It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves – William Shakespeare
OK, you all know I’m a bit excited about this year’s l’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. With the 150th running of the race coinciding with undisputed jewel in our racing crown attempting his 5th successive Queen’s Plate victory, there is a little more to get excited about than usual and I have spent some time trying to get a closer look at some of this year’s runners.
Pocket Power
I popped along to Kenilworth an hour ahead of the Boxing Day meet to watch Pocket Power take to the grass for his Queen’s Plate prep gallop. Other than a few on-course staff, the course was pretty deserted, but it made for a rare and rather surreal treat to have such a private audience with The Champ.
There is a striking sense of community surrounding Pocket Power. Mike Bass, Marsh Shirtliff and Mr & Mrs Webber have obviously been part of his life since he went under the hammer at the 2004 Yearling Sales. Boy Boy Jevu has been his groom for the past 4 years and Bernard Fayd’herbe has partnered him for 31 of his 41 runs (and 17 of his 20 wins) – and all this contributes to a sense of well-oiled routine and easy efficiency.
Mr Bass, laid back as always, greets us with a cheery wave; Bernard is clean cut and casual in his white T-shirt and jeans and Aldo flashes his cheeky trademark grin as he’s legged up onto Fort Vogue. Boy Boy is wearing his usual wraparound smile and the pride and affection for his charge are written large on his face. The Champ is alert, but his mood seems mischievous, rather than anxious. He trots off smartly down the track, oblivious to the fact that he is somewhat dwarfed by his chestnut companion. With the two lads exchanging good-natured banter as they go, they look for all the world like two old hacks out for a Sunday stroll.
A few minutes later, they return – all business this time – as the horses put in some pretty good work. They pull up just beyond the bend and then turn for home. As I watch them hacking back – Bernard with his feet out of the stirrups and Pocket Power alert and full of life – I realize that I have a great big silly grin on my face.
A couple of horses going for a grass gallop may not seem much of an event, but Pocket Power somehow puts this little warm bubble in your chest. Judging by the shy smiles of my companions on the rail and the fact that Bernard lingers for a few extra moments to give him a pat, I am not the only one he has this effect on.
Pocket Power is an 8yo son of Jet Master and runs in the distinctive Shirtliff colours (pink for the girls, blue for the boys and white for everyone else!). He is drawn well and the weights certainly look to be in his favour. There is no need to say that there will be huge support on Saturday. Not only for sentimental reasons – Pocket Power’s last two runs have shown him to be in the form of his life and he will certainly be there do to business on Saturday. Bernard – ride him like you stole him!
Of course there are stories within stories. Mr Shirtliff is also part-owner of Blue Tiger and Captain’s Secret, so will potentially have 3 reasons to celebrate on Saturday.
Mike Bass is also saddling 4 additional runners, including Blue Tiger, Captain’s Secret, Rushing Wind and Super Storm.
Blue Tiger
Blue Tiger lives next door to Pocket Power at the Bass yard and often leads him out in the string. This beautiful son of Counter Action is hard to resist and has always impressed me with how friendly and good-natured he seems to be. I confess that I am a bit of a sucker for a grey, though! With current champion apprentice jockey Aldo Domeyer at the reins and the distinctive purple and lime green silks, this beautiful grey will certainly catch the eye.
Captain’s Secret
The 4yo son of Captain Al faces a stern challenge, but will be ably partnered by Richard Fourie, who produced one of my favourite rides of 2010 when he brought Cask home victorious in the Premier Trophy in a hands and heels ride.
Rushing Wind
The penultimate runner from the Bass yard is a handsome 5yo son of Windrush, Rushing Wind. He will be partnered by Karl Neisius and running in the green and yellow stars of the Jooste silks.
Super Storm
Super Storm takes to the turf in the familiar red and white checked silks of Lammerskraal Stud. This flashy 4yo son of Rakeen is particularly easy on the eye and boasting ‘Striker’ Strydom in the irons and is sure to get a lot of support.
Past Master
Past Master deserves a big mention. This very handsome 4yo Jet Master son is a credit to the breeding efforts of Mr Hymie Maisel and Hyjo Stud. He finished less than two lengths off Pocket Power in the Ocean Basket Green Point Stakes and swept home in emphatic fashion ahead of a very classy Diadem Stakes field in December.
Gerrit Schlechter has partnered him for 3 of his 4 career wins. As the old saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!’ so Gerrit will be taking the reins again on Saturday. Past Master is a robust, flashy individual and with his bright bay colouring and large white blaze must be one of the most eye-catching runners on the card. I found myself outside his box at Milnerton recently and it appears that he is nearly as kind as he is pretty !
Darryl Hodgson also saddles Casey Cool, the 6yo son of Casey Tibbs and both horses will be running in the famous blue and grey colours of one of Cape Town’s most enthusiastic owners, Mr Hassen Adams.
Tropical Empire
This very racy son of Second Empire represents our KZN contingent. He looked exceptionally classy in the recent Diadem Stakes and I know Duncan Howells will have him in peak condition. With Glen Hatt enjoying a fantastic season, this combination is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Tales Of Bravery
The 4yo Vaughan Marshall runner got the better of Pocket Power in last year’s Pinnacle Stakes by just over 2 lengths. MJ Byleveld has partnered him for his last 7 runs will be stepping into the irons on this Kahal son again on Saturday. As is his habit, Vaughan will no doubt have his charge turned out to perfection. With very few people still taking the trouble to plait for races, it is a real pleasure to see Mr Marshall’s runners on the parade – they always add a touch of old school class!
Fabiani
This handsome son of Model Man has become a big race stalwart and no race day is complete without a representative from the Woodhill yard. Considering the emphasis on Queen’s Plate fashion, who better than the aptly named Fabiani ! Raymond Danielson will be taking up the reins.
We have 3 challengers from the Eastern Cape – Celtic Fire, Time and Love and American Man.
Celtic Fire
Yvette Bremner saddles the 4yo PE challenger, Celtic Fire. This son of Bezrin has won his last 3 outings (2 over a distance of 1600m). He seems to run well for Karis Teetan, who will step into the stirrups again on Saturday.
Time And Love
Time and Love is our only runner by Jallad and the 6yo from the Stephen van Rensburg stable will be piloted by Matthys Odendaal.
American Man
Mitch Wiese’s American Man had a good pipe-opener in Sunday’s Southeaster Sprint at Kenilworth. Sean Veale – who recently scored a Boxing Day hat trick at Clairwood – will be taking the ride on this son of Galileo.
Lastly, representing the fairer (faster ?) sex, we have two female challengers in the much vaunted Ebony Flyer and another representative for Windrush, Mother Russia.
Ebony Flyer
I’ve been lucky enough to get up close and personal with this season’s Cape sensation – the precocious 3yo filly, Ebony Flyer. Her sheer size is obviously enough to make an impression, but that 17’1 frame comes with a bucket load of quality and this filly sure knows how to class up a joint.
With her size and colour, it is hard not to draw parallels with another famous filly across the Atlantic… Justin tells me that Ebony Flyer has a similarly friendly temperament and will always poke her head over her door to say hello. The fact that she is currently unbeaten certainly adds to her mystique.
The day I go to watch her prep gallop she steps regally off the float, but quickly picks up the sense of occasion and is looking pretty lively by the time Felix Coetzee is boosted on board. Although Felix has only partnered her in one run to date, their partnership is being honed on the training gallops. Felix usually looks serious and focused in the saddle, but there is a twinkle in his eye and a little smile playing on his lips as she freshes around the parade ring. He tells me afterwards that she is a real star and his warmth and enthusiasm for the filly are very apparent. Watching them blaze past me on the grass it is not hard to see why !
Although she will be under the lightest impost of the day at 52.5kg, Ebony Flyer is the youngest horse in the field. She has not had the best of the draw, but the Queens’ Plate is contested over Kenilworth’s summer course, widely considered the fairest in South Africa. Although it favours horses with the ability to run handy, Felix will no doubt use the generous 600m run in to get them well placed by the time they approach the bend.
For anyone who survived the festive season with a bit of cash to spare, Ebony Flyer has a half brother by Captain Al going under the hammer on the Cape Premier Sale…..
Mother Russia
This 5yo daughter of Windrush hails from Veronica Foulkes’ Normandy Stud and carries Wilgerbosdrift’s Mary Slack’s famous black silks and red cap (incidentally the same ones carried by her great great grandsire, Buckpasser).
I believe this filly has really filled out and come into her own over the last few months and if reports are to be believed, she is in the form of her life. Mike de Kock does not take on a field of this strength frivolously and will certainly not have travelled this far for a social visit! Mother Russia does not flinch at taking on the boys and with current champion jockey Anton Marcus engaged for the ride, this gutsy filly has got to have a big chance.
To borrow some more words from the bard – ‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them’. So, mirror mirror on the wall, who will be the greatest of them all ? Will the People’s Champion make history ? Could the girls trounce the boys, or will Lady Luck be smiling on one of our other challengers ? I hope you’ll join me on the rail on Saturday to find out.
