As true Champions do, Pocket Power found that extra gear in the closing stages to trounce his game stable mate Floatyourboat to win at will, the country's most prestigious mile,the L’ormarins Queens Plate in unmistakable Pocket Power fashion.

Karl looked to have it sewn up on Floatyourboat with 150m left to go and for a short while we thought Pocket looked in trouble but Bernard Fayd’Herbe gave three consecutive smacks to his mount at the 200m marker to remind him of his task at hand to which he responded in emphatic style to win going away.

Bernie commented post race that although he always travels well he needs to be reminded once in a while to kick into full force as he felt he might not get there this time. But once he asked the question it was his Jockey that may have needed the reminding as to just how much he can respond when you really ask him. I feel with Bernie’s strength in the finish and Pockets blinding courage and determination these two really form a great combination and formula for success.

Pocket Power, although unbeaten in the Cape over 1600m, is in actual fact not a true miler and has always relished more the distance of the 10 to 12 furlong trip with his long bounding action. But as the Greats do they will find away to get their nose across the wire first and so Pocket enters the realm of emulating History when he steps up in the Met this month as the even money favourite, and if successful, he will join arguably the greatest Horse this country has ever seen in matching the great Politician’s Queen's Plate/J & B Met double for the second consecutive season.

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Mike Bass let off a sigh of relief in the post race interview with Stan Elley, a sign that preparing a Horse of this Calibre is no walk in the park. Obviously he was thrilled at the return to form of Floatyourboat but there could be only one winner on the day and Float will have his chance to redeem himself when they meet in 3 weeks time.

Mike reported that Float would have come on well from this run and has a little room for more improvement. He felt he looked well in the parade ring but could have been a touch lighter. The good news is that both Pocket and Float have pulled up well and look on track to be big runners in the J&B Met.

The most promising run in the Queens Plate I thought came from Hilgrove who found himself wide throughout the race but stayed on very gamely to finish up in fourth. He could not have looked any better on parade and I believe that that's as fit as he will get. He has proved that he is no slouch around the Kenilworth bend and that he can hold is own with best this country has to offer.

The only damper on the day was unfortunately the sub standard coverage provided by TellyTrack. I find it in rather bad taste that a stand alone event of this calibre was disrupted by some non eventfull racing coverage from the UK. Hopefully a lesson to be learned as to where our priorities stand !

As for Marsh Shirtliff he had a cracking day. Donned appropriately in his L’Ormarins white and blue suit he revealed that no matter how many winners one has, you just can never get used to such an awesome feeling. Blanchfleur bounced back after two disappointing last efforts to beat home the consistent Snaith Filly, Quebec Express to make it his first winner on the day, only to be topped off by a one /two in the Queens Plate. Good on you Marsh.

Congratulations to Arthur and Reena Webber, and of course Dan De Wet from Zandvliet stud. I hope you relish every moment when the words Pocket Power are muttered for many years to come.

Last but certainly not least I must commend Gold Circle and most importantly L’Ormarins for staging such an outstanding day. I believe the Ruperts have injected something truly special into this prestigious day, something South African racing richly deserves but at the same time so desperately needs. A big thank you must be said to Ross Fuller for staging the whole operation and after spending a moment on the day with the quiet gentleman I believe we are in store for something really special in the years to come.

Mava meets Marsh

If you happened to miss the post race interview of Gaultier last week, let me introduce what looks to be a new breed of racing supporter in Mr Mava Myeki. He was spotted on the perimeter of the Kenilworth parade ring in the popular pink and blue silks of Mr Shirtliff. Intrigued by how and why Mava had acquired the silks, Marsh approached him and it turns out he is a great supporter of racing and particularly of Marsh and Mr and Mrs Jaffee, and that he had purchased the silks from Fiona Mc Leod. Mava has a huge passion for racing and expressed his support for all the trainers and jockeys in his post race interview where he was lured in by the connections.

Mava was a great follower of the champion 3 year old Jay Peg and informed us that a few bets on him had helped in putting him through college. Ever since then he has expressed his gratitude towards Mr Shirtliff and says he will always support him for that reason.

His second appearance was on Queens Plate day where as you know it was 1st and 2nd for the Shirtliff silks. Mava works for Mzanzi Africa in the CBD and represents exactly the type of character Racing in our country needs and feel we should all stand up and applaud him. We appreciate it Mr Myeki !!