A total of 17 entries were received on Monday for the 164th renewal of South Africa’s premier summer season weight-for-age mile.
The R3 million L’Ormarins King’s Plate will be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 4 January and the class of ’25 includes three exciting sophomores in Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner One Stripe, and the Justin Snaith duo of Eight On Eighteen and Great Plains, who ran second and third respectively in the ‘Classic of Kings’ on 14 December.
One Stripe – could take his place with a fair draw (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Visiting trainers include Sean Tarry (Lucky Lad), Alec Laird, who has nominated Betway Summer Cup star Atticus Finch , Johan Janse Van Vuuren (Barbaresco) and East Cape kingpin Gavin Smith, who has entered Bingwa.
While the 2023 champion Charles Dickens has retired to stud, Ricky Maingard could take his chances again with shock 2022 winner Al Muthana.
L’ORMARINS KING’S PLATE (WFA) (Grade 1)
| 1 | Al Muthana (AUS) | Ricky Maingard | 120 | |
| 10 | At My Command | BJ Crawford/JI Crawford | 119 | |
| 5 | Atticus Finch | Alec Laird | 121 | |
| 16 | Barbaresco | J A Janse van Vuuren | 122 | |
| 4 | Bingwa | Gavin Smith | 120 | |
| 7 | Eight On Eighteen | Justin Snaith | 115 | |
| 13 | Gimme A Prince | Dean Kannemeyer | 130 | |
| 12 | Great Plains | Justin Snaith | 112 | |
| 2 | King Regent | Glen Kotzen | 114 | |
| 14 | Lucky Lad | Sean Tarry | 125 | |
| 15 | Montien | Piet Botha | 120 | |
| 8 | One Stripe | Vaughan Marshall | 118 | |
| 3 | Oriental Charm | BJ Crawford/JI Crawford | 125 | |
| 9 | Royal Aussie | Justin Snaith | 124 | |
| 11 | See It Again | Michael Roberts | 131 | |
| 17 | Snow Pilot | Justin Snaith | 125 | |
| 6 | Without Question | Justin Snaith | 118 | |
| (17) | ||||
The race was first run in honour of Queen Victoria after she gifted a silver plate and 500 sovereigns to the South African Turf Club.
The inaugural contest was staged as a heats event in April 1861, with the honours going to Cape Town owner Mr Chiappini’s horse, Dispatch.
The Queen’s Plate has kept its royal ties meticulously. After the death of Queen Victoria, it was run as the King’s Plate during the reigns of Edward VII and George VI and then reverted to being named the Queen’s Plate when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1952.
The 162nd running of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in January 2023 hailed a new era in the history of the country’s premier mile race after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and a reversion to the King’s Plate.
Double Grand Slam (Richard Fourie) silences her detractors. Rainbow Lorikeet (Juan Paul van der Merwe) stays on for second (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Thirteen fillies and mares were nominated for the R1 million Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes with Mike de Kock, Sean Tarry and Lorenzo Karriem carrying the visitors’ flag.
PADDOCK STAKES (WFA) (Grade 1)
| 9 | Double Grand Slam | Justin Snaith | 119 | |
| 2 | Gold Poker Game | Candice Bass-Robinson | 107 | |
| 3 | Indian Ocean | Lorenzo Karriem | 107 | |
| 5 | Knockout | Justin Snaith | 103 | |
| 10 | Lavender Bay | Andre Nel | 71 | |
| 7 | Little Suzie | Justin Snaith | 107 | |
| 1 | Rainbow Lorikeet | Candice Bass-Robinson | 105 | |
| 11 | Rascova | Glen Kotzen | 119 | |
| 8 | Red Palace | Dean Kannemeyer | 119 | |
| 4 | Saartjie | Andre Nel | 118 | |
| 13 | Silver Sanctuary | Mike de Kock | 117 | |
| 6 | Whistle The Tune | Glen Kotzen | 103 | |
| 12 | World Of Alice | Sean Tarry | 108 | |
| (13) | ||||
Supplementary entries for both features close at 11h00 on Friday 27 December, with declarations due by 11h00 on Monday 30 December.
