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Capetown Noir enhanced his claim to being the best miler in South Africa when he won the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate in smashing style at Kenilworth on Saturda

Starting second favourite and jumping from the pole gate, Capetown Noir was handily positioned by veteran jockey Karl Niesius throughout the 1600m trip and skipped clear at the 300m mark.

The challengers could make no impression as the Dean Kannemeyer-trained colt went on to win the premier mile contest in the country by more than length.

Even-money favourite Jackson was second, with fast-finishing outsider Jet Explorer third and long-time leader No Worries fourth.

With his Queen’s Plate Capetown Noir has placed himself in rarefied company and is sure to shorten in the betting for the J&B Met, Cape Town’s premier race, in three weeks.

After the race, Neisius stated unequivocally that Capetown Noir was “the best miler in the country”.

Neisus had Capetown Noir first out of the gates and then settled into a cruising position about six lengths off the pace-setter No Worries.

In the straight Jackson moved up and looked likely to kick away in familiar fashion but the usual acceleration wasn’t there for pilot Glen Hatt.

With brilliant timing Neisus pushed his mount up the inside rail and stole the race from Jackson, who tried to haul him in but made little impression.

The most popular winner was super mare Beach Beauty, who reprised her 2013 victory in the G1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes.

The six-year-old Dynasty mare from the yard of Dennis Drier was all class as she came from some 10 lengths off the pace to mow down her opponents in vintage style and win going away by more than a length.

Speculation now turns to possibility of Beach Beauty also tackling the J&B Met. Her current odds of 20-1 for the big race are sure to dip sharply if Drier indicates a willingness to start.

Current second favourite for the Met Master Of My Fate is also likely to shorten in the betting after an impressive victory in the G3 Peninsula Handicap over the Kenilworth 1800m.

Another from Drier’s raiding string in Cape Town, Master Of My Fate certainly looks an improving sort who is tailor-made for the Met.

A 3.5kg rise in weight following his facile win in a minor feature a month ago and the widest draw in the 13-horse line-up proved no hindrances to the four-year-old son of Jet Master, who took over the lead at the top of the straight and never looked like being threatened.