David Thiselton

The L’Ormarins King’s Plate meeting is one of the iconic meetings of the South African turf and features the country’s oldest race, which has been run annually since 1861.

The Pick 6 will be worth taking as the pool always reaches a decent size.

The first leg of the Pick 6 is the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m. Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner Quickstepgal carries a 2kg Gr 1 penalty. She was beaten 1,75 lengths over 1400m in her penultimate start by Princess Of Gaul, who carries a 1kg penalty as the winner of Gr 2s over 1200m and 1400m. However, Quickstepgal likely needed the latter race and beat Princess Of Gaul by 2,50 lengths in the Guineas. Quickstepgal had fine form in KZN too from 1200m to 1400m. Mia Moo is the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint reigning champion and come off a Listed win over 1160m. Mon Petit Cherie has blossomed into a classy sort and is a runner. Symphony In White and Lowveld Lily could be considered for wider permutations.

In the next leg, the Gr 2 Antonij Ruper Premier Trophy over 1800m, Okovango and Native Ruler are the best weighted pair according to official merit ratings and should fight it out with preference for the latter as he is drawn in pole and has been more eyecatching. Regulation is progressive and he can be considered too from a good draw, despite officially being 7,5kg under sufferance.

In the Cartier Paddock Stakes defending champion Double Grand Slam will go close from draw five out of ten. She comes off a win over 1600m and British Champion jockey Oisin Murphy is up with Andrew Fortune being jocked off. However, Fortune still has a fine chance aboard Double Grand Slam’s stablemate Wish List. This Legislate filly was finishing well from a wide draw in the Cape Fillies Guineas (CFG) for a two length third and on pedigree will relish the step up in trip. She has yet another tough draw of eight. Reet Petite finished strongly in the CFG and it appeared her loss by 0,75 lengths was only because she ran out of real estate. From pole position and with Richard Fourie up she is the choice to win over a step up in trip she should enjoy on pedigree. Rainbow Lorikeet is a reliable sort and is sure to thereabouts again from a good draw. Red Palace was runner up last year, but needs to bounce back from a shocker last time and that won’t be easy from the widest draw of ten. Her stablemate Keukenhof came from last in the Cape Fillies Guineas and was only 3,90 lengths back at the line and will relish the step up in trip. Sukhumvit was impressive last time out when romping home in the Gr 3 1Voucher Victress Stakes over 1800m. She will now be 9kg worse off with the 3,25 length runner up in that contest, Rainbow Lorikeet, so on paper the latter has her measure, but Sukhumvit has just never got going in her career and now that she is coming into her own she could be the surprise package from draw seven. Minogue is in tremendous form and tries a trip for the first time that she is actually bred for, so has a fine chance too from draw six.

Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Buffalo Storm Cody is unbeaten in three starts this season and is the highest rated horse in the country on 132, so will take a power of beating in the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship. He is drawn 13, so hopefully there is not the bias towards the low draws that there has been on occasion. If there is a bias towards low draws then the second highest rated runner, Tenango, will not actually be favoured by barrier one because he is a hold up horse with a terrific finish and will have traffic problems if the field track over towards the inside. I Am Giant is drawn two and is one who likes to relax in midfield before unleashing his powerful finish. Asiye Phambili will love this distance and will be hoping the gaps open for her from a likely midfield position from draw five. Truth and Snow Pilot both have good pace and are outsiders to consider. Constellation is officially way out at the weights but this three-year-old is relatively unexposed and is on the up. Lucky Lad is a twice Gr 1-winning sprinter and although he might need luck from draw three he will enjoy the normal furious pace of this race. Richard Fourie is aboard Gr 1-winning three-year-old filly Direct Hit, whose first career defeat in six starts was last time out when beaten 2,60 lengths over this course and distance by  Asiye Phambili. She was only half-a-kilogram worse off than weight for age in that race, so is up against it with Asiye Phambili here, but that was also her second run after a layoff and she could bounce back.

In the King’s Plate Jan Van Goyen could be something special and will take a power of beating from draw two. The Real Prince can turn it on in fine style and will be a threat. Gladatorian is way better than his last run when unusually strong on the bit and if bouncing back to his best he will be a big runner. See It Again is fresh and a big runner if able to produce his best. Dave The King is always dangerous if able to dictate due to his long run in. Garrix impressed last time and must be a runner too and outsiders to consider are Cosmic Speed and Fire Attack.

The last race over 2500m is tough but the trio who make most appeal are Holding Thumbs, Ahead Of The Facts and Triple Time.