One Stripe, one wonder

BRILLIANT: THREE-YEAR-OLD SCORES SENSATIONAL VICTORY IN KING'S PLATE

- Jack Milner

Phenomenal was the adjective used by trainer Vaughan Marshall to describe One Stripe's sensational win in the Grade 1 L'Ormarins King's Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

When asked what the remarkable son of One World's key attributes are, Marshall responded without hesitation, "It's his speed, and that he's got gears - jockey Gavin Lerena will confirm that."

For much of the long straight it looked like One Stripe would fall short as Gimme A Prince moved up menacingly to challenge a forging Montien. But neither could withstand the dramatic 22.9-second late rush that Lerena summoned from the gear-shifting One Stripe who started as the 11-10 favourite. The winner's final time was 97.63secs.

Lerena deserves full credit for the win. It was not the cleanest of races and there appeared to be lots of scrimmaging going on. But Lerena was fearless. He steered him through the gaps and let his mount do the rest.