South African BC Challenges Could Mean More This Year

The Breeders' Cup Challenge series stops in South Africa Jan. 11 and there is a flicker of hope that the offer of paid Breeders' Cup berths at Keeneland in November could be more meaningful than in the recent past.

The races in question, both group 1 affairs, are the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (G1) at 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) and the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) for fillies and mares at 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 mile). The Queen's Plate affords the winner an automatic berth and travel allowance for the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T); the Paddock, for the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T). Both Breeders' Cup races are on the second day of the two-day event, Nov. 7, at Keeneland.

Onerous quarantine regulations effectively have barred South African horses from international competition through most of the past decade, making a victory in a "Challenge" race more honorary than practical.

In December, however, South African government and racing officials celebrated a decision by the European Union—after a long and frustrating delay—to conduct an audit of South African quarantine protocols. Should the EU find the protocols satisfactory, travel regulations could be eased.

No decision has been taken and it's not certain what, if any, new rules might be put in place. But anything shorter than the current five-to six-month quarantine protocol will be welcomed.

There's no shortage of good horses in either race and some of their trainers, notably Mike de Kock and Justin Snaith, are internationally minded.

The Queen's Plate field includes Do It Again, winner of the Durban July Cup (G1) in 2018 and 2019, and Vardy, who defeated Do It Again handily in the latter's comeback race, the Dec. 14 Green Point Stakes (G2).

Do It Again came down with a cough just days after that defeat but Snaith says the 5-year-old Twice Over gelding is over that and ready to run second up after the five-month layoff.

"In the Green Point, it was as if I had brought him back from a major injury," Snaith told Gold Circle's Michael Clower two days out from the Queen's Plate. "He was half-asleep. But he is waking up now.

"Last Saturday was his best workout yet so we are getting there and I'm very happy with him. Obviously it's a tough field and the Jo'burg boys are confident. But that just makes it good racing in my book."

Other relative household names lining up for the Queen's Plate include Rainbow Bridge, Hawwaam and Soqrat.

De Kock expressed confidence in Hawwaam.

"His attitude is good, he is relaxed and he's done well on the training tracks," de Kock said of the Silvano 4-year-old. "I'm not really sure that we've got to the bottom of him yet but I think we're pretty close. I believe this is the fittest we've had him coming into a race and I'm happy this is his third run after a layoff. He's in a very good space right now."

Hawwaam's two previous runs were victories, both at Kenilworth.

The Paddock attracted the likes of frequent rivals Front and Centre, Santa Clara, Silvano's Pride and Snapscan, all looking to put together more consistent form.