Could experienced jockey Piere “Striker” Strydom again deny the brilliant Variety Club victory in the 152nd R1 million L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate?
This grade 1 horse race is South Africa’s premier mile contest and the highlight of Saturday’s meeting at Kenilworth in Cape Town.
Last year Variety Club was also the favourite to win the race but a brilliant ride by Strydom on Gimmethegreenlight won it for trainer Justin Snaith.
This time Strydom will be riding the Gauteng raider Pomodoro for trainer Sean Tarry. Strydom could again be the biggest danger to Variety Club if he attacks late with a well-timed rug again.
Pomodoro, as is Variety Club, is in excellent form.
We have a top-class field for this race and despite his wide draw one has to stick with Variety Club and jockey Anton Marcus to get it right. On Kenilworth Variety Club, probably one of the best in the world over a mile, is deadly.
He has the gate speed to overcome the wide draw but that could also leave the door open for late attacks by Pomodoro and Jackson.
Jackson will always struggle to beat Variety Club over a miler but is such a good horse that he will be there if Variety Club is not at his best.
It is nice to see the champion sprinter What a Winter also in the race. He prefers shorter but is also in such great form that trainer Mike Bass felt he will be a big runner here.
It is certainly a race to look forward to.
In the grade 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes the top class Beach Beauty also will want to set the record straight like Variety Club.
Beach Beauty was the runner-up last year when Thunder Dance won the Paddock Stakes. Again it’s a race full of class but Beach Beauty looks more than ready this time.
There is no feature race Friday at Arlington in Port Elizabeth but a few very interesting races to look out for.
