It is just over a month before the running of one of South Africa’s greatest horse-racing and social events –the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

Originally conducted over a single Saturday afternoon, the 2017 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate meeting is set to take place at Kenilworth over two days, with the meeting kicking off on Friday 6th and continuing the following day.

The meet’s major feature, the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, will take place on the Saturday, when Kenilworth is expected to be transformed into a sea of blue and white.

While plenty of attention and interest will be focused on the fashion and social aspect of what has become one of the best days out in the Cape, it should not be forgotten that the true stars of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate are the horses themselves.

Past winners of the LQP have more than made their mark –not just on the Cape turf, but on racing throughout South Africa.

The LQP’s influence was seen to good effect last year, when it was won by Legal Eagle (Greys Inn). That Sean Tarry trained runner, who had previously won the Gr1 SA Derby over 2450m, went on to pick up two more Grade One races and was eventually crowned South Africa’s Horse Of The Year for 2015-2016. Legal Eagle, who takes on Equus Champion Marinaresco (Silvano) in Saturday’s Gr2 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes, will hopefully bid to defend his L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate title next year.

The power of the Plate can be clearly viewed by the fact that the last four winners –Legal Eagle, Futura (Dynasty), Capetown Noir (Western Winter), and Variety Club (Var) –all went on to garner Equus Awards, with Legal Eagle, Futura and Variety Club all going on to be named Horse Of The Year.

Remarkably, between 1999 and 2016, Queen’s Plate winners have been named Horse Of The Year on 11 occasions. Legendary galloper Pocket Power (whose own sire Jet Master won the Queen’s Plate twice) won the LQP on no fewer than four consecutive occasions, with his first win coming in 2006 and his final win coming in 2010.

The great hearted gelding was named Horse Of The Year three times –picking up that prestigious award in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

“Pocket”, as he was affectionately known by his fans, picked up no fewer than EIGHT Equus Awards and amassed over R9.9 million during his 20 race winning career.

Safe to say, the LQP has come a long way since it was first run in 1861 for a prize of 500 hundred sovereigns and a silver plate!