length to Icy Trail in the 1800m Gr2 Sun International Premier Trophy on 17 December. He’s drawn 6 and will be ridden by Randall Simons on Saturday. Mathew de Kock said, “He’s the type of horse that thrives with racing. He’s really done well in Cape Town, however, he is up against it. He’s facing two strong horses in Legal Eagle and Marinaresco, but I definitely think he’s capable and worthy of taking his place and does have a place chance.”
