It is hailed as one of the world’s most prestigious horse races, with its origins traced back to 1861 when Queen Victoria donated a silver plate and 500 sovereigns to the South African Turf Club.
Back then, a horse called Dispatch enthralled the crowds when it took home the inaugural prize, while yesterday afternoon at Cape Town’s Kenilworth racecourse many wondered if a five-year-old foal called Jet Dark would enter into the annals of history by winning its third Plate.
There were many firsts to consider on this warm and sunny summer’s day at an event which marks the last hurrah of the holidays.
This first Saturday of the new year marked the first time in 70 years that the mile-long gallop was run as the L’Ormarins Kings Plate, a curtsy to King Charles III’s ascension to the British throne.
Also the first time the day included a women’s race, the Okapi Ladies International, in which only female jockeys compete.
Arriving at the track not long after the gates opened at 11am, I spot Hanneli Rupert, the daughter of billionaire businessman Johann, who has carved out a name for herself as an advocate for ethical design through her luxury handbag range, Okapi, which was sponsoring that women’s race.
Hanneli, though, was quite camera shy — not wanting to stop for a chat but happy to get on stage to congratulate jockey O’Meara Rusike, who won the race on three-year-old filly Pacific Green.
Unlike other race day events where celebs turn up in OTT finery as though they have got lost on the way to the Samas, the allure of the Plate is its emphasis on tasteful style, with the organisers making it clear that guests must turn up in strictly blue and white, and “dress in a manner appropriate to racing”.
And, though like many events there remains a fixation with inviting social media posers, this is the sort of do where you are more inclined to bump into the sort of folk who are influential rather than simply “influencers”.
Take lawyer-turned-art collector Pulane Kingston, who scored a coveted invite to the Ruperts’ box overlooking the track.
I remind the founder and executive chair of transport company Mirai Rail (who also happens to be the daughter of the late Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the health minister during the Thabo Mbeki years) of another event we attended many moons ago, which also had a Rupert connection.
That was the lavish do to mark the opening of the Cartier store in Sandton City which saw the centre’s main court converted into a ballroom complete with a Franz Grabe-designed flower chandelier fashioned from hundreds of red roses.
Someone who is a fixture at the Plate is Cape Town-based radio personality Liezel van der Westhuizen, wearing a jumpsuit from Noir by Nanine, finished off with a hat by Lyndon Miller Pegs.
Liezel arrived with her fiancé, Mike Fannin, who was sporting a pair of Nikes Liezel had customised to finish off his outfit.
On to saying hello to someone I met as a varsity student and who has gone on to make waves in business, most prominently as the owner of the FNB Art Fair.
That’s Mandla Sibeko, who turns up with his gorgeous wife, Naledi Mabuse, the daughter of music legend Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse and businesswoman Chichi Maponya.
I also meet the famous Swiss South African adventurer Mike Horn, who tells me he will soon be embarking on his next adventure, a four-year expedition he’s calling “What’s Left”, tracking the effects of climate change at places he first visited 30 years ago.
At the L’Ormarins Luncheon I greet influencer Sarah Langa who is tucking into her seared trout tataki with avocado mousse starter.
Sarah looked gorgeous in a royal blue Mmuso Maxwell dress finished off with Okapi straw and ostrich feathers hat.
Across the table I recognise another familiar face: Josina Machel, the human rights and GBV activist who introduces me to her life partner, Mozambican musical star Anastacio “Ziqo” Langa.
Turns out the two started talking on Instagram in the middle of lockdown and went on their first real-life date when restrictions were lifted in August 2020. “That was a hookup for life,” says Josina.
Up the stairs inside the course’s main building, thanks to Hanneli I land an invite to the exclusive L’Ormarins Luncheon which opens with arrival drinks and canapés, and finishes after the running of the main race with cocktails at the recently restored Sir Herbert Baker House, which was a short walk away behind the Parade Ring.
Another hot ticket was to the Stud Club marquee, where guests were served an assortment of treats worthy of a blue blood — from classic paper-thin cucumber and mint sandwich triangles to slices of mustard and herb crusted sirloin resting on roasted rosa tomatoes and topped with rocket and shaved Parmesan, Waldorf chicken salad and hot smoked salmon tarts.
And, if you’re wondering whether Jet Black scored a Plate hat-trick, you can read about the results elsewhere in this paper.
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