From The Horse's Mouth - Mark Van Deventer

It’s the 2026 vintage of the King’s Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday with loads of opportunities for fixed odds punters on Interbet’s famous exchange, multiple bet-builder exponents and for those seeking exotic riches in the World Pools.

A detailed podcast covering a fabulous card will flight Saturday morning on interbet.co.za

Meanwhile, some selected musings ahead of the meeting, with main picks highlighted:

No suggestion is offered in Race 1 which is for lightly raced juveniles and debutants, so is essentially reduced to guesswork without trials or work out reports.

In Race 2 Justin Snaith saddles Wild Applause s/s 97 and Pink Pigeon s/s 98 with winning chances. Snaith who runs by far the biggest stable in Cape Town uses these marquee days to promote his expertise and usually has many winners.

Miss World s/s 101 ex (Ennion) who is remarkably still a one-time winner despite running strong speed scores and Sohot Sowhat s/s 98 (Woodruff) make the shortlist.

She’sgotclass s/s 92 (McLachlan) and the unexposed Vroom Vroom s/s 90+ can be added to singe race exotics.

Ireland Forever s/s 95 (Marshall) can hit the board in Race 3 but ideally, he wants further. Loving Prague s/s 95 for the high percentage Nel/Domeyer duo is respected with Glen Kotzen’s Catch a Penny s/s 97 (needs to jump on terms) Azzurri s/s 95 (Woodruff) and Spirit s/s 92 (Steyn) other plausible contenders.

Mon Petite Cherie s/s 105 (Crawford) and Quickstepgal s/s 104 (Prinsloo) are advised as two to take against the field in the Sceptre Stakes.

Symphony in White s/s 105 (Bass), Mia Moo s/s 102 (Tarry) and Princess of Gaul s/s 101 (Kannemeyer) are alternatives.

Roccapina s/s 103 (Bass) who ran second in this last year would again have a shake, if holding up physically. Stormwatch s/s 100 (Sands) has not come close to repeating her tremendous try in the Diana Stakes when just missing behind She’s My World s/s 99. If she were to suddenly do so she could light up the tote board.

Native Ruler s/s 109 (Snaith) cracks the nod with Major Master s/s 108 (Bass) and Regulation s/s 108 (Snaith) also making the “A Team” for the Premiers Trophy.

Wider perms may include Okavango s/s 104 (Snaith) and Zeitz s/s 105 (Nel).

Whilst Double Grand Slam s/s 109 (Snaith) is such a classy and consistent mare that she may well defend her Paddock Stakes crown and add to her haul of G1’s, Snaith’s 3YO stable mate Wish List s/s 103+ is a much bigger priced, each-way speculative option.

Alec Laird, a canny trainer, expects Sukhumvit to improve on her last figure of 100 which brings her into the reckoning for the placings, at least. And Dean Kannemeyer’s, Keukenhof s/s 100+ races as if this 1800m on the longer summer straight will elicit some improvement.

Reet Petite s/s 100 (Crawford) and Red Palace s/s 104 (Kannemeyer) can be used as wider back up’s.

The Cape Flying Champs hinges on how you assess Buffalo Storm Cody s/s 109+ (Peter). If you agree with the official handicapper and reputable rating’s agencies like Raceform, then he is the one to beat. He must truck 1400km’s to get to the races, another query. Maybe he confirms his superiority at the weights, after all.

Sceptics can look at Tenango – an off-the-charts s/s 117 over 1200m but a query over five panels (Bass), I am Giant s/s 109 (Ferrie), Truth s/s 108 (Dawson,) Asiye Phambili s/s 106 and Outlaw King s/s 107 (Kannemeyer) for their below-the-line perms. O’Tenikwa s/s 114 (Nel) is also in the mix on his sterling Golden Horseshoe try to Tenango.

As for the King’s Plate itself, Jan van Goyen s/s 104++ (de Kock) is favourite and the 3YO is seriously live. He will need to bump up his scores but that is entirely possible for a progressive youngster in the hands of a maestro horseman.

The Real Prince s/s 114 (Kannemeyer) is hugely respected as being a proven winner at this level, but the value may lie with Garrix s/s 108+ (Steyn) each way.

He seems sure to move forward off an excellent run in the Green Point Stakes and if he can hit a number of 110 or greater, he should be right there.

Sail the Seas s/s 109+ (Snaith), Gladatorian s/s 112 (Ferrie) and the possibly resurrected stalwart, See It Again s/s 114ex (Snaith) are next in line.

Maybe it’s an error to oppose Eight on Eighteen s/s 111 (Snaith) but it will be difficult for the middle-distance star to come back after a setback/layoff and compete with these top milers.

And whilst Dave the King s/s 112 ex (de Kock) and Legal Counsel s/s 104 (Snaith) are genuine pace threats at a venue where speed has held up well this summer, they could be vulnerable to quicker finishers when it counts.

A marginal case can be made for Questioning s/s 110 (Marshall) – Even if his best form has been over shorter trips, he might be added underneath in single race exotics.

Snaith Racing’s Magic Verse is selected in the Chairmans Cup despite uncertainty over his lasting home. He races as if he should cope and sports stronger back form/figures s/s 107 than his rivals.

Stablemates, Triple Time s/s 103 and Ahead of the Facts s/s 98 are principal threats together with giant stayer, Holding Thumbs s/s 101 (Kotzen) who seems sure to run well despite lugging a big mass.

The primary choice is between two well drawn 3YO’s Beware s/s 99 (Woodruff) and Roland Garros s/s 97+ (Snaith) in Race 10. They earned those notable figures in different races, but both exit the Cape Guineas form line so Jan van Goyen’s performance in the King’s Plate may provide additional, supportive evidence earlier in the afternoon.

Snaith also saddles intriguing older entrants, Please be True s/s 100, Powerandtheglory s/s 96, Mente Et Manu s/s 98 and Dawn till Dusk s/s 98 so has strong representation, as indeed is the case across one of the best quality cards you will find on the SA racing program.

Touched by Angels s/s 93+ (Muscutt), Voorloopertjie s/s 98 (Sands) and Chasingtherainbow s/s 97 (Crawford) are yet more legit candidates to consider in a difficult, “get out stakes.”

Enjoy the racing – and may you win all the photo’s!