Legal Eagle, fashionistas clean up at Queen’s Plate
THE first glam horse-racing event of the year, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (LQP), took place at the weekend and had many horse racing enthusiasts, along with local celebs and fashionistas, displaying their best for a highlight of the social calendar.
Taking place at the Kenilworth Racecourse on Friday and Saturday, the event is Africa’s oldest race day, dating back to 1861. Last year it became the country’s first multi-day racing festival, similar to Royal Ascot and the Kentucky Derby.
This year it was Legal Eagle, trained by Sean Tarry, who ran away as champion, clinching an impressive third consecutive victory – and his most dramatic yet – in the R1.5 million Grade 1 LQP.
Jockey Anton Marcus, taking his seventh L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, was grateful.
“Thanks to Gaynor Rupert and her team on a wonderful festival,” he said. “I anticipated that Captain America would stretch us – I also expected that the Snaith team would want a good pace. It’s a fine line with Captain America, you can’t move too late or too early! But I was sitting on a very special horse. A great job done by Sean Tarry and his team,” said Marcus.
Many guests sported the strict blue and white theme. Local celebrities such as Maps Maponyane, Bonang Matheba and Nomzamo Mbatha came ready to dazzle.
And while the LQP may be behind us, there is still the Sun Met on January 27, another highlight for racing enthusiasts and social butterflies.
The 134th edition of the event will bring thousands together to witness the thrill of what’s billed “Africa’s Richest Race Day”.
Kenilworth Racecourse will again host Cape Town’s catwalk when the theme “Style ahead of the Field” has Sun Met racegoers encouraged to be dressed in colours, prints and textures inspired by Africa.