Do It Again to stamp his name on the Queen’s Plate
ONLY two horses have completed the Queen’s Plate-Durban July double this century – Trademark and the legendary Pocket Power. Do It Again is out to become the third in Saturday’s L’Ormarins highlight. Justin Snaith admits he was surprised to see him finish so close in the Green Point – “He had only had one companion gallop, it was a prep race for him and, although he takes very little work, the slow gallop suited the others.”
The dual champion trainer, shrewdly, is the first person I have spoken to who casts doubt on the worth of that famously close result - “It was a perfect example of a slow run race. It’s easy to say that the first four are all great horses but they shouldn’t have all finished on top of each other like that.
“If there is a better pace on Saturday and we get a bit of climate, eg a head wind or a tail wind, it will alter the whole race.”
Snaith won the 2012 Queen’s Plate with Gimmethegreenlight but on this occasion his customary optimism is more than just tinged with realism.
“The Met is Do It Again’s main aim but there is no reason why he won’t run a big race on Saturday. Everybody thinks he is a 2 000m horse – he is – but he has that Xfactor. Remember he didn’t just win the July, he won it convincingly. For sure, he will be doing his best work late but there is nothing wrong with his form over a mile.” On paper there is but seemingly there were reasons for the one way-below par effort.
“He wasn’t right in the Cape Guineas. He had given trouble in the starting stalls, we had to do a lot of schooling and it flattened him. When he walked into the parade ring I was embarrassed how he had trained off. It was in the Natal Guineas, his next run over a mile, that we got to see what he is capable of over the trip. He was impressive.”
Snowdance
Dual Grade 1 winner Snowdance is very much the second string according to the betting but that is not how Snaith sees it.
“Everyone is counting her out, almost as if she is a non-runner, but I think she can give them all a run for their money.
“She is not just any filly but, in my view, by far the best miler of her sex in the country. She showed that when she ran Undercover Agent to half a length in the Gold Challenge when she wasn’t right.
“I think I have her right now. She will need a bit of luck – she has a wide draw at eight –but, if she gets it, she will be in the firing line.”
It is the second run after a rest for both Snaith horses. Is that a concern? “It doesn’t bother me at all. I prefer the second run (to the third) and it works better for me.” Asked what he regards as the principal dangers, I got a blunt answer. “Listen, I am not interested in anything else in the race other than mine and nor am I interested in all the talk. I have a lot of runners on both days and all my worrying and focus is on my horses.
“The Queen’s Plate is going to be a tough race and a very hard one to win but I think I have the right ammo to come to the table. Certainly I wouldn’t swap mine for any of the others.” THE Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1 800m could see reigning Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna retaining her crown but she will be given plenty to think about by Lady In Black, who has landed a plum draw, as well as the like of Fresnaye.
Oh Susanna was beaten by Lady In Black at level weights over 1 600m last time and trainer Justin Snaith said, “She definitely just needed it. She was stuck in quarantine after the Durban season so did nothing for a month and it is hard to find races for 121 merit rated horses. She didn’t pull up that well after that last run but we worked on her and she has come on beautifully. It is the best I have had her since her Met win last year.”
Snaith also runs Miyabi Gold and Miss Katalin and said, “Miyabi Gold ran a very impressive comeback as she had only had one gallop and I am bullish about her running a big race drawn one with Anton Marcus up. I think she will reverse form with Fresnaye.”
Miss Katalin
Miss Katalin has the same ownership as Oh Susanna, Drakenstein Stud, and finished just 1,8 lengths behind Fresnaye last time when setting the pace over course and distance in the Victress Stakes. Snaith said, “Her form warrants her being given this opportunity. She likes to run handy and her presence will ensure its run at a nice gallop.”
Dennis Drier will be hoping to see history repeating itself. His great Dynasty filly Beach Beauty finished second in this race as a threeyear-old and won the next two renewals. Lady In Black, also by Dynasty, finished second in this race last year as a three-year-old. Drier said, “I am very happy with her and expect a big run.”
She has landed a plum draw of three whereas Oh Susanna jumps from draw seven.
Victress winner Fresnaye finished third in the Paddock Stakes last year and has a tough draw of 12.
However, trainer Joey Ramsden confirmed she was not a difficult ride and pointed out she had “a good fellow” (Bernard Fayd'Herbe) aboard. He added, “We have sorted out a few issues with her so she has shown improvement. She only had one gallop going into the Victress so will strip a lot fitter.”
The Mike de Kock-trained Cascapedia traveled down from Cape Town on the Thursday two weeks ago and the journey went well.
The big Irish-bred mare had a tough race in the G-Bets Summer Cup where she finished a narrow 0,8 length third giving 2,5kg to the winner Tilbury Fort and 2kg to the runner up Dawn Assault. However, the yard have freshened her up and Matthew de Kock said she was a happy horse at present. He also believes she will appreciate the step down to 1 800m. “2000m stretches her,” he said. She has never raced in Grade 1 weight for age company before but is relatively unexposed having won six of ten career starts.She jumps from a tricky draw of eight.
Hashtagyolo
Hashtagyolo is a good looking filly and she still needed it in the Victress. She has the class to cause an upset. Trainer Dean Kannemeyer said, “She has her third run after a layoff and I expect her to continue to improve but it is a hard race.” She has a good draw of five.
Trainer Sean Tarry prefers Second Request of his pair. Safe Harbour had a wind operation after last season and Tarry said, “Her first two runs back were discouraging but the blinkers helped last time and she is fit and well so we are just hoping she returns to her best form. Second Request ran on well in the Guineas and the extra distance will certainly help. We will see if she is good enough.”
Trainer Candice Dawson said about Sylvan On Fire, “She deserves a chance and is well in herself.”
Elusive Heart was found to have a nasal discharge after finishing a far from disgraced 3,95 lengths back to Snowdance At level weights over a mile last time and trainer Glen Kotzen said, “We have treated her accordingly. It is her third run after a layoff so she is cherry ripe but it is very competitive. She can place on her best form.”
Trainer Adam Marcus said about Brave Move, “She is very well. Her last run was disappointing and she was found to have choked up. So we have fitted her with a tongue tie. We hope it sorts it out but whether it does or not is still unknown. If she does run to her best she is not one to be ignored.”
The selection is Oh Susanna to beat Lady In Black and Fresnaye with Hashtagyolo and Cascapedia next best.