Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer have long maintained that Dutch Philip is a sprinter and the What A Winter colt went quite some way to proving their point when he dropped back from the 1 400m of the Cape Classic to take second to Silicone Valley in the World Sports Betting Cape Merchants (a Grade 2 handicap) at the beginning of last month and it will be fascinating to see how he fares against top sprinters like Trip To Heaven and Search Party in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday 13 January.

Dutch Philip (Liesl King)

Dutch Philip is comfortably the highest rated of the four three-year-olds in the race although he is 4.5kg below Trip To Heaven who was a most convincing winner of this 1 200m race last year. But Search Party and Sergeant Hardy are officially considered only 1.5kg above him. Search Party was third in last year’s race and second in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint in July while Sergeant Hardy won the Listed Southeaster Sprint just before Christmas.

The race, which has been won by some real stars in the past, will again see some hot competition with Grade 1 winners Talktothestars and Always In Charge also in the line-up.

Khaya Stables has also raced a number of stars including Capetown Noir who won both the Cape Guineas and the Cape Derby. Its present big name horse is Last Winter who is second favourite for the Sun Met.

Those on course will be eligible for a number of lucky prize draws, including a chance to win tickets for the Met. Call 021-797 6037 for hospitality inquiries.

By Michael Clower

Final field and draws for the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes (Grade 2) over 1200m at Kenilworth:

So, just how good is Snowdance? Stable companion Oh Susanna, best of the rest when Snowdance annihilated the Fillies Guineas field, put the star older fillies to bed in Saturday’s Cartier Paddock Stakes.

Justin Snaith, winning his fourth Paddock in 11 seasons, said: “I think you know the answer but I did say at the time of the Fillies Guineas that if anything could beat Snowdance it was this one.”

Snowdance now goes for the Klawervlei Majorca on Met day but seemingly there will be no rematch with Oh Susanna. “It is not up to me – it will be a team decision – but going back to a mile wouldn’t be the right thing to do. Oh Susanna will go to Durban.”

Oh Susanna (Liesl King)

Grant van Niekerk, who also won this in Gaynor Rupert’s colours on Inara three years ago, said: “I was basically a passenger. When I pulled her out she quickened clear and she kept going. If anything had come to her she would have quickened again.”

He and Snaith each won a third of the 18 races over the two-day meeting and he said: “When you are riding for Snaith Racing on big days you come with confidence because you know the horses will be ready.”

The trainer responded, saying: “Grant has a quirk about himself – a certain way that he handles things – but he is such a good young jockey and horses run for him.”

They certainly do even though his all-consuming will to win sometimes takes precedence over keeping them straight and, as a result, he is almost as familiar with the boardroom as he is with the winner’s box. He got another ten days for interference on Friday and has resolved to bite the bullet straightaway, starting the suspension on Wednesday. He was also fined R2 500 for raising his arm in triumph before he reached the line on Oh Susanna.

Second-placed Lady In Black, fourth to Snowdance in the Fillies Guineas, will also miss the Majorca. “She needs further so I didn’t enter her,” Dennis Drier explained.

Nightingale ran way below form and finished with only two behind her, with Anthony Delpech reporting that she was not striding out properly. Gimme Six (11^th) was squeezed early in the straight while Wind Chill (eighth) lost a front shoe.

By Michael Clower

…after what is going to be fantastic racing at the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate meeting at Kenilworth on Friday and Saturday.

Abashiri

Abashiri is the selection in the London News, which is a conditions race over 1800m. He has been showing glimpses of his old self this season. Last time out in the Summer Cup he was dropped out to last from a wide draw and proved too be too far back. He sliced through the field with that giant stride of his, but understandably ran out of steam in the closing stages having made up a lot of ground. He now has a plum draw of two and Gavin Lerena is up. The course and distance is ideal and he is second best in at the weights. Matador Man is the best weighted horse. The tough Turffontein Standside 1800m might stretch him, but he is much better drawn than he was when disappointing in the Victory Moon Stakes over course and distance. He should find cover from this draw and can then use his powerful finish to good affect in the straight, as he did when third over this trip at Greyville in the Grade 1 Champions Cup.

The dark horse in the race is the classy Irish-bred filly Cascapedia. She is officially not well weighted, especially as she is in reality still a three-year-old having been bred in Ireland. However, she looks full of class and was impressive over course and distance last time out when stretching away to win easily. She has a good draw and champion jockey Anthony Delpech is up. The Elmo Effect has an impressive stride and has won twice over this trip. He has an ideal pole position draw for his style and should be staying on strongly in the straight, so could be good value for a place. Pagoda ran a good fourth from a similar draw to this tricky one in the Summer Cup. He needs to be well drawn as he does not have good gate-speed but he will be staying on. He is 2kg better off with Coral Fever, who beat him by a short-head in the Summer Cup. Coral Fever was drawn 19 out of 19 in the Summer Cup, so can earn again here from a better draw of eight. Brazuca ran a bit disappointingly in the Summer Cup from a tough draw.

Brazuca

He has a better drawn here and runs well fresh, but it going to be tough giving 2kg to Abashiri and 2,5kg to Matador Man. Girl On The Run won the Victory Moon from a handy position and made a bold bid from the front in the Summer Cup. She can’t be written off from a fair draw. Bi Pot will also relish the course and distance. French Navy is a Grade 1 winner over this course and distance and can’t be ignored, although his last win was two years ago.

In the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m, Royal Crusade and Majestic Mambo as two-time winners have to give 2kg to the Investec Dingaans runner up Seerite. However, Royal Crusade caught the eye last time as one who switches off well and then when asked the question shows a fine turn of foot and a powerful action. Seerite is a long-striding sort who will love the course and distance having flown for a narrow second from a wide draw in the Dingaans. Majestic Mambo stretched away last time to remain unbeaten in two starts, both over this trip. However, he does have a tricky draw to overcome. Haralan County went close in the Secretariat Stakes over 1400m, although he was receiving 7,5 kg from the classy winner Surcharge. He is progressive and should enjoy this trip. Alshibaa has regular Mike de Kock rider Callan Murray up, but his Dingaans run was disappointing and he still has a bit to prove.

By David Thiselton

The five-month break could find him ring-rusty but Dennis Bosch is in hot form at present and Chantyman showed last term that he has plenty of potential.

He shed his maiden at second time of asking in facile fashion and although unplaced in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes next time out, he was only beaten five lengths by Eyes Wide Open after jumping from a tricky draw over the Greyville mile.

Haddington (Candiese Marnewick)

However, if Chantyman does go ‘missing’ the race turns into a difficult puzzle as there are a number of other runners in with chances.

Bottom weight Gadget Man ran a cracker first up on the poly, beating course and distance specialist Fire The Rocket, and was then arguably unlucky when finding traffic at a crucial stage of his race when going the mile.

He is in receipt of 5.5kg from the year-younger Chantyman and comes from an in-form stable which adds to his appeal.

Top weight Mumsy’s Jet doesn’t know how to run a bad race and was a close-up third over course and distance in tough company last time out. He is also something of a course and distance specialist and with apprentice Ashton Arries claiming he must be in with a shout for the eighth win of his career.

Sunset Eyes made a fair enough local debut and should be all the better for the run and also comes into the reckoning.

Cossack Guard was something of a bookmakers favourite in Cape Town, finishing second in seven of his 13 starts, but given a break and shipped back to home territory he finally got his act together last month when running out a comfortable winner of his maiden. That form was given a boost when second-placed King’s Command, who was making his debut, made short work of his opposition next time out.

He makes his handicap debut in the opening leg of the jackpot in a field that includes course and distance specialist Fire The Rocket. Doug Campbell’s gelding was never in the hunt in the Chapter Challenge final on the Scottsville turf but is lengths better on the poly and looks an obvious threat to Cossack Guard.

Wayne Bardenhorst has recently moved from a private establishment near Richmond to Summerveld and Ogilvy can give him his first winner out of his new premises. The four-year-old has been much improved since moving to Bardenhorst, finishing third and fourth respectively.

He is under sufferance at the weights but looks capable of further improvement in a field that doesn’t stack up to much.

The well named Ouzo was given a hefty merit rating for his maiden win and is lumbered with top weight in his handicap debut in the eighth. The gelding won third time of asking for Alyson Wright, up with the pace for most of the trip and going on strongly to win comfortably.

Second placed, The Grey Crusader has been luckless and winless so far, but would have a chance in this line-up. Gold Chalice and Zenzero look the most obvious dangers.

A winner of four of his last six races, Haddington has been shrewdly placed by Louis Goosen and has been creeping up the ratings little by little. He’s as game as they come and although ten furlongs would appear to be his optimum trip, two of his recent victories have been over tonight’s course and distance where he has an outstanding chance of rounding off the meeting.

By Andrew Harrison

Legal Eagle is a dreadfully short price but he is well-nigh impossible to oppose in his bid to win the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate for the third successive year at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The six-year-old looked as good as ever when he returned to Cape Town to take the Green Point five weeks ago and the champion trainer’s conversation with tabonline’s Jack Milner earlier this week confirmed that the horse has now found the expected extra and is very much on-song – “He has had a perfect prep and everything has gone smoothly.”

Anton Marcus (Liesl King)

Victory tomorrow would extend his unbeaten run over a mile to eight and provide four-time champion Anton Marcus with Queen’s Plate number seven.

Trading at 6-10 or 7-10 is for the brave but this is a good race for short-priced horses. Although Legal Eagle 12 months ago was the first winning favourite for four years, favourites had won seven of the previous eight runnings and only one winner has started at a bigger price than 7-1 this century.

The only horse that could reasonably be expected to put it up to the dual Horse of the Year is Edict Of Nantes and he is due to spend the rest of his days in Hong Kong.

Gold Standard is the next shortest in the betting at 6-1. He was good enough to finish second in the Cape Guineas and fourth in the Sun Met last season before being sidelined as a safety measure and his return has gone more or less according to plan. But he is not a champion.

Captain America (7-1) is a tough, consistent sort who was second last year and fourth the year before. He seems sure to make the frame but third time lucky? No.

Stable companion Sail South is a big price at 16-1 for a horse that was third 12 months ago – less than a length behind Captain America – and has retained his form. He looks a reasonable place bet at 9-4.

Marinaresco (10-1) has been deliberately left undercooked to stop him dropping himself too far off the pace. It’s a gamble but, as his trainer freely admits, this mile is too short for him and his race is the Met.

African Night Sky (17-2) is held in high esteem by his stable but in the Winter Series it was only the 2 400m of the final leg that marked him out as something much better than his contemporaries and it is hard to see Bernard Fayd’Herbe winning his sixth Queen’s Plate tomorrow.

Hat Puntano (10-1) is difficult to assess. At his best he just might cause an upset but the favourite would have to run way below form for him to win.

Silicone Valley ran a great race to take fifth 12 months ago but that is as good as he is while fellow 25-1 shot Deo Juvente’s flop last time – he was found to have sore muscles in his chest and hindquarters afterwards – hardly inspires confidence and the rest surely don’t count.

Mike de Kock has won the Cartier Paddock Stakes four times – the most recent with Nother Russia’s dam Mother Russia in 2010 – but he has also sent out six beaten favourites. Craig Zackey’s mount is a warm order but favourites have won four of the last ten runnings and she is taken to win.

She probably has most to fear from Nightingale and the Snaith trio Gimme Six, Star Express and Oh Susanna. The last-named has been backed from 12-1 to 7-1 this week and three-year-olds have won three of the last seven Paddocks.

Today Just Sensual can follow up her Southern Cross win by taking the Cartier Sceptre Stakes for Marcus and Joey Ramsden but don’t forget what Snaith said about Mister Colin in race three tomorrow.

By Michael Clower

Such was his reputation that Marinaresco started second favourite when he finished fourth in last year’s Queen’s Plate. This time he is a 10-1 chance despite (or just possibly because of) winning the Durban July in the interim.

“Obviously the Met is his main race as he is better suited to the trip and the Queen’s Plate is a tough ask for him,” says Candice Bass-Robinson. “A mile is tough for him but I have deliberately kept him fresh for this race. He is doing well and he put up a nice gallop on the course just over a fortnight ago.”

Marinaresco (Liesl King)

Mike Bass’s daughter, buoyed by the strong recent form of her horses and in particular by her son’s miraculous recovery from a frightening attack of viral meningitis, has high hopes for Majorca winner Nightingale in the Cartier Paddock Stakes.

“They went slow in the Victress Stakes and she couldn’t get going in time but she has come through her prep well and she must have a good chance. I actually think she prefers 1 800m to a mile.”

The stable dominates the market for the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap with Piere Strydom’s mount Horizon favourite at 5-1, Ollivander next on 6-1 and Our Mate Art joint third favourite at 7-1. “I had been struggling with Horizon but I have now got him going well. Last time was only his second run back and the way the race panned out didn’t suit him. He has a short run and he likes to be sat on.

“Ollivander is much better off at the weights than he was when he was fourth in the Premier and he definitely has a shout while Our Mate Art will run a good race if the 1 800m doesn’t find him out.”

BLOB The Queen’s Plate and the Paddock Stakes will attract worldwide interest, particularly in America as they are the first two legs of this year’s Breeders’ Cup Challenge series.

Racing South Africa seems convinced that the winners of next year’s races, and just possibly this year’s too, will no longer have to go via Mauritius to compete.  It’s latest brochure refers to the adoption of an African Horse Sickness diagnostic test by the World Organisation for Animal Health and adds: “2018 promises to be a watershed year with a drive to bring South Africa into the international arena led by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.”

By Michael Clower

Justin Snaith, with his well-known fondness for targeting the big days, sets sail into this weekend’s two-day L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate meeting with a 51-strong armada. Candice Bass-Robinson has the next biggest hand with 27 runners, Joey Ramsden has 22 and Brett Crawford 19. The quartet had three winners apiece last year while Glen Kotzen, who had two, fields 22.

Justin Snaith

Winter Series winner African Night Sky did not impress in last month’s pre-racing gallop, even allowing for the weight he was conceding, but he has been backed this week and apparently this is because word has got out from behind Snaith Racing’s electric fence-topped brick walls.

“The guys have seen how well he has been doing and he has become a talking horse on his trackwork,” says his trainer who adds, realistically perhaps, “He may be better over the Met trip.”

You can virtually name your own price about stable companions Copper Force, Fifty Cents and It Is Written – “Theoretically they have no chance. They need to raise their game but this is racing and you never know.”

Snaith has won the Queen’s Plate just once (Gimmethegreenlight in 2012) but he has taken three of the last ten runnings of the Cartier Paddock Stakes. Gimme Six is second favourite and has been laid out for it.

“I have prepped her for this race. I went into her two races earlier in the season being very careful and saving her. This is the one she will be ready for.

“She is proven in this sort of field but Star Express is also a Group 1 filly and she will run a good race if she can overcome the draw while Oh Susanna is one they are all going to have to watch out for.”

Asked if there is anything else he particularly likes Snaith singled out Mister Colin in race three on Saturday – “He looks like he will be one of my best runners.”  He was an 8-1 chance in the TAB sheet forecast but the bookmakers also read newspapers and, sadly,  you will be lucky to get half that on the day.

However Snaith is predicting a handful of winners and says: “I have been waiting a long time for this meeting and I have saved horses for it.”

By Michael Clower

The Megapool Pick 6 will be a big attraction for punters on L’ Ormarin’s Queens Plate day at Kenilworth on Saturday and the two Grade 1 races therein could provide the best opportunities to go narrow.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

In the big one, the weight for age Queen’s Plate, Legal Eagle will be regarded as the meeting banker. He is unbeaten in seven starts over the 1600m trip. He is attempting to win this race for the third time in a row and thus claim his fifth Grade 1 weight for age mile. Legal Eagle won the Green Point in good style, proving he still retains his ability as a six-year-old. The slight concern is the form of the Sean Tarry yard. They have not been as lethal as they were in their record-breaking 2016/2017 season. Marinaresco is the one who could pick up the pieces. He has a ton of class and showed plenty of zip in his warm up outing over 1200m. He has a plum draw of four. Captain America is also full of class and the mile is his best trip. His wide draw of nine is the drawback as he is a handy sort.

Sail South became a revelation when Richard Fourie began partnering him last season. If Greg Cheyne can get him to relax he should produce his devastating finish and will in that case be a definite contender. Fourie will be aboard second favourite Gold Standard, who showed his class when a narrow runner up to William Longword in last year’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas. That pair were well clear of the rest that day and trainer Glen Kotzen believes he has the big colt back to his best. His wide draw of eleven will make it tough. African Night Sky goes in with just one run under the belt this season and will  attempt to emulate the great Pocket Power by following up his Winter Triple Crown feat with victory in the Queen’s Plate.

The Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes looks to be a three-cornered contest. Oh Susanna looks to be the closest Street Cry South Africa have ever had to the immortal Zenyatta, as she is has a huge stride. She apparently takes her racing quite hard but has had time to recover from her flying second in the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas. She will relish the course and distance from a plum draw of four. Nightingale is full of class and is course and distance suited. The same can be said of Nother Russia. These three should be enough to get punters through the Pick 6.

By David Thiselton

Martin Seidl, the German jockey who rode his first South African winner on Silver Coin at Durbanville on Monday, returns home to Cologne and his job with Markus Klug on 6 February.

The 24-year-old has ridden nearly 300 winners in his native country but racing there takes place only three days a week so he was keen to increase his opportunities, hence the Cape Town stay.

Martin Seidl (hamishNIVENPhotography)

He said: “I was originally looking to go to Australia but you have to get all sorts of papers sorted out first and I remembered Andreas Jacobs talking to me about visiting South Africa one day after I’d won a Group 2 and his horse finished second.

“I got in touch with him and he organised everything. His racing manager Glen Hatt helped me and put me up.”

Seidl has only had 22 rides since he arrived on 11 November – “I found that when you come to a new country  it is not easy to get in and get good rides but Joey Ramsden has been a big help.”

The German returned the favour by bringing home Silver Coin to a decisive, but long overdue, win – particularly considering his record R6 million purchase price.

Ramsden said: “Maybe we did a bit much with him at two and we had a few problems after the Langerman but gelding has been the making of him. Monday was his first run since we cut him and we put blinkers on to sharpen him up.”

By Silvano out of a Fort Wood mare he clearly needs a lot further. Ramsden agrees but is making no predictions about how good he might yet prove to be. “I just don’t know,” he said. “But he has won over six and seven furlongs and it is not easy for three-year-olds to win against older horses at this time of the season.”

Ramsden also won with another expensive horse on Monday, Dynasty’s Blossom who cost R4.5 million and ran out a convincing winner over 2 000m. He said: “I ran her over shorter and thought I would get away with it. But I didn’t really. She is going to be alright.”

By Michael Clower

The Vaal stages a competitive nine race meeting tomorrow where the highest rated race is a MR 91 Handicap over 2000m and Amsterdam is taken to maintain his unbeaten record over this course and distance.

This galloping sort was beaten two lengths by the classy three-year-old Like A Panther the last time he tried this trip. Piere Strydom could employ front-running tactics again and the six-year-old will not be easy to overtake as he is a resolute sort. He has been consistent off his current merit rating of 84, which is an attractive one considering he once finished second in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m. The Classic was run in soft going that year, so Amsterdam will appreciate the recent rains on the Highveld. Kilrain could be the dark horse in the race. He was disappointing last time over 1700m, but is probably looking for this 2000m trip these days. He won over this trip at Kenilworth just over a year ago and Mike de Kock steps him up to this distance for the first time since acquiring him in July.

Samurai Blade

Samurai Blade was running on strongly over 1800m last time and with a reversal in draw fortunes and being 2,5kg better off for a 2,25 length beating he can reverse form with Wild Horizon. His comeback in October was a good effort and after some up and down form since then he should now be cherry-ripe to run well over his probable best trip. Wild Horizon has a good record over this trip but does have a tough draw to overcome now. However, he did spread a shoe in that last race but still won comfortably and he is also by the stout Fort Wood so should still have a lot of racing in him. Intergalactic is the only female in the race and this Grade 2 winner has dropped to a competitive merit rating of 91. She was staying on after a slow start over this trip in July in the Gold Bracelet, so from a good draw with in-form 1,5kg claimer Dennis Schwartz up, has a chance. Hidden Agenda was unlucky last time over 1700m and is 2kg better off with Wild Horizon for a 3,15 length beating over 1800m before that. He has won over this trip before and Gavin Lerena aboard is a plus to his chances.

It is difficult to find a Pick 6 banker, but Paree in the last has been awarded the accolade. She has a plum draw of two on a straight course which usually favours low draws. The 1400m is also her ideal trip. This horse would likely have gone places with a better temperament, as she can be a bit headstrong. However, in the good hands of Piere Strydom she went close over course and distance last time. She is off the same merit rating and Strydom is back aboard. Azkur is the top weight in this race and also has a plum low draw. She won her maiden over this trip and followed up by winning over 2000m. She found no extra over 1800m last time, so is interestingly stepped back to this trip. For the PA Azkur is included, because a probable more reliable PA banker than Paree is Skiminac in race three over 1700m.

It always pays to follow Alec Laird when he hits a purple patch of form and he is in such a patch at present. Skiminac has always looked to have a bit of scope and with the blinkers having come off for her last start over 1500m, this trip from a pole position draw will likely be ideal.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1700m sees an interesting clash between Our Shining Star, Shakespeare Inlove and Sunshine Silk. Our Shining Star is an impressive daughter of Silvano who will relish the step up in trip and this is her third career start so she is taken to win it from a good draw.

The value bet of the day comes in the next race in the form of the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Whiteout. She caught the eye in the maidens as one who could stay on strongly over middle distances. She has been given a seven point drop in the merit ratings after just one run out of the maidens.

In the first race Mike de Kock steps out yet another well-bred Australian-bred in Sirtain. He makes a belated debut at the age of four, but is by Not A Single Doubt, who was the leading sire of three-year-olds in Australia in the 2015/2016 season. His dam by Falbrav is a half-sister to a Listed winner and he does not have a lot to beat.

By David Thiselton