David Thiselton

The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Jan van Goyen will be out to become only the sixth three-year-old to win the L’Ormarins King’s Plate since World War II, but he will on the other hand become the third three-year-old to do it this decade and the second three-year-old in succession.

He is a 2/1 chance with Hollywoodbets to pull it off.

He might be a twice Gr 1 winner already, but is in fact still relatively unexposed, because he won both of his Gr 1s by comfortable margins and without being put under undue pressure by his regular rider Callan Murray.

The winning margins were 3,70 lengths in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes and 2,75 lengths in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

In the Champion Stakes his time was 97,63 seconds, which was a touch slower than the 97,39 seconds recorded by the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes winner Golden Palm and was a lot slower than the 95,63 seconds recorded by I Salute You in the Listed Michel Nairac Stakes Darley Arabian, although the latter was carrying 4,5kg less than Jan van Goyen.

However, Jan van Goyen’s Cape Guineas time of 98.45 seconds was quicker than the Gr 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes time of 98.77 seconds by his stablemate Dave The King.

Furthermore, he looked to still have plenty in hand, while Dave The King was at the end of his reserves and being challenged on all sides.

Jan van Goyen’s only defeat over 1600m came in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans, but that was his first run for four months and he was caught wide without cover.

Jan Van Goyen will receive 5kg from the top rated horse Eight On Eighteen on Saturday, but off an official 118 he is 5,5kg under sufferance with the 129-rated Equus Horse Of The Year.

However, he has not yet had an opportunity to prove himself against older or higher rated horses. The LKP will be his acid test.

Eight On Eighteen, who achieved his high rating over 2000m and 2200m,  is making his reappearance and has in fact not run since finishing second in the Hollywoodbets Durban July six months ago. He would obviously prefer further, but did finish a 1,25 length second to One Stripe in last season’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the latter then went on to win the King’s Plate.

However, Eight On Eighteen was beaten by Sail The Seas in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas the last time he came back from a layoff and he was only a long-head in front of Cosmic Speed in that race. He is a 5/1 shot with Hollywoodbets for the LKP, while Sail The Seas is 25/2 and Cosmic Speed is 33/1.

Dave The King won the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and the Gr 2 Ridgemont Green Point Stakes, despite carrying a Gr 1 penalty in the latter race and achieved his 128 rating over this trip and over 1800m.

He is a 10/1 shot whilst See It Again, whom he beat by 0,35 lengths in the Green Point and with whom he will now be 2kg better off with, is 6/1. However, See It Again was coming back from a long layoff in the Green Point and lost two lengths at the start after fly-jumping. Furthermore, See It Again’s downfield finish in the Gold Challenge was due to him being severely hampered. He did later beat Eight On Eighteen by 1,35 lengths in the Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m. The bookmakers might also be viewing new trainer Justin Snaith’s Champion Trainer status as worth a point or two on the betting boards.

Dave The King beat The Real Prince by 2,50 lengths in the Green Point and will face him on the same terms in the King’s Plate and yet is 10/1 compared to The Real Prince’s 6/1. The 126-rated The Real Prince was returning from a four-and-a-half month layoff in that race and had caught the eye with an effortlessly fast finish in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m before his Hollywoodbets Durban July win. He also beat Dave The King in the Champions Cup by 2,55 lengths. However, his 126 rating was achieved over that 1800m trip.

If the Champions Cup is a good measure of form for The LKP then it is questionable why the 127-rated Gladatorian is out at 14/1 odds. He won the Champions Cup but was already a 127 from his Gold Challenge run. He was said to have been unusually strong in the Green Point, where he was beaten 3,25 lengths. He was only 0,35 lengths behind Dave The King in the Gold Challenge and was closing fast. That should be a more accurate assessment of his mile ability and he should be more settled on Saturday having experienced the course.

Without delving any further into the form, it has become clear already from the above discussion that it is somewhat muddled among the older horses and they look to be ripe for a beating by a top newcomer.

On the other hand, the horses Jan Van Goyen beat in the Cape Guineas have the same sort of muddled form and the Dingaans form is not looking too good. Trust does look visually exceptional but was only 5,10 lengths ahead of an East Cape horse and 5,40 lengths ahead of Shadowfax, who was subsequently beaten 3,50 lengths in a Graduation Plate by a 98 rated horse at level weights.

In conclusion there are still question marks about Jan Van Goyen, but the visual appearance of his Guineas win make him an exciting prospect and he could give the De Kock yard a second win of the iconic L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

RACE 1

9 STRUTTING   2 HARPA   3 ANEMIE   4 OWNER OF CREATION

Summary: STRUTTING (9) was caught in the last strides last time out and drops back in trip. She looks the part in this mostly modest field. HARPA (2) was a close-up second last run without the blinkers. They are back on and this trip should suit. ANEMIE (3) has patchy form but has shown some form over course and distance. OWNER OF CREATION (4) is a long-time battler but has a chance on his best effort. (Andre Harrison: 9-2-3-4).

RACE 2

5 ULTRA QUICK   2 RAFIKI   4 WINTER WAVES   3 IBUTHO

Summary: Competitive. RAFIKI (2) returns from a break and goes well on the poly. He was close-up under a big weight last start and has a better galloping weight here. IBUTHO (3) was due to run last Wednesday (31 Dec). He won well last time out and can follow up depending on his latest outing. Stable companion WINTER WAVES (4) meets him at level weights and should be able to turn the tables given their last meeting.  Another Alyson Wright runner ULTRA QUICK (5) is back on his favourite surface and with a 4kg claimer up could be the stable pick. (Andrew Harrison: 5-2-4-3).

RACE 3

3 ISIVIVANE   2 SUNDANCE KID   1 GOTTA GO EDDIE   4 EVENTIDOR

Summary: ISIVIVANE (3) was second best last run in the Christmas Handicap but goes well on the poly. He steps up in trip but should see it out. SUNDANCE KID (2) was back to best when an easy winner last time out. He goes well on the poly and again has the 4kg claimer aboard. GOTTA GO EDDIE (1) was a touch disappointing last run but now has a light weight from the best of the draw. EVENTIDOR (4) has come good for late as he bids for a hattrick. He is up in class but should still be competitive. (Andrew Harrison: 3-2-1-4).

RACE 4

9 SUMMER WINTER   5 MISS MUNROE   4 ARVERNI PRINCESS   1 MALSHANA MOU

Summary: SUMMER WINTER (9) has the widest draw but has had two runs back from a break and should now be at her peak. She has run well on the poly. MISS MUNROE (5) was disappointing first run for her new stable after two Highveld wins. The compression mask is back on and she can make amends. ARVERNI PRINCESS (4) steps up in class but only got a one-point raise in the handicap for her last win. She only has 49.5kg to shoulder and is over her optimum trip. Stable companion MALSHANA MOU (1) was a recent maiden winner and has a hefty handicap rating. However, she goes well over course and distance and can follow up. (Andrew Harrison: 9-5-4-1).

RACE 5

4 GRAND FORCE   1 CAPPELLINO   11 AXIS POWER   8 TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Summary:  GRAND FORCE (4) took an age to shed his maiden but followed up with a solid handicap effort. He has a 4kg claimer aboard and should be competitive in a modest line-up. CAPPELLINO (1) was a neck behind Grand Force when last they met and meet on the same handicap terms. There should be very little between the two. AXIS POWER (11) is lightly raced and has dropped significantly in the handicap. He could be the surprise package. TRAFALGAR SQUARE (8) has not been far back at recent outings and goes well this course and distance. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-11-8).

RACE 6

2 CIRCUMBENDIBUS    3 MVELELO   5 WILD AT WAR   6 BUTTERCUP BABY

Summary: CIRCUMBENDIBUS (2) has won comfortably at his last two. He has gone up 12 points in the handicap for his last two wins but both were impressive and he can go in again. Danger is likely to be MVELELO (3) who is hunting his fourth straight win. He got a five-point shunt up the handicap  for his last win. Visiting WILD AT WAR (5) is the first KZN runner for the sister combination of Candice and Tammy Dawson. The gelding has been making steady recent improvement and has come down in the ratings to what could be a more competitive mark. BUTTERCUP BABY (6) is a smart filly with a handy weight who goes well this course and distance. The form of her last win has been franked. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-5-6).

RACE 7

11 IZIBULO    2 COPACABANA   4 FUTANO   3 BLIND SPEED

Summary: IZIBULO (11) has the widest draw but has come to hand of late when taking on stronger and should be a big runner. COPACABANA (2) was a game winner over the distance last time out. She only got a three-point raise in the handicap that has been offset by a 2.5kg claimer aboard. However, there should be little between her, BLIND SPEED (3) and FUTANO (4) with little separating the trio. (Andrew Harrison: 11-2-4-3).

Andrew Harrison

With race meetings coming thick and fast over the holiday season, local trainers are running out of suitable horses as punters face a seven-race card on the poly today. However, it is a card that punters will need to do their homework.

The programme is headed by a B Stakes over 1200m where Glen Kotzen’s runner Circumbendibus tries for a winning hattrick. He has won comfortably at his last two but has gone up 12 points in the handicap for those wins. However, both were impressive and he can go in again. A likely danger is Mvelelo who is hunting his fourth straight win. He got a five-point shunt up the handicap  for his last effort which could be enough to halt his winning streak. Visiting Wild At War is the first KZN runner for the sister combination of Candice and Tammy Dawson and is their only runner on the day. The gelding has been making steady recent improvement and has come down in the ratings to what could be a more competitive mark. Buttercup Baby is a smart filly with a handy weight who goes well this course and distance. The form of her last win has been franked and one can expect another forward showing.

Best bet on a tricky card could come in the first where Mike and Mathew de Kock saddle Strutting. She was caught in the last strides last time out and drops back in trip. She looks the part in this mostly modest field.

Of the balance, Harpa was a close-up second last run without the blinkers but they are back on and this trip should suit. Anemie has patchy form but has shown some form over course and distance.

The second is a competitive handicap. Rafiki returns from a break and goes well on the poly. He was close-up under a big weight last start and has a better galloping weight here. Ibutho was due to run last Wednesday but won well last time out and can follow up depending on that latest outing. Stable companion Winter Waves meets him at level weights and should be able to turn the tables given their last meeting.  Another Alyson Wright runner Ultra Quick is back on his favourite surface and with a 4kg claimer up could be the stable pick.

The Pick 6 starts in the third where Isivivane finished second best last run in the Christmas Handicap but goes well on the poly. He steps up in trip but should see it out. Sundance Kid was back to best when an easy winner last time out. He goes well on the poly and again has the 4kg claimer aboard. Gotta Go Eddie was a touch disappointing last run but now has a light weight from the best of the draw and can do better. Eventidor has come good of late as he bids for a hattrick. He is up in class but should still be competitive. One to watch in the market is Star In Motion. Back in KZNB after some modest performances in Cape Town, he only has 52.5kg to shoulder and Cape form is often much stronger than local.

The fourth is a competitive sprint with many in with chances. Adam Azzie is still hunting his first KZN winner but it could come in the form of Summer Winter. She has the widest draw to overcome but has had two runs back from a break and should now be at her peak. She has also run well on the poly. Tienie Prinsloo saddles Miss Munroe who was disappointing first run for her new stable after two Highveld wins. The compression mask is back on and she can make amends. Louis Goosen has two chances. Arverni Princess who steps up in class but only got a one-point raise in the handicap for her last win. She only has 49.5kg to shoulder and is over her optimum trip. Stable companion Malshana Mou was a recent maiden winner and has a hefty handicap rating. However, she goes well over course and distance and can follow up.

The fifth is wide open. Grand Force took an age to shed his maiden but followed up with a solid handicap effort. He has a 4kg claimer aboard and should be competitive in a modest line-up. Cappellino was a neck behind Grand Force when last they met and meet on the same handicap terms and there should be very little between the two. Axis Power is lightly raced and has dropped significantly in the handicap and could be the surprise package while Trafalgar Square has not been far back at recent outings and goes well this course and distance.

The last is another open contest but although Izibulo has the widest draw he has come to hand of late when taking on stronger and should be a big runner. Copacabana was a game winner over the distance last time out and she only got a three-point raise in the handicap that has been offset by a 2.5kg claimer. However, there should be little between her, Blind Speed, Futano and Amafort who all should be considered in exotic calculations.

Race 4 – 15h45

Race 5 – 16h15

Race 6 – 16h45

Race 7 – 17h15

Race 8 – 17h45

Race 9 – 18:15

Please Note: South African Quartet Pools with fractional betting offered at Southwell and Wolverhampton (UK) – 6 January 2026