King's Plate: posh racing, tough punting

Racing fans’ pulses quicken this week as one of South Africa’s premier race meetings rolls around on Saturday: L’Ormarins King’s Plate day at Kenilworth, when everyone dresses in blue and the tone is lofty.

- Mike Moon

For hardcore punters, a R4 million Pick 6 pool and World Pool bet offerings on every race promise lots of lolly, while purists will revel in high-quality equines and razor-sharp competition.

The participation of British champion jockey Oisin Murphy is a cherry on the top and a powerful symbolic endorsement of local racing’s renaissance in recent times. Murphy’s booking agent deserves a bonus for securing him a number of choice rides on the day.

In the King’s Plate itself Race 8), Murphy partners SA’s Horse of the Year Eight On Eighteen, who is currently a 6.00 second favourite in the ante-post betting.