One would have to travel halfway around the world to find a more tantalising and fascinating horseracing spectacle than Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 L’Ormarin Queen’s Plate. They have come from near and far with a Vodacom Durban July winner, a Sansui Summer Cup winner and a Cape Guineas star to take on the might of the Snaith Racing machine in their own backyard – at weight for age.
Legislate – outstanding miler
The Snaiths are enjoying a cracking season and with over 100 winners on the board, they are more than ready to get stuck into the serious side of things – the Gr1 playing fields, where history shows that they need fear no man or his horse.
With 33 runners on a day they modestly call ‘our Met day’, they will be looking to put the royal cherry on the top with their power attack of two Dynasty SA Horses Of The Year in Legislate and Futura.
Impressive
The latter is out to retain his 2015 LQP crown, which he won in such impressive fashion for his then trainer Brett Crawford – and interestingly forgettable race for the odds-on off colour Legislate, who went home with his tail between his legs.
Both have won four Gr 1’s apiece, and their personal match tally in their four clashes to date stands at 2 all.
In good health, Legislate certainly looks the part as the more effective miler and the engagement of Piere Strydom looks a particularly inspired and astute one.
Legislate has not run for 23 weeks since going third in the Champions Cup (run over 1800m) behind Futura.
Fitter
Futura is one prep run ahead of Legislate, after storming through late to be beaten a half length by Captain America in the Green Point Stakes.
Futura – can he do the magic double?
That was a slow run affair and there is no question that the heat will be on come Saturday – which will suit Futura’s bid to win the race for the successive year.
Futura is top drawer and could well pull of the prestigious LQP-Met double again this year.
The junior partner in the Snaith trio is the recent Listed Jet Master Stakes winner Heartland, who looks to have plenty of scope.
He has shown himself to be right on top of the best and he could be a dark horse, although will need to up his game again to challenge.
Legal Action
The highest rated runner in the race is the Sean Tarry-trained Legal Eagle, who has his first run in the Cape.
Legal Eagle wins the Gr1 SA Derby
With Anton Marcus now riding him, plenty of value is added to his chances, even when running over short of his optimum trip at this level.
The J&B Met is his chief target and with his last prep run under the belt, he may strip a more competitive galloper than many would choose to believe.
His stablemate Gold Onyx is an evergreen eight-year-old who went close last year when third and only 1,75 lengths behind Futura in a small field. He showed his well -being last time out when second in the Gr2 Premier Trophy over 1800m – in a race of admittedly questionable form.
Joey’s Duo
The 4yo Act Of War (yet another son of Dynasty) heads the Ramsden coupling.
Act Of War – no luck with the draw
Last season’s Gr1 Cape Guineas and Gr 2 Selangor Cup winner has been lightly raced and his last run, when finishing fourth behind Captain America, Futura and Paterfamilias in the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes over Saturday’s trip, can probably largely be ignored as he was caught behind the action off a slow pace.
He – and the great competitor Andrew Fortune – will be keen to set the record straight with the older Captain America and Futura for his last defeat.
The second of the Ramsden duo is the elegant grey King Of Pain, who shocked the best milers in the country when winning the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge two seasons ago.
His run in the Gr2 Premier Trophy can be best ignored as he had countless ‘roadblocks’ to negotiate up the home straight.
His last start in the Gr2 Diadem Stakes was a decent one. He got going too late and made ground on the speed in front of him to finish 2,30 lengths off Lanner Falcon in a race he was not expected to win.
Brett Crawford’s hope of retaining his LQP title will rest on the shoulders of recent Green Point Stakes winner Captain America, a winner of the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes last term.
Captain America – good win in Green Point Stakes
Captain America has excellent course and distance form and it will be interesting to see how he handles being challenged early in a fast run race.
Young Gun
The Cape Guineas winner Noah From Goa is a fascinating inclusion in an already complex puzzle and attempts to become a very rare 3yo winner of this race.
An impressive winner of 5 of 6 starts, the Mike de Kock galloper just improves with every run and gets 5kgs from his elders.
Noah From Goa wins the Guineas
This will be his first shot in the big league against proven and mature opponents – but if any trainer can pull the rabbit out of the hat, it is De Kock.
Sensational Sansui Summer Cup winner, Master Sabina returns to the Cape after an unsuccessful raid here in 2014.
He has won thrice at a mile but there is little question that he prefers a little further these days as a mature horse.
Master Sabina – in good form
The 6yo son of Jet Master will have the Met as his chief target but could give them a fright by challenging for the places, running fresh from a decent draw.
July Hero
Dean Kannemeyer opens his Cape Summer of Champions campaign with Vodacom Durban July hero Power King.
The son of Silvano has not run in six weeks since travelling North to contest the Sansui Summer Cup – where he ran 3,40 lengths off Master Sabina, after looking dangerous in the final 400m.
He meets the Woodruff runner on 2kgs better terms here and it is worth noting that Power King was on the brink of following in the footsteps of the great Pocket Power when just failing to win the Cape Winter Triple Crown two seasons ago.
Power King – mile may be short of his best
Running fresh, the 5yo could run above his mile form and give the main men a fright.
Alec Laird makes a rare visit to Cape Town and has high hopes for the Gr2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile winner Bouclette Top, who has been a revelation since blinkers were fitted.
The son of Giant’s Causeway has drawn a touch nastily at 13, but has the vastly experienced Weichong Marwing in the irons. He looks a likely pacesetter.
Outside Hopes
While Mike Bass has enjoyed an extraordinary run of feature success, he may understandably be less hopeful of winning this major.
He saddles recent Listed Memorial Mile winner Night Trip and the somewhat out of sorts, Ashton Park.
Night Trip has good recent form – but is he good enough at Gr1 level?
Riding arrangements suggest that Night Trip is the better and from his decent 3 draw, he can be fancied to knock for a back end of the quartet.
This will be a very different ball game to beating Symbolik at Fairview and he looks held by Captain America and Futura on his Green Point Stakes fifth-placed effort.
Ashton Park has drawn wide at 14 and is a few lengths inferior to the best. He is continually campaigned at this level without ever being disgraced – at the same time also not really making any sort of impact. We will pass him by.
Crowning Moment
Bar one or two, a case can be made for most of the field. Justin Snaith holds a supremely powerful hand with Legislate and Futura and there will be little to choose between them.
Captain America has enjoyed a great prep and cannot be underestimated.
The year younger Act Of War is a top-class miler and we have yet to see the best of South Africa’s top-rated horse, Legal Eagle.
