L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jet Dark Defends Title In L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate To Earn Breeders’ Cup Berth

Messrs. C.T. Crowe & N. Jonsson's 4-year-old Jet Dark (SAF) successfully defended his title in Saturday's one-mile L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) at Kenilworth Racecourse with a 2 ¼-length win over favored Kommetdieding (SAF). With this victory Jet Dark, trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by S'manga Khumalo, earned an automatic berth into the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

One race prior to the Queen's Plate, Mrs. S. Viljoen's 4-year-old filly Captain's Ransom (SAF) defeated Chansonette (SAF) by a head in the 1 1/8-mile Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1), and gained a free starting position into the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Now in its 15th season, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held this year at the Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on Nov. 4-5.

Off slowly in the 11-horse field, Jet Dark, 10-1, saved ground along the rail towards the rear of the field behind Kommetdieding, last year's Vodacom Durban July (G1) winner. Both runners gained steadily into the final turn with Kommetdieding moving to challenge front runner Seeking the Stars (SAF) to his outside at the 200 meter mark. At that point, though, Jet Dark found another gear, surging past Kommetdieding to the front and charging home an easy winner. Kommetdieding held on for second over the fast-closing third choice Rainbow Bridge (SAF), with Seeking the Stars finishing fourth.

In registering his sixth win in 11 starts, Jet Dark, a son of Trippi out of Night Jet (SAF) by Jet Master (SAF), completed the mile in 1:36.56 over a course listed as good. Jet Dark has now won three Group 1 races. In addition to last year's Queen's Plate triumph, he also won the HKJC World Pool Champions Cup in July at Greyville. Jet Dark, bred by Drackenstein Stud, came into today's race off a fourth-place finish in the WSB Prive Greenpoint Stakes (G2) at Kenilworth on Dec. 4.

In the Cartier Paddock Stakes, the 2-1 favored Captain's Ransom, trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by Richard Fourie, came from far back against 10 rivals and battled to the front inside the final 100 meters. Fending off the challenge of 3-1 second choice Chansonette along the rail and the fast closing Marina (SAF) in between them, Captain's Ransom hit the wire a short head in front. Chansonette held off Marina by a head to claim the runner-up position.

Earning the free berth into the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Captain's Ransom, a 4-year-old filly by Captain Al (SAF) out of the Red Ransom mare Cinnas Ransom (GB), won her ninth race in 11 starts. She finished the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.43. The win was also her third Group 1 triumph, having taken the Majora Stakes last May and the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas in 2020. Captain's Ransom had two 7-furlong victories prior to today's race, first winning the Diana Stakes (G3) at Durbanville on Oct. 2, and then the Dec. 4 Amy Miller Memorial Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for Jet Dark and Captain's Ransom to start in the Fan Duel Breeders' Cup Mile and the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, respectively. Breeders' Cup will also provide a US$40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24 to receive the rewards.

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Win And You’re In: Defending Champion Jet Dark Headlines South Africa’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate

Messrs. C.T. Crowe & N. Jonsson's 4-year-old defending champion Jet Dark (SAF) is slated to face 10 rivals entered for Saturday's 1-mile R1.5 million L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town. The race winner will earn an automatic berth into the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. One race prior to the Queen's Plate, Mrs. S. Viljoen's 4-year-old filly Captain's Ransom (SAF) leads the 1 1/8-mile R1 million Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) for a free starting position into the US$2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Both races will be televised live on TVG, with approximate post time for the Cartier Paddock Stakes scheduled at 8:35 a.m. ET.

As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for the winners of Saturday's races to start in the World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a US$40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24 to receive the rewards.

Jet Dark, trained by Justin Snaith, slipped up the rail in the final furlong to win last year's L'Ormarins Queen's Plate at 12-1, defeating Rainbow Bridge (SAF) by three-quarters of a length. Since then, the son of Trippi has made three starts, which includes a victory on July 31 in the 1 1/8-mile HKJC World Pool Champions Cup (G1) at Greyville, and a recent fourth-place finish in the WSB Prive Greenpoint Stakes (G2) at Kenilworth on Dec. 4. Richard Fourie has the mount, breaking from post 5.

Mr. and Mrs. M.L.P. Rattray's 7-year-old gelding Rainbow Bridge has won 11 of 25 starts, including five Group 1 victories. Trained by Richard Sands, Rainbow Bridge reeled off three straight wins following his defeat in last year's Queen's Plate. He captured the Cape Town Met Stakes (G1) at Kenilworth three weeks later, and then scored two wins at Greyville, first taking the Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes (G2) by 2 lengths and the Group 1 Hollywood Bets Gold Challenge. However, the streak ended with an eighth-place finish in the prestigious 1 3/8-mile Vodacom Durban July (G1) on July 3 at Greyville.

The first two finishers from the Durban July – Kommetdieding (SAF) and Linebacker (SAF) – have both been entered in the Queen's Plate. Nicknamed the “Cape Comet,” 4-year-old Kommetdieding, owned by Ashwin Reynolds and trained by the father-daughter duo of Henry Crawford and Michele Rix, broke from the outside post 18 in the Durban July and steadily worked his way to the front, passing Linebacker in the last 50 yards to prevail by a half-length at 10-1. He completed his 3-year-old campaign with four wins in six starts. In his first start this season, Kommetdieding finished a troubled third behind Warrior (SAF) in the Cape Mile on Nov. 6 at Kenilworth. Kommetdieding will be ridden by Gavin Lerena from post three.

Two-time Group 1 winner Linebacker, trained by Vaughn Marshall and ridden from post three by Craig Zackey, has finished first or second in nine of his 10 starts, with his Group 1 scores coming back-to-back in the Jonsson Workware Cape Derby last February and in the 1 ¼-mile Daily News 2000 in May, prior to his runner-up finish in the Durban July. Linebacker prepped for the Queen's Plate with a third-place finish in the Green Point Stakes, won by stablemate Seeking the Stars (SAF).

Also trained by Marshall, the 4-year-old old Seeking the Stars has won his last two races, taking the Matchem Stakes (G3) at Durbanville on Oct. 2, before his half-length triumph in the Green Point. Bernard Fayd'Herbe will ride, breaking from post four.

Captain's Ransom Faces She's a Keeper in Cartier Paddock Stakes

Eleven fillies and mares are scheduled to go to the post in the Cartier Paddock Stakes, led by Captain's Ransom and Missing U Syndicate's 5-year-old She's a Keeper (SAF). A very consistent eight-time winner in 10 starts, Captain's Ransom, trained by Justin Snaith, comes into Saturday's race off two 7-furlong victories, first winning the Diana Stakes (G3) at Durbanville on Oct. 2, and then the Dec. 4 Amy Miller Memorial Pinnacle Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Princess Calla (SAF), with She's a Keeper finishing third. Captain's Ransom also gained her second career Group 1-win last January when she captured the 1-mile Majorca Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths at Kenilworth. Richard Fourie has the mount, breaking from post four.

She's a Keeper, a six-time winner for trainer Gareth Van Zyl, was the odds-on favorite in her first six starts, and registered five victories, culminating with a 1-length triumph in the World Sports Betting 1900 (G2) at Greyville. She was next entered in the Vodacom Durban July against males, but was wide throughout, finishing 10th of 18 starters. She's a Keeper rebounded in her next effort, though, winning the Kuda Gold Bracelet (G2) at Greyville on July 31. In her most recent start, She's a Keeper finished third, beaten 2 lengths in the Pinnacle Stakes. Starting from post eight, She's a Keeper will be ridden by Bernard Fayd'Herbe.

Mr. M.J.A Ferreira's 4-year-old Princess Calla has finished second in her last four starts for trainer Adam Marcus. A 4-year-old daughter of Flower Alley, Princess Calla completed last season with a heartbreaking defeat by a nose in the Group 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes at Greyville on July 3. A winner twice in 10 starts, Princess Calla will be ridden by Anton Marcus from post five.

Mauritzfontein, and Messrs. M.W. Bass, F. Green and Re Byn's 4-year-old Marina (SAF), trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, has won four of five starts, with all four wins coming at Kenilworth. A chestnut mare by Silvano (GER), Marina's only defeat in that stretch was a fourth-place finish in the Diana Stakes. She won two starts after that, taking the Computaform Online Pinnacle Stakes and the Victress Stakes (G3) on Dec. 18. Marina, eight of 13 lifetime, will be ridden by Aldo Domeyer from post three.

Following her “Win and You're In” victory in the 2021 Cartier Paddock Stakes, Queen Supreme (IRE) was sent to the U.S. later in the year to compete in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

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Palace Pier Wins Second Jacques Le Marois At Deauville, BC Mile Berth

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum's Palace Pier (GB) became the first horse to win the Group 1 Prix Du Haras De Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques le Marois in successive years since Spinning World in 1997. The win gave him his second “Win and You're In” Breeders' Cup Challenge Series of 2021, having won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. The son of Kingman (GB) has an automatic starting position and fees paid into this year's $2 million Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 84 stakes races where the winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, Calif., on Nov. 5-6.

Palace Pier, trained by John & Thady Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, traveled up on the outside of the field and showed a sparkling turn of foot to go clear of his seven rivals before having to withstand a strong challenge from Group 1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (IRE) in the final furlong to hold on by a neck. The defending Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile champion, Order of Australia (IRE), was a further 1 ¾ lengths back in third.

After completing the mile in 1:35.96 over a course listed as good, Palace Pier was cut to 7/4 with Unibet for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile in November.

John Gosden speaking after the race, said: “I thought it was a very clean race. They went a sensible pace. They quickened from 600 meters out and so it was a test of speed and he's done it well. He's a gorgeous and lovely horse to be around. He's got this amazing cruising speed and acceleration. I've made no secret that he was ill. He had a blood disorder and missed the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes and we've come here on the absolute minimum amount of work. He's probably come here at 80% and as Frankie (Dettori) said, his class has got him through. He's having a strong blow after, so he was probably 10 days short of work, but they weren't going to move the Jacques Le Marois!”

Gosden indicated that QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot in October could be next for the five-time Group 1 winner.

“We'll now wait until Champions Day and go either for the 1-mile Group 1 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes or perhaps the 1 ¼ mile Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes.”

When asked if the Breeders' Cup could be on the agenda for the son of Kingman (GB), Gosden replied: “November is a long way off! Del Mar is a track I'm very fond of and I had a lot of success there and have a lot of good friends there, but that's a long way down the road at the moment.”

Palace Pier was already a winner of the “Win and You're In” G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and is one of seven horses this year to have gained a “Win and You're In” berth for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile. Jet Dark (SAF), winner of the Group 1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate in South Africa, Succeso (CHI) who claimed the Group 1 Gran Premio Club Hipico Falabella in Chile, Smooth Like Strait who won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile, Danon Kingly (JPN) who captured the Group 1 Yasuda Kinen in Japan, Alcohol Free (IRE) who stormed clear in the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, and Got Stormy who yesterday won the Grade 1 Fourstardave, are the other six.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for Palace Pier to start in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, which will be run at a mile on the Del Mar turf course. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

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Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Heads To South Africa This Saturday

A.N. & The Honorable Mrs. G. R. Foster's 5-year-old homebred Belgarion, a winner of his last six races, headlines a field of nine runners entered for Saturday's one-mile L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town, South Africa. The race winner will earn an automatic berth into the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. One race prior to the Queen's Plate, Mauritzfontein Ltd.'s unbeaten 5-year-old mare Summer Pudding leads the 1 1/8-mile Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) for a free starting position into the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Now in its 14th season, the Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held this year at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California on Nov. 5-6.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for the winners of Saturday's races, and also will provide a US$40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America, to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

Belgarion, a bay son of Dynasty, is trained by Justin Snaith, who has three starters in the race. Belgarion's biggest career score was on July 25, 2020 when he won South Africa's most prestigious race, the 1 3/8-mile Vodafone Durban July Stakes (G1) at Greyville by three-quarters of a length. He returned on Dec. 12 in the 7-furlong World Sports Betting Greenpoint Stakes (G2) at Kenilworth. Last of eight runners at the top of the stretch, Belgarion closed with a powerful rush to defeat the favored Rainbow Bridge by a neck. That victory improved Belgarion's record to eight wins in 10 starts, and was his seventh-straight triumph dating back to September 2019. Belgarion will be ridded by Richard Fourie from post six.

Mr. and Mrs. M.L.P. Rattray's 7-year-old gelding Rainbow Bridge, trained by Eric Sands, has had some hard luck in his last two starts. In addition to his close second-place finish in the Greenpoint Stakes, the bay son of Ideal World finished a short head behind Golden Ducat in the 1 1/8-mile World Sports Betting Champions Cup (G1) at Greyville on Aug. 29. His lone victory last year, however, came in the Group 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at about 1 mile on June 28 at Greyville, defeating Vardy, last year's L'Ormarins Queen's Plate winner. Luke Ferrais will ride Rainbow Bridge out of gate five.

The front-running Cirillo also should be a factor for owner C.J.H. Van Niekerk and trainer Sean Tarry. Hitting the board in his last four starts, Cirillo held the lead in deep stretch in the Greenpoint Stakes before being passed in the final yards by Belgarion and Rainbow Bridge. A 5-year-old bay by Pomodoro, Cirillo last won on March 7, taking the 7-furlong Betting World Hawaii Stakes (G2). Breaking from post four, Cirillo will be ridden by Gavin Larena.

Another starter trained by Snaith is the 2019 L'Oramins Queen's Plate winner Do It Again, owned by Nick Johnson and Bernard Kantor, who will be making his first start since Aug. 29. Ridden by Anton Marcus from post seven, the 6-year-old Twice Over gelding won two more Group 1 races in 2019, taking the Rising Sun Gold Challenge and the Durban July. Do It Again, though, did not win a race last year in five starts. He was sixth in the 2020 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, and third in both the Hollywood Bets Gold Cup and the Durban July.

Snaith's third starter is longshot Hurricane Harry, who won three races last year, but trailed seven runners last time out in the Cape Mile at Kenilworth on Nov. 7. He will be ridden by Robert Khathi, breaking from post one.

In the Cartier Paddock Stakes, Summer Pudding, trained by Paul Peter, looms large over 11 rivals, having never lost in nine starts. Saturday's race will be her first at Kenilworth as eight of her victories came at Turrfontein and one at Greyville. A 5-year-old bay daughter of Silvano out of Cherry on the Cake by Strike Smartly, Summer Pudding has three Group 1 wins, including her most recent triumph over male rivals by 2 ½ lengths in the 1 1/8-mile World Sports Betting Gauteng Summer Cup at Turffontein on Nov. 28. That was Summer Pudding's first start since July 7, when she captured the 1 1/8-mile Champion Stayer: Out of Your League Pinnacle Stakes over fillies and mares at Turffontein.

Summer Pudding's first Group 1 score came on March 7 in the 1-mile Wilgerbosdrift S A Fillies Classic. After winning the Group 2, 1 ½-mile Wilgerbosdrift S A Oaks at Turffontein on June 6, she got her second Group 1 of the season, defeating Driving Miss Daisy in the 1 1/8-mile Woolavington 2000 at Greyville on June 28. Summer Pudding will be ridden by Warren Kennedy from post 11.

The main danger to Summer Pudding could come from defending champion Queen Supreme. Also owned by Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd., Queen Supreme, trained by Mike de Kock, is a 5-year-old chestnut daughter of Exceed and Excel out of the Gone West mare Call Later. Queen Supreme captured last year's Paddock Stakes by 2 ½ lengths over Driving Miss Daisy for her first Group 1 win. Two starts later, she finished third against males in the Hsh Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes (G1) on June 27 at Turrfontein. Off until Nov. 28, she faced open company again in the 1-mile World Sports Bet Ipi Tombe Challenge at Turffontein, finishing second by 1 ¾ lengths. She returned to the winner's circle in her last start, taking the 1-mile Computaform Online Pinnacle Stakes by 4 ½ lengths on Dec. 12. Queen Supreme will be ridden for the first time by Keagan De Melo, from post two.

A.C. Peter's Silvano's Pride, third in last year's race for trainer Justin Snaith, won two races in 2020, including her last start on Dec. 19 when she captured the 1-mile Cape Racing Victress Stakes (G2) at Kenilworth by a half-length. A 5-year-old chestnut daughter of Silvano, Silvano's Pride also won the 6-furlong Tibouchina Stakes (G2) at Greyville on June 28 by 2 ¼ lengths. Robert Khathi has the mount, breaking from post seven.

The Eric Sands-trained Driving Miss Daisy has been off the board since her runner-up finish in the Woolavalington 2000 behind Summer Pudding. A 5-year-old bay daughter of Master of My Fate, Driving Miss Daisy finished sixth last time out in the gavelhouse.com Conditions Plate at Kenilworth on Nov. 21. Driving Miss Daisy breaks from post eight under jockey Morne Winnaar.

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