Charles Dickens

In a shock announcement it was confirmed that Charles Dickens has been retired and will take up stud duties at Drakenstein Stud. Photo: Chase Liebenberg

L’Ormarins King’s Plate: How much will the winner win?

The R2 million Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate on Saturday, 7 January 2023 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth promises to be a must-attend event.

Charles Dickens

In a shock announcement it was confirmed that Charles Dickens has been retired and will take up stud duties at Drakenstein Stud. Photo: Chase Liebenberg

The R2 million Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate on Saturday, 7 January 2023 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth promises to be a must-attend event.

As reported by The South African website, 10-time French champion jockey Christophe Soumillon will ride Eric Sands’ entrant Golden Ducat in the race.

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According to the SportingPost website, the 11 strong provisional field (down from an initial 16 horses) for South Africa’s most prestigious weight-for-age mile includes trainer Candice Bass-Robinson’s unbeaten 3-year-old Charles Dickens who will have regular pilot Aldo Domeyer working hard to make the 55kg weight allotment.

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Also in the provisional line-up is trainer Justin Snaith’s Jet Dark, who will be bidding for a hat-trick of victories in the 1 600m race, as well as Hollywoodbets Durban July and Cape Town Met winner, Kommetdieding.

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Meanwhile, South African champion apprentice and only female jockey, Rachel Venniker, is down to ride Speed Machine, also for Snaith Racing.

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At the time of publishing, it looks to be a three-horse race for victory.

According to leading South Africa bookmakers Hollywoodbets, Charles Dickens is the 56/100 favourite, followed by Jet Dark at 4/1 and Kommetdieding at 11/2.

Golden Ducat and Trip Of Fortune are next best at 16/1.

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The winner of the race will earn R1 187 500 with second place worth R380 000.

Third place home will bank R190 000 with fourth and fifth across the line worth R95 000 and R47 500, respectively.

The race is due off at 16:10.

L’ORMARINS KING’S PLATE PROVISIONAL FIELD

Under horse, weight, merit rating, jockey and trainer

Al Muthana (AUS)60125Bernard Fayd’HerbeRicky Maingard
Golden Ducat60125Christopher SoumillonEric Sands
Jet Dark60130Richard FourieJustin Snaith
Kommetdieding60129Gavin LerenaHWJ Crawford/M Rix
Linebacker60124Corne OrfferVaughan Marshall
Russian Rock60111Keagan de MeloDean Kannemeyer
Speed Machine60108Rachel VennikerJustin Snaith
Trip Of Fortune60119Gareth WrightCandice Bass-Robinson
Waterberry Lane60116Grant BehrDean Kannemeyer
Zapatillas60118Luyolo MxothwaBrett Crawford
Charles Dickens55128Aldo DomeyerCandice Bass-Robinson