The eagerly-awaited "Big Four" match-up turned into a one-horse race as Mother Russia (SAF) trounced her rivals in the Gr 1 L'Ormarins Queens Plate over 1600m at Kenilworth today. The star mare came home well clear of Tales Of Bravery (SAF) with Ebony Flyer (SAF) and Pocket Power (SAF) completing the quartet.

Blue Tiger, in the race to ensure a true pace for Pocket Power, who was bidding for an incredible fifth win in the race, wasted no time in taking up his designated role, going a couple of lengths clear of Captain's Secret and Celtic Fire. Ebony Flyer, breaking from a wide draw, got in nicely enough and settled in fourth with Mother Russia tracking her closely. Tales Of Bravery was next best ahead of Pocket Power, who raced in midfield along the fence, with Past Master alongside him. Rushing Wind raced towards the rear as usual with only Tropical Empire and American Man behind him.

Blue Tiger was tackled by Captain's Secret soon after entering the straight but the early pace had taken its toll and they were both soon under pressure. Mother Russia was poised to strike with Ebony Flyer to her outside while Pocket Power still had some work to do but started to make his run up the inside.

Anton Marcus pressed the button past the 300m mark and the response from Mother Russia was immediate. She produced a devastating turn of foot which quickly ended the race as a contest. It was left to Tales Of Bravery to come out of the pack and chase her home but there was only ever going to be one winner once Mother Russia struck the front.

Needless to say, Mother Russia now looks well set to make up for her narrow defeat in last year's J & B Met when she contests the 2011 running of that race in three weeks' time. Astonishingly, considering how precocious she was as a juvenile, the daughter of Windrush (USA) has gotten better and better with age and was recording her thirteenth - and most prestigious - career win. To further underline how good she is, it's worth noting that she is now into her fourth season of racing and has been taking on the best company throughout that time without ever losing consistency.

Tales Of Bravery excelled in defeat. It was just his luck to bump into a really top-class rival but second place was no disgrace and he fully justified the confidence shown by trainer Vaughan Marshall, who had predicted a bold showing against the bigger names in the line-up. He's come on really well since the tail end of last season and has every chance of earning a cheque in the Met.

Ebony Flyer was another one who came out with her reputation intact. She had no chance with the winner but the Queens Plate is a hugely daunting prospect for a 3-year-old filly with only four runs under her belt and this was a fine effort from a poor draw. Her connections deserve praise for taking their chances against the big guns and she did not let them down.

Pocket Power was tasting defeat for the first time in this race and his legion of fans will naturally be disappointed, especially as his recent win in the Green Point Stakes had indicated he was well set to make his presence felt here. However, it is hugely difficult for an 8-year-old to keep turning it on at this level and, all things considered, this was a perfectly respectable effort for a horse of his age.

Rushing Wind deserves an honourable mention for his fifth-place finish in such a competitive field, once again running on from well back while Past Master was slightly disappointing, never getting in a blow in sixth place and coming under a ride in the straight. However, his connections have always been transparent about the J & B Met being his main mission and he may yet get to prove a point in the Cape's biggest race three weeks from now.

5 b m Windrush (USA) - Russian Muse by Russian Fox (USA)
Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack)
Bred by Normandy Stud

Winning trainer: Mike de Kock