Start preparing your blue and white outfits as the dates for next year’s the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival, when horseracing and high society converge at Kenilworth Racecourse, have been set for Friday 5 and Saturday 6 January.

The L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate meeting is South Africa’s oldest race day, dating back to 1861. Last year it became the country’s first multi-day racing festival in the mould of famous international racing festivals such as Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the Kentucky Derby.

Friday will be an elegant and relaxed afternoon Garden Party, with the racing highlight being the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes – the premier sprint race for fillies in the Western Cape.

Beyond the track, the day will also see live jazz, a Summer Harvest Table under the trees, along with bottomless complimentary L’Ormarins Brut Cap Classique and Heineken on tap. Garden Party tickets will be R500, and will additionally grant guests access to the following Saturday’s Style Lounge and all-too-famous after party later that evening.

As is tradition, the running of the Gr 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate will take place on Saturday, when South Africa’s finest thoroughbreds compete for the R1.5 million purse.

Tickets for Saturday will range from the Style Lounge, priced at R350 to the Kenilworth Jazz Room at R1,500 per person, with spots such as the popular Stud Club at R1,300 and picnic style Paddock Sites at R10,000 per table.

The exclusive Garden Party, with free flowing L’Ormarins Brut, Heineken, harvest table lunch and jazz, is the perfect way to warm you up for the second day’s racing on Saturday. Limited to 500 people. At R500 your ticket will include:

• L’Ormarins Brut.
• Heineken Draft.
• Harvest Table for a light, summery lunch from 1pm to 3pm.
• A free Style Lounge ticket for racing on Saturday 6 January.
• Live jazz.
• Access to purchase from local bars & racing.

Find out more about the various hospitality options at www.lqp.co.za/tickets-hospitality/. Tickets will go on sale at Computicket on 16 November 2017.

Miss Frankel will be the centre of attention at Kenilworth tomorrow when South Africa’s only offspring of the legendary racehorse attempts to give weight all round in the Play Soccer 6 Handicap.

It’s her handicap debut, normally a red warning light for punters, but the way she won at Scottsville in August suggests that this horse is more than capable of overcoming normal difficulties.

Starting odds-on, she was in front after 100m and she stretched right away in the final furlong to win by four and a half lengths without Anton Marcus even showing her the whip. True, it was a pretty ordinary maiden but it was the way she did it that was so impressive.

Miss Frankel (Liesl King)

Her big stride, while not as long or as devouring as that of her famous sire, gave some key as to her undoubted ability while she has clearly inherited at least some of the speed of her dam, the triple Grade 1 winner Val De Ra.

A relieved and delighted Dennis Drier, who confessed to being “shell-shocked” when she flopped on her only previous start, said: “This was the Miss Frankel I know at home. Nothing went right for her first time but I think it was just stage fright.”

However training her is seemingly not straightforward and Drier told me a few days ago: “She has issues – she is not the soundest.”

MJ Byleveld – sponsored by her breeders Avontuur – is in the hot seat this time and his mount seems sure to start a warm favourite even though the TAB sheet race card originally had Honey Suite at the head of the market. The question is can she get beat?

Lack of race fitness is an obvious drawback but her trainer, asked if she would need it, replied: “Hopefully not.”

The next imponderable is whether the handicappers have put her on too high a mark. They rated her 86 for winning a maiden whose strength looks some way below that of a Kenilworth maiden. But, frankly, the way she did it suggested that this is a Graded filly in the making, one whose rating is going to climb.

Honey Suite, good enough to win first time by even further than Miss Frankel at Scottsville, looked the one real danger but she was scratched on Monday morning after going lame on her off-fore.

Of the others Public Prosecutor is a lot better than last time’s Durbanville run would suggest – her saddle slipped and she was found to be coughing after the race – while Royal Chian, on paper miles under sufferance, led her rivals a merry dance here 11 days ago.

By Michael Clower

KZN Breeders will be celebrating the result of yesterday’s Melbourne Cup as the winner Rekindling is a full-brother to the Summerhill Stud-based sire, Golden Sword.

Twenty-four-year-old Irishman Joseph O’Brien was the winning trainer in his first attempt at the “race which stops a nation” and he and his record-breaking father Aidan clinched the exacta in a finish dominated by overseas trainers.

Rekindling, ridden by 41-year-old Australian jockey Corey Brown, wore down Johannes Vermeer to win by half-a-length. The 2015 runner-up, the Dermot Weld-trained Max Dynamite, made it a one-two-three for Irish raiders.

Golden Sword (Summerhill Stud)

Rekindling, whose previous race was a strong-finishing two-length fourth in the Gr 1 St. Leger at Doncaster, always looked likely to relish the two-mile trip and was proven on left handed tracks like Flemington.

He was said in some quarters to be the first three-year-old to have won since Skipton in 1941, but in Australia he is listed as a four-year-old as he was Northern Hemisphere born.

He carried a featherweight 8 stone 2 (51,5kg) and returned odds of 14/1.

From a plum draw of four, Brown managed to get the High Chapparral colt on the rail as the barrier three drawn Johannes Vermeer went forward. From then onward Rekindling travelled beautifully and the race could not have panned out better for him. Max Dynamite, who finished runner up two years ago, surged through a gap on the rail approaching the final bend and then switched outward. This allowed Rekindling a perfect tow into the straight and he had Johannes Vermeer, who had  kicked for home, in his sights. The long-striding Max Dynamite’s momentum was effected as he got stuck behind the joint 6/1 favourite Marmelo and Tiberian turning for home. However, when he finally got a split he joined in the battle up front. The Galileo colt Johannes Vermeer, a 12/1 chance, was staying on resolutely, but Rekindling always looked likely to catch him and finally overtook him full of running in the shadow of the post. The first Australian-based horse home was the fourth-placed Irish-bred Big Duke, trained by Darren Weir. In fifth place was the Iain Jardine trained raider from Scotland, Nakeeta, a 40/1 shot ridden by ex-patriot South African Glyn Schofield. The sixth finisher was also a raider form Ireland, the Willie Mullins-trained Thomas Hobson.

The result emphasised the contradiction that despite the Melbourne Cup being Australia’s biggest race their breeders prefer to target races like the $3,5 million Golden Slipper over six furlongs, which is the richest race for two-year-olds in the world and is probably Australia’s biggest sire-producing event.

It was 41-year-old Corey Brown’s second Melbourne Cup winner. He rode the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking to victory in 2009. The humble Brown was “lost for words” after the win and was greeted by his wife Kylie and three daughters in the winner’s enclosure.

The race was called for the first time by 36-year-old Matt Hill, who became Australia’s youngest ever commercial racing caller as a nineteen-year-old.

Rekindling-left (Racingpost.com)

A TAB customer was selected at random to pick a Melbourne Cup winner for $1 million and instead of picking one of the favourites, Almandin or Marmelo, the punter made the genius decision to pick $15 chance Rekindling, the sixth favourite.

“I started the day working so I never could have imagined this,” said punter Dominic, who was still in a state of disbelief.

An entertaining video of the lucky punter watching the race can be viewed on the Gold Circle facebook page.

The British-bred eleven-year-old Golden Sword joined Summerhill in 2012.

He won the Gr 3 Chester Vase over a mile and four-and-half-furlongs for Aidan O’Brien and then finished fifth in the Epsom Derby and second in the Irish Derby.

In his first season with Mike de Kock in Dubai he finished third in the Gr 2 Dubai City Of Gold over 2410m and in his second season won a handicap and a Conditions race, both over 2000m on the All Weather track. He thus qualified for the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, where he finished a well beaten eleventh.

Golden Sword, not surprisingly, has produced staying types and included among them is the Listed Oaks Trial winner Belle Rose, who also finished fourth in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m.

By David Thiselton

Louis Goosen has made a big splash since relocating from the Vaal to Ashburton at the beginning of the season. His 13 winners have come at a strike rate of 20% and not restricted to KZN with Zen Arcade winning the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes at Turffontein last Saturday.

“When I first saw this place (Ashburton) I thought ‘this is for me’, it’s horse heaven,” he revealed when quizzed on the reason for his move.

Goosen saddles three runners at Greyville today, debutante Leisure Lady in the first and two with definite chances, Bravo Zulu in the fourth and Shifting Gears in the sixth.

Louis Goosen

Shifting Gears is a late starter, this being the four-year-old’s third start in a career that only got going three months ago. After two thirds she was stepped up to 1800m and she ran out a fluent winner of her maiden. Runner-up, Green Fairy did not do that form too many favours when only managing third last Sunday, but Shifting Gears looks capable of shifting up another notch today and she will need to, as she takes on a useful pair in Flichity By Farr and Shirley Valentine.

The latter carries top weight and Anton Marcus but it may be significant that Gunter Wrogemann has kept faith with Shifting Gears rather than Shirley Valentine who he piloted into second last time out.

Flichity By Farr took on a strong field when fifth behind the promising Hashtagyolo but prior to that was running on well behind the useful Fiorella. Alyson Wright has stepped her up to 2000 m today and given her pedigree, the extra could see her land her second win.

Bravo Zulu has been knocking at the door for some time now and can go one better for Goosen in the Track & Ball Maiden over 1400m. He has come on nicely at his last two and now looks fully primed.

The Grey Crusader looks a threat because although he comes off a four-month break, Doug Campbell’s runners are finding form.

If one sets any store by the speed ratings published in the Computaform then there look to be a host of strong contenders for the winner’s enclosure. Turf Conqueror is rates 23 and 24 points clear of The Grey Crusader and Bravo Zulu respectively while Hokanui in the fifth, Lungi in the sixth and Crime Victim in the seventh are all rated lengths clear of their rivals.

One wishes it was that easy. Hokanui has two minor placings to his credit in 10 starts but his best effort did come over course and distance last time out. But both Royal Rustler and Emerald Victory step up to what looks to be a more suitable trip for both and warrant consideration.

Lungi is a long-time battler and may have to bend the knee to Emma’s Oracle and The Matador. Greg Cheyne is the retained rider for the Kieswetter’s and Ridgemont Racing and is up from Cape Town to ride Emma’s Oracle for Duncan Howells while The Matador, formally with Howells, has her first run in blinkers and for Yadav Singh who has taken out his trainer’s brief again.

Crime Victim has been struggling for his next win but takes a further drop in the ratings and it may be worth ignoring his disappointing poly debut. His speed figure is 16 points better than next rated Magesh’s Jet but a more likely challenger could be stable companion Crystal Ball with claiming apprentice Ashton Arries aboard.

Howells has signed off in the last race of the last two meetings and that trend could continue as he has four chances in the ninth this afternoon. Of that quartet Sovereign Master with stable rider Keagan de Melo looks the pick in a field that does not boast a lot of depth.

By Andrew Harrison

The top class Mauritzfontein Stud-based stallion Ideal World scored a one-two in the classic pointer, the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, and it looks just a matter of time before he has his second Grade 1 winner.

Louis Goosen was confident of winning the Graham Beck with Zen Arcade and the gelding finished strongly under Gunther Wrogemann to beat the Mike Azzie-trained colt Ideal Secret by 0,7 lengths with Prince Of Kahal third.

Zen Arcade (Candiese Marnewick)

The time of 84,55 seconds was slower than Big Bear’s 84,08 seconds in the earlier Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup.

The latter race looked stronger on paper, considering the next five horses behind Big Bear were rated 106, 90, 107, 96 and 94, while Zen Arcade beat 87, 90, 81, 86 and 88 rated horses.

However, the ratings are still sorting themselves out at this time of the season as is proven by S’Manga Khumalo choosing 85 merit rated Big Bear ahead of 107 merit rated Wonderwall.

It will be interesting to see how the handicapper rates the two respective races.

Zen Arcade franked the form of the unbeaten Alec Laird-trained Trippi colt Broadway Trip.

Zen Arcade was the 2,25 length runner up to Broadway Trip in the BSA August Million over 1400m at Scottsville, although in his defense he had to give Broadway Trip 2kg despite it being his debut because he was a more expensive purchase than Broadway Trip.

Zen Arcade has won all three of his subsequent starts.

The progeny of Ideal World tend to improve continuously with age and this increasingly popular sire tends to impart stamina on top of speed. Zen Arcade’s dam is a three-time winning sprinter by Var, but she is in turn out of champion Older Female Stayer Monyela, who is by Fort Wood.

On running style Zen Arcade looks likely to stay at least a mile and is an exciting prospect.

The three-year-old male crop is shaping up to be a good one at this early stage.

Ideal World’s only Grade 1 winner to date has been the brilliant three-time Grade 1-winning filly Smart Call from his first crop. He was unlucky not to win the Grade 1 Thekwini with Persian Rug two years ago and has also produced the champion stayer Hermoso Mundo.

By David Thiselton

The in-form trainer has booked Piere Strydom for his Cape Derby and Daily News winner Edict Of Nantes who was beaten less than half a length when third in the July. Corne Orffer sticks with Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Captain America and Greg Cheyne will be on Champions Cup hero Sail South.

Brett Crawford (Liesl King)

The big three will be opposed by Justin Snaith’s Winter Series winner African Night Sky (Bernard Fayd’Herbe) and stable companion Black Arthur (Richard Fourie) who was only a length off the winner when seventh in the July.

Horizon (Aldo Domeyer) finished half a length closer in the July while championship leader Lyle Hewitson has been booked by Joey Ramsden for last season’s Cape Classic winner Table Bay. For good measure, Crawford has thrown Black Cat Back (Sihle Cele) into the mix.

This seven furlong test totally overshadows the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes but the Candice Bass-Robinson CTS $500 000 Sprint winner Live Life heads the weights and will be ridden by Orffer for the first time.

Strdyom has five rides – two for Crawford and three for Snaith – while four of Hewitson’s six mounts are for Ramsden including Silver Coin in the last.

Sean Tarry is on the hunt for more rich Ready To Run pickings to add to the R1.25 million collected by Big Bear last Saturday. The champion trainer has a quarter of the 28 horses yesterday entered for Saturday week’s Kenilworth Lanzerac version including three of the four top-rated. Top, seven points clear, is Wonderwall who was fourth for Tarry at Turffontein. Tarry won last year’s race with Safe Harbour.

Entries for the Kenilworth Cup were held over from last Friday until yesterday because only ten horses were nominated. The postponement has attracted an extra three. Mike de Kock, successful with Smart Mart 12 months ago, has entered Kinaan but at this stage Snaith’s Ovidio and Strathdon stand out.

Oratorio, whose bookings were diverted elsewhere when laminitis struck, is recovering so well that he has returned to stud duties, albeit on a limited scale.

Avontuur general manager Pippa Mickleburgh said: “It’s wonderful to see him back in action. We believe that he will return to top form over time and it’s a huge relief to have the expectation of some of his quality offspring in the 2018 season.”

By Michael Clower

The Sean Tarry-trained Big Bear emphasised what a big loss his ill-fated Summerhill-based sire Await The Dawn has been when romping home in the Emperor’s Palace Ready to Run Cup over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday under S’Manga Khumalo.

Big Bear is a big and strong, resolute galloper with a deceptively good turn of foot.

Sean Tarry

He was up with the pace on Saturday from a good draw and then kicked away from his stablemate, the Grade 2 Joburg Spring Challenge winner Wonderwall.

Big Bear then repelled the challenge of the Grade 1-winning filly Brave Mary and beat her by 2,5 lengths.

Big Bear has had the field spread out like the washing in his last two starts and this is always a sign of a good horse.

Await The Dawn succumbed to a freak accident while covering a mare in 2014.

He was a stoutly-bred horse being by five-times Group 1-winning miler-to-middle distance horse Giant’s Causeway out of Dixieland Band mare Valentine Band (Shirley Heights) who won over a middle distance and was also Listed placed in two middle distance races.

Big Bear’s dam Gamalakhe is by Northern Guest and was unplaced but is a full-sister to Mercury Rising who won three times from 1200-1400m and is Listed placed. Gamalakhe’s female line is generally quite speedy and her three winners to date have won up to 1450m. However, there is also stamina in the family, including Gold Bowl winner Winning Leap.

Await The Dawn will also impart some staying power and Big Bear’s running style suggests he will get a mile and more.

This big, well-named horse has an exciting three-year-old season ahead of him and is definitely one to follow.

Big Bear was bought at the CTS Johannesburg Ready To Run Sale for R240,000 and is owned by Chris van Niekerk in partnership with the underbidder Bruce Gardner.

S’manga Khumalo

At the BSA National Two-year-old Sale this August, Dean Kannemeyer bought the half-brother to Big Bear by Visionaire, named The Solution, for R85,000.

The Solution could prove to be a bargain buy as Visionaire was so popular the owners moved him from Summerhill down to Lammerskraal Stud in the Cape, where he would get better opportunities.

In Saturday’s race the Paul Matchett-trained Brave Mary and the Mike de Kock-trained Takingthepeace made it a one-two-three for horses bred at Summerhill Stud. The Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Brave Mary proved she could be effective over trips further than sprints and moved up smartly. She had no answer to Big Bear’s response, but had some good horses behind her. She is the second Grade 1-winning progeny of Brave Tin Soldier to finish runner up in this race, following the feat of Rabada in 2015.

Takingthepeace by Visionaire was doing her best work late and pipped Querari colt Wonderwall for third. She will be a big player in the fillies classics this season.

Fifth-placed Surcharge, by Gimmethegreenlight, had to overcome a wide draw and as one who has impressed before shouldn’t be written off in forthcoming features.

By David Thiselton

The Melbourne Cup, to be run at Flemington racecourse tomorrow morning (Tuesday), has to date eluded record-breaking trainer Aidan O’Brien.

However, KZN Breeders will be hoping his son Joseph wins it this year with Rekindling, who is a full-brother to the Summerhill-based stallion Golden Sword.

The three-year-old Rekindling is currently a 10/1 shot and will be ridden by Australian jockey Corey Brown, who won the big race on Shocking in 2009.

High Chaparral colt Rekindling won second time out over a mile as a two-year-old and became an Epsom Derby hopeful when winning first time out as a three-year-old in a Group 3 over a mile and two furlongs at Leopardstown.

Golden Sword (Summerhill Stud)

He then ran a fair fourth in the Derby pointer, the Dante, over a mile and two-and-a-half furlongs at York.

However, in the Derby he was never in it and trailed in 18,25 lengths back in 16th place.

However, back on an easier, flatter course at the Curragh he won a Group 2 a month later over a mile and six furlongs. He stayed on strongly so should relish the two miles of the Melbourne Cup.

Subsequently, he has finished second in a Group 3 over a mile and six furlongs at the Curragh and he then stayed on well for a two length fourth in the Group 1 St. Leger at Doncaster on September 16.

The latter race and his earlier win at Leopardstown proved he can handle left-handed tracks like Flemington.

He has a plum draw of four and must have a big shout.

Golden Sword won the Group 3 Chester Vase over a mile and four-and-half-furlongs for Aidan O’Brien and then finished fifth in the Epsom Derby and second in the Irish Derby.

In his first season with Mike de Kock in Dubai he finished third in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold over 2410m and in his second season won a handicap and a Conditions race, both over 2000m on the All Weather track. He thus qualified for the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, where he finished a well beaten eleventh.

Golden Sword, not surprisingly, has produced staying types and included among them is the Listed Oaks Trial winner Belle Rose, who also finished fourth in the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m.

By David Thiselton

The Listed Java Handicap over 2400m on the Vaal Classic track is the headliner tomorrow and Save The Rhino could be the one to beat under national champion jockey Anthony Delpech.

Ormond Ferraris is an outstanding trainer of stayers and has given Save The Rhino three runs over 2600m going into this race, so he should be super fit and everything is in his favour. The six-year-old Mogok gelding, running off an 84 merit rating tomorrow, is well treated on his best form and jumps from pole position. He finished a 0,8 length second in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2450m in March off an 85 merit rating and is now better drawn. He stayed on nicely last time out over the Turffontein Inside track 2600m. However, he became one-paced in the final stages of that race, so looks likely to prefer the 200m shorter trip tomorrow and should be cherry ripe.

Weiho Marwing

Weiho Marwing’s charges always have to be reckoned with in staying features and he has a chance with the second top weight Let It Rain. This Dynasty gelding stays all day and had a good pipe opener when setting the pace over 1950m on October 21, which was his first start since finishing third in the Gold Cup. His draw of 17 shouldn’t be a worry considering he jumped from draw 15 out of 16 in the Gold Cup. He has remained on the same 92 merit rating as in his Gold Cup run. However, he was beaten 0,7 lengths by Save The Rhino in the Aquanaut Handicap and is now a whopping 7,5kg worse off.

Kinaan is another who is well treated on his best form. On his day he is a resolute galloper and maestro trainer Mike de Kock is in fine form, so should have the son of Galileo ready to fire in his second run of the season.

Hyaku is a most interesting runner. In his only race over this trip he was staying on well for a close up fourth in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup  and is now off the same merit rating. He has been campaigning out of Sean Tarry’s Summerveld yard, so travelling up to altitude might be a slight concern for some. However, it should be borne in mind Summerveld is not on the coast and is actually a third of the altitude of the Highveld.

The Elmo Effect will have to defy topweight of 60kg in order to retain his crown. This six-year-old Admire Main gelding proved his class last time when beating a useful field in a MR90 Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein, although a lot of the beaten horses were unlucky due to the hanging antics of the runner up Hidden Agenda. Last year The Elmo Effect won this race, which was run over 2450m on Turffontein Standside, off a merit rating of 82 and carried only 54kg. He also has a tough task when considering March’s Listed Aquanaut Handicap, as he is 4,5kg worse off with Save The Rhino despite having lost to him by 3,3 lengths. However, the Aquanaut was run in yielding going and The Elmo Effect prefers faster ground. He also has Gavin Lerena aboard, so this long-striding six-year-old Admire Main gelding can’t be discounted.

Hyaku

Royal Honour was the winner of the Aquanaut Handicap and is 7kg worse off with Save The Rhino for a mere 0,8 length beating. However, his record over 2400-2450m is three wins, one second and a third, so he has to be a contender under in-form Gunther Wrogemann.

St. John Gray is in good form and Dawn Assault showed his liking for staying events last time when winning a Pinnacle Stakes event over 2600m. However, he was raised five points and will be 3kg worse off with Save The Rhino for a 2,8 length beating.

Like any staying event The Java Handicap is wide open and including the whole field would be the only way to ensure getting through the exotics. However, the horses mentioned above are the ones which make most appeal.

The second race, a Progress Plate over 2000m, will be full of interest as it is a potentially important qualifier for the Sansui Summer Cup. The SA Oaks winner Wind Chill is officially weighted to romp home and to show just how seriously Mayfair Speculators are taking this race Anton Marcus will fly up for just this one ride. However, Elevated, is surely better than an 88 merit rating, considering his fourth place finish in last season’s Grade 1 Cape Guineas, and with the Mike de Kock yard in flying form he is selected to beat Wind Chill.

By David Thiselton

Hat Puntano proved his class on Saturday by winning the Grade 2 Emperor’s palace Charity Mile over 1600m and Mike Azzie heaped praise on “Bomber” Nel, an expert on horse bits.

Hat Puntano

Nel was invited to spend two days in the Azzie yard to try and sort out the Argentinian-bred’s hanging antics. The thoroughbred’s mouth size is becoming smaller, according to Nel, and a new bit he recommded after assessing Hat Puntano made all the difference. Hat Puntano began running straight and the rest is history. He showed the same turn of foot and resolute finish he had in Argentina in his younger days and swept past the field under Gavin Lerena.

Confusion has reigned about the age of Hat Puntano as he won the equivalent of the 2000 Guineas in Argentina in July 2016, but was still recorded as a three-year-old when entered for this year’s Vodacom Durban July. The reason is that in South American countries the racing season begins on July 1, as opposed to August 1 in South Africa, and they run that “2000 Guineas” event in the first month of the season. Hat Puntano, born in October 2013, was in reality a two-year-old when he won that three-year-old Guineas event, but of course all birthdays change on the first day of the season and he was officially three. He is now only a four-year-old, so has a lot of racing still in him and Drakenstein Stud will hope this well-bred son of Hat Trick can add to his record of two career Grade 1s to date, as well as Saturday’s Grade 2. It has to be said Saturday’s Charity Mile was not a strong renewal, but he had to carry a welter 61kg off his merit rating of 113 and this was only his second run in South Africa. He will likely be tested in weight for age miles against the like of Legal Eagle during the season and will add a lot of flavour to those races. His sire Hat Trick is a Japanese-bred by the legendary stallion Sunday Silence and his two Grade 1 wins, both over a mile, included the prestigious international event, The Hong Kong Mile.

By David Thiselton