L'ORMARINS QUEEN'S PLATE : ALL SET FOR A HUMDINGER
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 06:37AM 
Ebony Flyer
(Photo : Action Racing Online)
L’ORMARINS QUEEN’S PLATE (Grade 1)
Kenilworth, Turf, 1600m
7 January 2012
Karel Miedema
Sporting PostSouth Africa’s most ‘elegantly sophisticated royal and regal triple feature raceday’ takes place at Kenilworth Racecourse this Saturday 7 January. The afternoon’s bumper bill is headed by the R1 million Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (Grade 1) to be run at weight-for-age over a mile, with the R1 million TBA Paddock Stakes (Grade 1) weight-for-age over 1800m and the R125,000 Politician Stakes (Listed) also over 1800m making up the features.
The traditional theme of the L’Ormarins sky blue and snow white will dominate the Kenilworth landscape on a day that has grown in stature and offers a premier celebratory cocktail of world-class horseracing, fine food and wine and the opportunity, if it so tickles the fancy, to rub shoulders with an international cast that includes African society’s social movers and shakers.
And what a field go to post! Two champion roses in Justin Snaith’s Ebony Flyer and Mike de Kock’s Gibraltar Blue take their place amongst the nine thorns that comprises the star-studded eleven strong line-up for the 151st renewal of South Africa’s premier mile contest.
The young dynamo and rising star of the South African horseracing training ranks, Justin Snaith, sends Team Valor International’s Ebony Flyer to post here after a dazzling third as an immature three-year-old in last year’s race. She is peaking at the right time and looks a huge runner with internationally experienced jockey Felix Coetzee in the saddle. For the lucky number studiers, she runs from a 9 draw with a 9 saddle-cloth.
Justin Snaith also sends the imported Australian-bred Gimmethegreenlight to post for J&B Met winning owner Hassen Adams. Top South African jockey Piere Strydom returns from a broken jaw recuperation to partner the top three-year-old.
Mike de Kock’s daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar, Gibraltar Blue, is very fast and the Joburg Spring Challenge winner will be flying from her 3 stall-gate to ensure a red-hot gallop. She has a proven turn of foot and could be the dark horse of the race. Link Man is a talented son of Toreador and jumps from a 2 stall-gate under Weichong Marwing. As the only grey in the race, he will be the most photographed horse in the feature.
Joey Ramsden is enjoying the season of his life and he sends Guineas winner Variety Club out from the widest gate, with the services of South African Champion jockey Anton Marcus. Joey Ramsden’s onslaught is backed by Derby winner Bravura and Gr2 Peninsula Handicap winner Lion In Winter. Let’s not forget Vaughan Marshall’s recent Jet Master Stakes winner, the ever-consistant Tales Of Bravery.
FINAL FIELD
| # | Horse | Kg | MR | Dr | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRAVURA | 60.0 | 113 | 11 | G Hatt | Joey Ramsden |
| 2 | TALES OF BRAVERY | 60.0 | 112 | 7 | M Byleveld | Vaughan Marshall |
| 3 | LINK MAN | 60.0 | 111 | 2 | W Marwing | Mike de Kock |
| 4 | CHESALON | 60.0 | 110 | 1 | K Neisius | Mike Bass |
| 5 | LION IN WINTER | 60.0 | 110 | 4 | B Fayd’Herbe | Joey Ramsden |
| 6 | KISS AGAIN | 60.0 | 108 | 5 | A Domeyer | Mike Bass |
| 7 | FABIANI | 60.0 | 107 | 8 | S Cormack | Glen Kotzen |
| 8 | GIBRALTAR BLUE (IRE) | 57.5 | 109 | 3 | A Delpech | Mike de Kock |
| 9 | EBONY FLYER | 57.5 | 107 | 9 | F Coetzee | Justin Snaith |
| 10 | VARIETY CLUB | 55.0 | 108 | 10 | A Marcus | Joey Ramsden |
| 11 | GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT (AUS) | 55.0 | 98 | 6 | P Strydom | Justin Snaith |
www.lqp.co.za
Extract from www.sportingpost.co.za
Reader Comments