Kenilworth is all set for Saturday’s “race of the century”, the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (LQP), which pundits are hailing as the strongest ever renewal of the country’s premier weight for age mile, and the horse who could claim to be the most ignored, Soqrat, is the choice to win.

Soqrat is one of a two-pronged attack by Mike de Kock and his son and assistant trainer Matthew said, “It is a big test for them but they are up to it.”

The bookmakers don’t even rate Soqrat the best of his stable and have him at 7/1 and Buffalo Bill Cody at 9/2.  

Soqrat suffered a “nightmare” 27 hour journey down to Cape Town two weeks before the Grade 1 Cape Guineas, but even that did not stop him winning a strong renewal comfortably.

He has early pace, a superb temperament, a lovely action, a tremendous turn of foot and the resolve to stay all the way to the line. He also has a plum draw of three. However, he is attempting to become only the second three-year-old since 1973 to win the LQP.

The yard couldn’t separate him and four-year-old Buffalo Bill Cody, who gets a half-a-kilogram Northern Hemisphere-bred allowance and traveled down well about two weeks ago.

The Irish-bred has won five of six starts and his three races over a mile have been won by an average of over four lengths. He probably needed his last start too,where he showed a fine turn of foot from a handy position. He could be anything but it is going to be tough jumping from the widest draw of all in his first ever feature start.

The joint-favourite Legal Eagle attempts to join the great Pocket Power by winning this race four times in succession.

Trainer Sean Tarry reckons in terms of ability and current form this will be the strongest field Legal Eagle has ever faced but added, “He is good enough and his preparation has gone according to plan. To have a fair pace would be the greatest thing for such a good race as there would then be no stories afterwards, but if there happens to be no pace Legal Eagle has proven he wouldn’t mind that either.”

Eric Sands has two horses involved, the joint-favourite Rainbow Bridge and Amazing Strike.

It would seem obvious the latter is in as a pacemaker, although Sands was non-committal on this question.

Rainbow Bridge needs a good pace as he becomes unsettled when the pace is as slow as it was in the Green Point Stakes or when he finds no cover. The bookmakers, by making him joint-favourite, are claiming he is able to perform a lot better with a true pace as he is 2kg worse off with all three of the trio who narrowly beat him in the Green Point. He was previously unbeaten in five starts and Sands said, “I would say he is probably now at his peak.” As a horse who can play up before a race, the big crowd might be a concern. However, the sophisticated LQP audience is quieter than the Sun Met one. He is drawn well in four and if everything pans out well this powerful racing machine will be finishing like a train, considering he was the fastest finisher of all in the Green Point despite having over-raced.

Justin Snaith’s imposing Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again looks set, like his father Twice Over, to have a tremendous four-year-old season. His finish in the Green Point proved he is effective over the mile, which is on the sharp side for him. Snaith also runs the only filly in the race, Snowdance, who is unbeaten in two starts over the course and distance, both of them Grade 1s against the girls.

Snaith said, “Do It Again is in very good form and is looking amazing, everything has gone according to plan. Snowdance is very well and was very impressive in her comeback run. She will give the boys a go.”

Snowdance enjoys being handy or in the front so has a tough draw of eight, especially if Amazing Strike does turn out to be a specialist pacemaker. However, if able to relax up there she can produce her tremendous kick and won’t be easy to catch if hitting the front. Do It Again, drawn six, is able to run on from behind.  

Brett Crawford was bullish about his Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Undercover Agent and said, “He has improved this season and is a lot stronger and more mature mentally. He has come on since the Green Point and has done a really good gallop since.”

Joey Ramsden knows all about winning the Queen’s Plate and said about Hat Puntano,“I hope he improves a lot. He hasn’t done a lot since the Green Point. We’ve freshened him up, but he’s a hard horse to judge. He was left flatfooted in the Green Point due to the slow pace, but I don’t know if he has the pace to get up there. It is going to be very hard from his wide draw as you are reliant on what the horses inside of you do.”

The Queen’s Plate has always been the aim for Infamous Fox although trainer Candice Dawson admitted he was up against it on form. She said, “He unfortunately ran disappointingly in his last two runs which was not an ideal preparation but he was coming off African Horse Sickness Vaccines and seems fit and well so we stuck to our guns and are just hoping he gives a nice run.”

Soqrat is selected to beat Legal Eagle with Undercover Agent, Do It Again and Rainbow Bridge next best. Snowdance and Buffalo Bill Cody are difficult to ignore and whoever comes out on top it is truly going to be the race of the century.

By David Thiselton

The Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m could see reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna retaining her crown but she will be given plenty to think about by Lady In Black, who has landed a plum draw, as well as the like of Fresnaye.

Oh Susanna was beaten by Lady In Black at level weights over 1600m last time and trainer Justin Snaith said, “She definitely just needed it. She was stuck in quarantine after the Durban season so did nothing for a month and it is hard to find races for 121 merit rated horses. She didn’t pull up that well after that last run but we worked on her and she has come on beautifully. It is the best I have had her since her Met win last year.”

Snaith also runs Miyabi Gold and Miss Katalin and said, “Miyabi Gold ran a very impressive comeback as she had only had one gallop and I am bullish about her running a big race drawn one with Anton Marcus up. I think she will reverse form with Fresnaye.”

Miss Katalin has the same ownership as Oh Susanna, Drakenstein Stud, and finished just 1,8 lengths behind Fresnaye last time when setting the pace over course and distance in the Victress Stakes. Snaith said, “Her form warrants her being given this opportunity. She likes to run handy and her presence will ensure its run at a nice gallop.”

Dennis Drier will be hoping to see history repeating itself. His great Dynasty filly Beach Beauty finished second in this race as a three-year-old and won the next two renewals. Lady In Black, also by Dynasty, finished second in this race last year as a three-year-old. Drier said, “I am very happy with her and expect a big run.”

She has landed a plum draw of three whereas Oh Susanna jumps from draw seven.

Victress winner Fresnaye finished third in the Paddock Stakes last year and has a tough draw of 12. However, trainer Joey Ramsden confirmed she was not a difficult ride and pointed out she had “a good fellow” (Bernard Fayd’Herbe) aboard. He added, “We have sorted out a few issues with her so she has shown improvement. She only had one gallop going into the Victress so will strip a lot fitter.”

The Mike de Kock-trained Cascapedia travelled down from Cape Town on the Thursday two weeks ago and the journey went well.

The big Irish-bred mare had a tough race in the G-Bets Summer Cup where she finished a narrow 0,8 length third giving 2,5kg to the winner Tilbury Fort and 2kg to the runner up Dawn Assault. However, the yard have freshened her up and Matthew de Kock said she was a happy horse at present. He also believes she will appreciate the step down to 1800m. “2000m stretches her,” he said. She has never raced in Grade 1 weight for age company before but is relatively unexposed having won six of ten career starts. She jumps from a tricky draw of eight.

Hashtagyolo is a good looking filly and she still needed it in the Victress. She has the class to cause an upset. Trainer Dean Kannemeyer said, “She has her third run after a layoff and I expect her to continue to improve but it is a hard race.” She has a good draw of five.

Trainer Sean Tarry prefers Second Request of his pair. Safe Harbour had a wind operation after last season and Tarry said, “Her first two runs back were discouraging but the blinkers helped last time and she is fit and well so we are just hoping she returns to her best form. Second Request ran on well in the Guineas and the extra distance will certainly help. We will see if she is good enough.”

Trainer Candice Dawson said about Sylvan On Fire, “She deserves a chance and is well in herself.”

Elusive Heart was found to have a nasal discharge after finishing a far from disgraced 3,95 lengths back to Snowdance At level weights over a mile last time and trainer Glen Kotzen said, “We have treated her accordingly. It is her third run after a layoff so she is cherry ripe but it is very competitive. She can place on her best form.”

Trainer Adam Marcus said about Brave Move, “She is very well. Her last run was disappointing and she was found to have choked up. So we have fitted her with a tongue tie. We hope it sorts it out but whether it does or not is still unknown. If she does run to her best she is not one to be ignored.”

The selection is Oh Susanna to beat Lady In Black and Fresnaye with Hashtagyolo and Cascapedia next best.

By David Thiselton

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

The Mike de Kock yard are happy with their two L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate contenders Soqrat and Buffalo Bill Cody and also with their Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes runner Cascapedia.

The four-year-old Irish-bred Buffalo Bill Cody receives a half-a-kilogram Northern Hemisphere allowance and is improving consistently, while Soqrat will attempt to become only the second three-year-old since 1973 to win the Queen’s Plate.

Mathew de Kock said, “It is a big test for them but they are up to it.”

Soqrat showed last time when winning the Grade 1 Cape Guineas he is course and distance suited and has all the credentials of a great racehorse,including early pace, a relaxed temperament and a superb turn of foot.

However, he is out at 7/1 with World Sports Betting while Buffalo Bill Cody is a 9/2 shot.

The latter has won five of six career starts and in three runs over a mile has put a combined margin of 12,2 lengths between himself and the opposition. He is unexposed but could be anything.

Soqrat has a plum draw of three and regular pilot Randall Simons is up. 

Buffalo Bill Cody has a tough draw of ten and Gavin Lerena remains aboard having taken over from Simons last time.

Buffalo Bill Cody and Cascapedia travelled down from Cape Town on the Thursday two weeks ago and the journey went well.

The big Irish-bred mare had a tough race in the G-Bets Summer Cup where she finished a narrow 0,8 length third giving 2,5kg to the winner Tilbury Fort and 2kg to the runner up Dawn Assault.

However, the yard have freshened her up and Matthew said she was a happy horse at present.

He also believes she will appreciate the step down to 1800m.

“2000m stretches her,” he said.

Cascapedia has never raced in Grade 1 weight for age company and is up against the like of Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna.

However, she is relatively unexposed having won six of ten career starts.

She jumps from a tricky draw of eight with Lerena up.

By David Thiselton

Rainbow Bridge is going to have to find an extra two lengths if he is to justify his position at the head of the market on Saturday. The other three Green Point principals shouldered a 2kg Grade 1 penalty last time and there is no such concession in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

However it’s easy to see where Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount could get it from because he burned up valuable energy fighting for his head four weeks ago and the pace seems sure to be a lot stronger this time.

“I fully expected him to be right there in the Green Point -there was never any doubt in my mind that his 110 rating was false,” recalls Eric Sands. “But the race didn’t go according to plan. It was a small field and we never got the cover we were hoping for. He is not a puller normally. If we are working him at home, or bringing him to gallops, we put him in behind another horse and he drops the bit.

“It is only in races when he doesn’t get cover that he pulls. Two of his races have been like that – the Winter Classic and the Green Point, and in the latter we finished with Grade 1 winners all around us. He is no tearaway, just a very competitive horse. He would certainly be better off with a fast pace. He wouldn’t tug so much and it would give him a bit more time to get a breather.”

The fast pace is widely expected to come from stable companion Amazing Strike, and at the owner’s request rather than the trainer’s.“This is his last race and Jessica Slack said: ‘Let’s have a bit of fun and put him in the Queen’s Plate.’”

Nothing said about making the running, not so far anyway, but the owner stands Ideal World (sire of Amazing Strike as well as Rainbow Bridge) and victory for either would be a major boost for the stallion. You can get 80-1 about Amazing Strike pulling it off so his role is pretty obvious. He is basically a 1200-1400m horse but his new trainer has few doubts about him lasting the mile – “He won his 1400s going away, he is a seven-year-old and there is his sire.” Ideal World won over 2500m and he is the sire of Met winner Smart Call.

Sands, now 62, has been training for over 35 years. He has a string of Grade 1 winners to show for it including two Cape Flying Championships and three Mercury Sprints with Flobayou, the Champion Stakes and the Paddock Stakes – but not many of his horses got as worked up before their races as Rainbow Bridge does.

How is he going to be on Saturday when he sees a crowd far bigger than he has ever come across before? “I am not going to tell him how many people will be there.” Sands’ one-liners are delivered with such a straight face that it takes a second or two before you realise he is joking.

But will he take a leaf out of Sean Tarry’s Legal Eagle book and put a jockey up in the parade ring to keep the horse calm? Sands considers the question carefully before answering. “I don’t really know but last time he settled down in the parade ring. He was more on his toes when arrived at the course. There was an accident on the highway that day and as a result he spent 25 minutes more in the float than he should have done.”

So will he win on Saturday? The answer is implied rather than spelt out – “He is pretty fit and he has done well since the Green Point. I would say that he is probably now at his peak.”

By Michael Clower