Power Player! Pocket Power won this race four times.
The countdown has begun! South Africa’s premier racemeeting is scheduled for just a month from today. The 151st running of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate takes place at the beautiful Kenilworth Racecourse near Cape Town on 7 January 2012 and will be run for a stake of R1 million. It promises once again to be a royal and elegant celebration of art, passion and equine excellence.
The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate has a long and proud history and has distinguished itself as the most prestigious weight-for-age mile contest in Africa. Run over 1600m at Weight-For-Age terms, it demands a mix of speed, stamina and outstanding class and ability from a prospective winner. Unlike a traditional handicap, where horses’ weights are broadly balanced by varying determinants, often meaning that the better performed competitors are dragged down by increased weights, the Queens Plate participants are weighted purely by age and sex. Thus the best horse should win the race and it truly is the stuff of racing purist’s dreams. On the same afternoon the feature bill includes the R1 million Gr1 TBA Paddock Stakes run over 1800m and the Listed Politician Stakes, run at set weights over 1800m.
For the information of trainers and owners, L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate entries close at 11h00 on 21 December 2011, while supplementary entries must be in by no later than 11h00 on 28 December 2011. Weights will be published on the same afternoon and final declarations close at 11h00 on Thursday 29 December 2011.
First run in 1861 in honour of Queen Victoria, the honour role of this prestigious event reads like the who’s who of South African equine stars. Won for a remarkable four consecutive years by the now retired legend Pocket Power, before his stranglehold was broken in 2011 by the brilliant Mike De Kock-trained mare, Mother Russia, other great names include Joey Ramsden’s former Horse Of The Year Winter Solstice, who won it twice in 2005 and 2006.
Dual Winner. The iconic Sea Cottage won it twice in the sixties.
Pocket Power’s recently deceased Champion Sire Jet Master won the great race in 1999 and 2000. Other luminaries to have won it twice include the iconic Sea Cottage(1966/7), Chichester(1970/1), the New Zeland-bred Sledgehammer(1975/6), Syd Laird’s Politician(1978/9) and the flying gey bomber Wolf Power(1983/4). Saturday 7 January 2012 will again bring together the most noble thoroughbreds in the country against an august backdrop of blue and white on a day of fine dining and world-class entertainment.
The white and blue elegance that will underpin the Best Dressed and Best Hat competition, will be judged by some of South Africa’s leaders in the fashion industry, namely Sam Walker (PopYaCollar), Emily Bell (Marie Claire), Jacqui Kolbe (Milliner) and Tammy Tinker (British Vogue). The day will be captured by professional photographers in what has become known as The L’Ormarins Moment.
The popular Style Lounge will include culinary delights from sushi to gourmet burgers and sandwiches, as well as a selection of the finest Anthonij Rupert Wines. There will also be a selection of vintage cars on display from one of the largest collections in the world, courtesy of the Franschhoek Motor Museum.
Beautiful People. The Blue and White theme creates an elegant ambience.
The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate has captured the imagination of personalities and sporting icons alike, including the legendary Gary Player, Ernie Els, Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger, Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith, as well as celebrities Francesca Cumani, Kitty Spencer, Joanne Strauss, Michele Mclean and Jen Su.
The R250 entrance for those 18 and older provides for an all-access pass, a race card for the day, and access to the evening’s entertainment. Food and drink is not included. Entry is from 11h00 and tickets are available at Web Tickets from 1 November 2011.
For more information visit www.lqp.co.za
