L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Grade 1)

VAUGHAN Marshall achieved one of the greatest ambitions of his 42-year training career when One Stripe justified 11/10 favouritism in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate at Kenilworth last Saturday.

Gavin Lerena, also winning this Grade 1 for the first time, left it quite late on the Cape Guineas winner but his mount’s acceleration proved decisive. He fairly sprinted clear in the last half furlong to beat the unconsidered 75/1 shot Montien by a length and three-quarters with Gimme A Prince (14/1) a neck away third.

Former champion Lerena, 39, said: “One Stripe had been playing up quite a lot lately but today he gave me a calm feeling, and he let me know that everything was alright.

“He didn’t break well but I had him in a good rhythm. Things got quite tough round the turn but in the straight I could always feel that when I was going to ask him, he would give it to me – and he absolutely cruised up to the big horses.”

Unbelievable

Marshall,73, added: “Wow! That was unbelievable. This is one race that had eluded me – and I’m not getting any younger. One World ran second for me and now his son has come out and proved it – and to think I bought this one without a buyer!”

One Stripe, out of the Silvano mare Silver Stripe, is yet another big race winner bred by Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud and carries the colours of Rikesh Sewgoolam.

The colt topped the 2023 Cape Racing Ready To Run Sale at R1.4 million (€72,569) and is out of the three-time winning Silvano mare Silver Stripe.

Remarkably he is only the 11th three-year-old to beat the older horses in this historic race since it was first run in 1861.

See It Again, second to Charles Dickens 12 months ago, was the disappointment of the race and finished plumb last.

Veteran Piere Strydom was hurt at the Vaal on New Year’s Eve but his replacement, Rachel Venniker, is ultra capable. However, she couldn’t get a tune out of the third favourite and the veterinary examination ordered by the stipes revealed nothing.

Paddock Stakes

Double Grand Slam readily justified 18/10 favouritism in the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes after making up a tremendous amount of ground in the straight under a well-judged ride from champion Richard Fourie.

The Vercingetorix four-year-old is out of the Captain Al mare Princess Peach, was bred by the Varsfontein Stud and was knocked down to Gary Player for R1,000,000 (€51,970) at the 2022 National Yearling Sale. The legendary golfer (in amazing form for a man of 89) sold shares to Gaynor Rupert and Dave MacLean.

Trainer Justin Snaith paid tribute, saying: “Gary is probably one of the greatest sportsmen that South Africa has ever had and to train for him is a privilege.

“Double Grand Slam is very much in the space of her life at the moment but she was starting to sweat up in the saddling enclosure and it was a matter of keeping her calm.”

OISIN Murphy left it late to strike in South Africa but also tasted success on Kenilworth’s feature card.

Murphy had seven rides at the Cape Town track, and had to wait until the final race to notch up a winner aboard Justin Snaith’s Sail The Seas in the A Case Of You Middle Stakes.

Multiple British champion jockey, Murphy is keeping busy during the winter months and scooped classic honours in India recently.

Having ridden in Johannesburg’s Summer Cup in November, he returned to South Africa for one of the biggest days on the country’s racing calendar.

“It all worked out very well for me and I am delighted to be able to ride for the Snaiths,” said Murphy. “This group of owners have been tremendously hospitable and keen.

The Irishman had finished fourth aboard the Snaith-trained Royal Aussie in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate itself.