Fitting tribute to king
King’s Plate holds a plot Twist worthy of Oliver. WHAT THE DICKENS? THAT’S WHY HE’S SA’S TOP MILER
It’s hard to believe that’s it’s been nearly a quarter of a century since the Boyzone singing sensation, Ronan Keating, released Life Is A Rollercoaster off his debut album as a solo artist.
The single went platinum, more so for its catchy melody than the depth of its lyrics, but in simple terms, it’s difficult to disagree with the principle message that life is a roller-coaster and you’ve just gotta ride it.
Like life, horse racing is a big dipper. Twists and turns and ups and downs are part of the ride and that’s why we love it.
Charles Dickens’ victory in last Saturday’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate was nothing short of sensational.
I will be the first to confess I didn’t see it coming. It’s not that I’m surprised he won. He is, after all, the undisputed best miler in the country.
It was more the breathtaking manner in which he buried his opposition that beggared belief.
Yes, there was synergy in the Drakenstein-bred son of Trippi returning to his brilliant best to reward his owner-breeder with her maiden win in a race that has enjoyed her unrivalled patronage for a decade.
Likewise, Mzansi’s equine King Charles saluting in the race named in honour of the ruling British monarch was a headline waiting to be written and perhaps worthy of publication in the Pickwick Papers.
Synergy aside, on the exposed form of his defeat behind See It Again in the first week of December in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes, it required Charles Dickens to exit that Bleak House, forget those Hard Times and lay to rest The Ghost of Christmas Past. And boy did ol’ Charlie-boy rewrite the manuscript.
It was a plot Twist worthy of Oliver and with the WSB Cape Met just a few weeks away, he has justifiably reignited those Great Expectations his legion of fans have always held for him.
The burning question remains: will his connections choose to run him on 27 January or will he Artfully Dodge a 2 000m rematch with See It Again?
I want to give a quick shout out to two of my Cape Racing copresenters from Saturday’s satellite broadcast on SuperSport. Vicky Minott and MJ Byleveld proved invaluable with their pre-race analysis.
A former winner of the Cape Met aboard One World, Byleveld was adamant that the body language of Aldo Domeyer was the polar opposite of what he had demonstrated on the day of the Green Point.
While Byleveld was insistent the human team around Charles Dickens was oozing calm confidence, Minott told viewers that in the week leading up to the King’s Plate, Charles Dickens had looked like his old self.
I asked her to elaborate and she shared with our audience that the colt’s conditioner, Candice Bass-Robinson, had asked show jumper Belinda Haytread to school Charles Dickens in a rounder frame, which serves to activate the muscles over a horse’s topline and engage their hocks.
Such schooling is a training method specifically used by dressage riders. In Charles Dickens’ case, it was designed to address his habit of hanging out by strengthening up his muscles, increasing his range of movement and allowing him to move with greater ease and efficiency.
Minott told anyone prepared to listen that the effects of Haytread’s work were evident in the pre-parade and the canter past.
So compelling were the views of Minott and Byleveld, I knew before they jumped that my decision to banker See It Again in the Pick 6 was a mistake.
It was credible broadcasting of the highest order.
In closing, congratulations must be afforded to Gaynor Rupert in her capacity as the breeder, owner and event custodian.
From top to tail, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate exudes class.
No surprise then that Rupert should punctuate perfectly the duality of life, horse racing and her champion’s last two races by quoting: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” – the opening line of the Dickensian novel,