'What can I say, he sailed on by' - One Stripe developing into South African superstar with King's Plate success

New South African sensation One Stripe set the record straight for veteran trainer Vaughan Marshall by sweeping Saturday's L'Ormarins King's Plate in style at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Marshall trained the colt's sire, One World, who was runner-up to Vardy in this race in 2020 before landing the Cape Town Met. The Drakenstein Stud resident broke the record for winners by a first-season sire when securing 30 last season and One Stripe was his first at Grade 1 level when he took last month's Cape Guineas.

The hot favourite, despite being a three-year-old against his elders, came from off the pace under Gavin Lerena to quicken through a gap and went just under two lengths clear within a short space of time. Visiting superstar Oisin Murphy and Royal Aussie stayed on for fourth.

It was a first win in the prestigious weight-for-age event for trainer, jockey and owner Rikesh Sewgoolam with the R1,400,000 (£62,000/€75,000) top lot from the 2023 Cape Racing Ready To Run And Unbroken Two-Year-Old Sale. 

"It was just unbelievable it really was," Marshall told Gallop TV. "Up until now we were bridesmaid, we were second twice but thankfully One World has sorted that out; even though he ran second his son came out and improved it for me."

Lerena added: "He didn’t break well but I had him in a good rhythm. Things got quite tight around the turn but in the straight I could always feel when I was going to go for him he was going to give it to me and he absolutely cruised up to the big horses. What can I say, he sailed on by."

Leading offerings from last year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale came to the fore in the Charles Dickens Stakes, the five-furlong conditions event which opened the card, 

Justin Snaith saddled the first two home with Murphy partnering Clair De Lune, the R3.2 million (£138,000/€166,000) top lot at the auction nearly 12 months ago.

The Trippi filly, carrying the colours of showjumping enthusiasts Rolf and Gloria Theiler, had been a promising second on her recent debut but gave best again to Black Cheetah, the mount of Richard Fourie.

Black Cheetah and Richard Fourie (near side) deny Oisin Murphy and Clair De Lune in the Charles Dickens Stakes at Kenilworth on SaturdayCredit: Chase Liebenberg

Bred, like the runner-up, by Drakenstein Stud, the son of Querari had also been among the costliest of that sale's graduates and was bought by Fiona Carmichael’s Westward Bloodstock for R1 million. The odds-on favourite had scored on debut at the course in November and held his stablemate off by a neck.

"I thought the second filly has improved a lot and obviously with Oisin on, he’s just up for the game," Snaith said. "There’s actually more in the tank, it was a very good win by him and well done to Fiona Carmichael."

The lucrative Cape Racing Sales Slipper, for auction graduates, is now an option.

"Every two-year-old race is on our radar I can assure you," said Snaith. "It’s big prize-money and we go to the sales for a reason, to purchase a horse like this. If we can win that, he doubles what he cost as a young horse. I can’t wait for that race to come along, I think I’m going to have him a bit better that day."

Fourie and Snaith went on to claim the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes with Vercingetorix mare Double Grand Slam, who has compiled a formidable black-type record.

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