L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Group 1)

THE Charles Dickens bubble was expensively burst at Kenilworth last Saturday when Candice Bass-Robinson’s supposed superstar - starting almost unbackable at 2/9 - was beaten a neck by the unconsidered Australian-bred Al Muthana, whose 80/1 starting price was by far the longest in the country’s premier mile race this century.

The pace was strong almost from the off and astonishingly the favourite, unbeaten in six starts, was having to be niggled at quite early on just to hold his position.

He ran on well enough in the straight but Al Muthana, formerly trained by Mike de Kock for Shadwell, proved a neck too good. Jet Dark, winner of the race in the previous two seasons, was a length and a half back third.

Ms Bass-Robinson, having had two days to digest the unpalatable, said on Monday: “The strong pace probably suited the winner – he won the Gold Challenge that way last June – and he somehow ran the race of his life here.

“An all-aged Group 1 was a little bit different for Charles Dickens from a Group 1 in his own age group and they went hard. But I felt that he pretty much ran up to his best. He beat the two horses he was set out to beat (Jet Dark and Kommetdieding) quite comfortably.”

Better luck

But it’s worth noting that the favourite might well have won had he had better luck in running. In the straight Bernard Fayd’Herbe on the winner was able to tack across to the outside rail where recent racemeetings have indicated that the going is significantly faster. Aldo Domeyer on Charles Dickens was unable to do so.

Certainly the bookmakers are prepared to bet pretty generously against lightning striking twice inside three weeks.

They make Jet Dark and Kommetdieding joint favourites at 7/2 for the Cape Town Met whereas Al Muthana is freely available at 14/1.

Fayd’Herbe, 40, winning the King’s/ Queen’s Plate for the sixth time, was fined R40,000 (€2,200) for exceeding the whip limit but he has long been one of the best jockeys in the country despite a height that necessitates his running 10km a day in a sweat suit.

Al Muthana, by the sprinter Deep Field out of a Grade 2-winning mare by Redoutes Choice, is now trained by Ricky Maingard who won the 1984 Met with Wolf Power. He was one of the top trainers in Mauritius for many seasons before returning to Cape Town in the second half of last year.

He is also one of the owners of Al Muthana and said that. “There were a few problems to sort out with the horse,” making a point of paying tribute to his equine osteopath.

Cartier Paddock Stakes (Group 1)

MAKE It Snappy, 8/1 for the Met after being supplemented, boosted her claims by winning the other Grade 1 on the card, the nine-furlong Cartier Paddock Stakes under Louis Mxothwa at odds of 3/1.

The daughter of Dynasty is out of a Western Winter mare, is trained by Brett Crawford and was bred by Ridgemont Highlands. She beat the even-money favourite Captain’s Ransom by a neck.