With the Indian cricket team in town and playing a test match at Newlands, the week in Cape Town coupled with the Festival of Racing sponsored by L’Ormarins, is a peak.

The much awaited Queen’s Plate is a highlight in the racing calendar and has become known internationally as one of the finest races in South Africa. The mile contest has the defending champ, Legal Eagle in the house yet again and with much fanfare around his former owner, Markus Jooste, and now subsequently in new ownership with new silks, the current Horse of the Year, is all the rage for this most prestigious race, he is the 7/10 favorite for the event.

The now 6 year old is going for his hat trick in this event and is unbeaten in 7 attempts at this distance. He simply is one of the greatest milers this country has produced. Captain America, a year older than his long time nemesis, is attempting yet again to displace the champion, he comes into this race with decent form but last won 4 starts back in the Gold Challenge in KZN. Sail South proved to be a difficult customer and beaten his stable mate in the 1800m Champions Cup in KZN. Brett Crawford has two excellent strings to his bow in these two.
Hat Puntano is the real unknown in this event. He won an impressive race in the Charity Mile at Grade 2 level in Gauteng late last year but that was his only win in South Africa after his poor debut effort in the country. He looks a nice sort though and could be the danger horse to the favorite.
Gold Standard is a special horse, he is an up and coming 4 year old , fairly lightly raced and done little wrong, he seems to be ready to take the next step up and he could be the most interesting runner leading into the Sun Met come the end of the month. Don’t rule out a good run from him here and if luck goes his way, he could win it all.
The Queens Plate is one of the great race days in South Africa most especially after it was revived by the L’Ormarins sponsorship. It is not to be missed.