Future Drakenstein Stud stallion Charles Dickens showed his class in no uncertain terms when he romped home to win Saturday’s G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate by two and three-quarter lengths.
In the process, the four-year-old made amends for his runner-up finish in last year’s King’s Plate when beaten by Al Muthana, who finished fourth in the 2024 King’s Plate.
Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, Charles Dickens looked a picture going down to post and proved even more impressive when returning. Under regular jockey Aldo Domeyer, the chestnut colt came with a powerful run down the centre of the track and hit the front full of run.
From there, it was a one-horse race, as Charles Dickens stormed clear to win as he liked, while vanquishing his G2 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes conqueror See It Again into second place.
Bred and owned by Drakenstein Stud, Charles Dickens has now won ten of 13 starts for earnings of R5 119 813. His L’Ormarins King’s Plate win was his third Grade One win with Charles Dickens having also claimed the 2022 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and 2023 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.
The colt, who is out of last season’s Equus Broodmare Of The Year Demanding Lady, is a full-brother to 2019 G1 GBets Cape Derby runner-up Charles and to 2022 Listed Hollywoodbets Settlers Trophy winner Somerset Maugham.
Charles Dickens’ outstanding stallion Trippi had another outstanding day on Saturday, with Trippi also the sire of Saturday’s G2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes winner October Morn and broodmare sire of Saturday’s G3 Glorious Goodwood Chairman’s Cup winner Future Swing.
Honoured with an Equus Award for Outstanding Stallion in 2022-2023, Trippi, the sire of nearly 100 stakes winners, is also the sire of dual G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, who has proved both very fertile and very popular in his first season at stud.