The Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes On Sunday

The Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, a weight for age race with Gr 1 and
Gr 2 penalties to be run over 1200m at Kenilworth on Sunday 27 December,
has become a traditional springboard to the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying
Championships and sometimes for horses targeting the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s
Queen’s Plate.



Captain Of All 2014

The great Pocket Power used this race as a preparation for two of his
record-breaking four consecutive Queen’s Plate wins, although on both
occasions the race fell three weeks before the latter event instead of the
current two weeks. Among the horses possibly targeting the Queen’s Plate in
this year’s line up are the Joey Ramsden-trained Gr 1 winning miler King Of
Pain and the Dennis Drier-trained Triptique, although the decision
regarding the latter will only be made after the Diadem. In recent times
the twice winner of the Cape Flying Championships, Nhlavini, won the Diadem
on three occasions.

A few possible Cape Flying winners line up in this year’s Diadem. They
include the Mike Bass-trained Gr 1 winner Fly By Night and her dual Gr
2-winning stablemate Tevez, and this pair will be accompanied by another
talented speedster from the yard, Lanner Falcon; the Sean Tarry-trained Gr
2-winning filly Bichette and her Lanzerac Ready To Run
Stakes-winning stablemate Zambezi River; the Brett Crawford-trained Gr
1 Tsogo Sun Sprint runner up Gulf Storm; the brave and consistent Kimberley
stalwart, the Coenie de Beer-trained Talktothestars; and the Vaughan
Marshall-trained Exelero, who has shown this season why he has always been
held in such high regard. The Cape Flying Championships will be run on
J&B Met day this year so will give runners in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem
ample time to recover.

Sunday will also feature the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes for fillies and
mares over 1100m, a race named after a dual Cape Flying
Championship-winning filly.


The ideal place to watch top class Cape Summer Of Champions racing from
will be the Somerset Room, where a quality buffet lunch will whet the
appetite. Tables can be booked at R250 per person.
For bookings call 021 797 6037

i wonder why the best sprinters are giving it a miss : Brutal force, Trip to heaven, Carry on Alice....

the brave and consistent Kimberley
stalwart, the Coenie de Beer-trained Talktothestars;

I had no idea that a horse that had only raced ONCE in Kimberly was regarded as a Kimberley stalwart - totally misleading and without merit. The horse is Vaal based and has won most of his races at that course. He is a massive runner for me.

I think the Triptique will run well again from handy despite weight reversal. Was thinking Zambezi river could upset but not sure now with jockey choice?

I like TOTS but has had a busy season ImVHO but would be wonderful for the trainer and connections.

This meeting on Sunday 27th December is the Kenilworth Christmas Meeting of 8 Races,which include a Grade 2 Race and a Listed Race.
For this meeting 70 runners(Notwithstanding any Scratchings) are turning up with an average of 8.7 runners per race!
Does not say much for W Cape Racing.