Mother Russia denied Pocket Power a record-breaking fifth victory in the G1 Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Mother Russia (5m Windrush – Russian Muse by Russian Fox) swept to a two length victory in the Cape Town feature from Tales of Bravery (Kahal) and Ebony Flyer (Jet Master) in the R1 million event.  

Pocket Power (Jet Master) was fourth home while Australian bred gallopers American Man (Galileo) and Tropical Empire (Second Empire) finished among the tailenders.

Mother Russia is trained by Mike de Kock and started a heavily backed 18/10 favourite.  She will attempt another elite level victory in the J & B Met back at Kenilworth on January 30.

The Queen’s Plate winner is by Seeking the Gold sire Windrush who stands at Highlands Stud in the Western Cape.  She is far the best of four winners out of Russian Muse who has also produced the G3-placed juvenile Baltic Beauty to Windrush.

The latest Windrush – Russian Muse yearling is a filly catalogued for the upcoming Cape Premier Sale on January 27.

Mother Russia opened her G1 account in the Paddock Stakes exactly twelve months ago and she followed up with another G1 in the Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein.  This season, she has been runner-up in the G2 Victory Moon Stakes and G1 Summer Cup.  

Pocket Power was far from disgraced in the Queen’s Plate, however, trainer Mike Bass indicated the J & B Met may well be his final race.

The Queen’s Plate meeting was also highlighted by the G1 Paddock Stakes won by Emerald Cove (Captain Al).  Australian bred fillies filled the quinella in the Protea Juvenile Plate earlier in the day when Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) defeated Soweto Slew (Oratorio) by over two lengths.