Only two horses have completed the Queen’s Plate-Durban July double this century – Trademark and the legendary Pocket Power. Do It Again is out to become the third in Saturday’s L’Ormarins highlight.

Justin Snaith admits he was surprised to see him finish so close in the Green Point – “He had only had one companion gallop, it was a prep race for him and, although he takes very little work, the slow gallop suited the others.”

The dual champion trainer, shrewdly, is the first person I have spoken to who casts doubt on the worth of that famously close result – “It was a perfect example of a slow run race. It’s easy to say that the first four are all great horses but they shouldn’t have all finished on top of each other like that. If there is a better pace on Saturday and we get a bit of climate, e.g. a head wind or a tail wind, it will alter the whole race.”

Snaith won the 2012 Queen’s Plate with Gimmethegreenlight but on this occasion his customary optimism is more than just tinged with realism. “The Met is Do It Again’s main aim but there is no reason why he won’t run a big race on Saturday. Everybody thinks he is a 2 000m horse – he is – but he has that X-factor. Remember he didn’t just win the July, he won it convincingly. For sure, he will be doing his best work late but there is nothing wrong with his form over a mile.”

On paper there is but seemingly there were reasons for the one way-below par effort. “He wasn’t right in the Cape Guineas. He had given trouble in the starting stalls, we had to do a lot of schooling and it flattened him. When he walked into the parade ring I was embarrassed how he had trained off. It was in the Natal Guineas, his next run over a mile, that we got to see what he is capable of over the trip. He was impressive.”

Dual Grade 1 winner Snowdance is very much the second string according to the betting but that is not how Snaith sees it. “Everyone is counting her out, almost as if she is a non-runner, but I think she can give them all a run for their money. She is not just any filly but, in my view, by far the best miler of her sex in the country. She showed that when she ran Undercover Agent to half a length in the Gold Challenge when she wasn’t right.

“I think I have her right now. She will need a bit of luck –she has a wide draw at eight –but, if she gets it, she will be in the firing line.”

It is the second run after a rest for both Snaith horses. Is that a concern? “It doesn’t bother me at all. I prefer the second run (to the third) and it works better for me.”

Asked what he regards as the principal dangers, I got a blunt answer. “Listen, I am not interested in anything else in the race other than mine and nor am I interested in all the talk. I have a lot of runners on both days and all my worrying and focus is on my horses.

“The Queen’s Plate is going to be a tough race and a very hard one to win but I think I have the right ammo to come to the table. Certainly I wouldn’t swap mine for any of the others.”

By Michael Clower