It was a fantastic experience to captain a team against a Jacques Kallis X1 at the historic Groot Drakenstein Games Club yesterday. The cricket ground is in the Groot Drakenstein Valley and you can clearly see the Groot Drakenstein mountain range, the Simonsberg mountain, the Wemmershoek mountain range as well as the orchards and vineyards that lie in the valley. Founded in 1895 the club is steeped in history and the first ever grass wicket in South Africa was laid there in 1926. We unfortunately came off second best as Mr Kallis produced a big hitting display and despite having the help of Geoffrey Boycott and Craig Kieswetter we were unable to pull off the result we would have liked. I am looking forward to this weekend when the Queen’s Plate will be run at Kenilworth racecourse for the 156th time and it will be sponsored for the 13th year by Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud and by the Rupert’s vineyard Anthonij Rupert Wyne.
I had hoped that we might have a winner yesterday but Dutch Uncle was beaten by a short-head at Lingfield in the 1m2f handicap. The winner put in a career best but our horse did not help himself when he hung left initially when asked to go and win his race. He did run on when he was straightened up but he was never quite getting there, we may apply some headgear to try and concentrate his mind in the future. Marwa was fifth in the 7f Maiden and stayed on a little for pressure, we will more than likely step her up to a mile when she enters handicap company.
We have two runners this afternoon at Wolverhampton. Magdalene Fox was disappointing last time and we have dropped him down to 6f for the first time in the 3:30. He has been drawn widest of all in stall nine which is unhelpful but hopefully he can show us more than he did last time. Little Nosegay would have a chance on his best form if he can break well from stall five but the biggest dangers are most likely to come from the unexposed Fully Focussed and Tranquil Daze.
Ode To Paris makes his handicap debut over 7f in the 4:00. He is returning from a break and will improve for the run but I do hope he can show us he has some ability. He showed potential in his Maidens and if he can settle in the early stages he will have an each way chance. Dandy Flame has a solid third to his name last time out and is the deserved favourite. Party Tiger is mainly consistent and he was not disgraced behind a subsequent winner last time.