There were significant performances recorded over the two-day L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate festival, and whilst popular choices like Miss Katalin, Talk of the Town, Love of India and Legal Eagle got the job done, a few serious jolts led to fancy exotic payouts.

The two biggest bombs were both piloted by Anthony Andrews, who is riding far more competently these days and is getting better opportunities. On Friday, he guided 66/1 outsider Ballad of the Sea (speed score 86) to edge out an unfortunate Earl of Warwick (s/s 85) who will make amends when having a less troubled trip. Then, in Saturday’s Peninsula Handicap, Andrew’s largely unconsidered mount, Eyes Wide Open (s/s 110) built on his juvenile Grade 1 success at Greyville in July, to suddenly run a huge race and stave off The Slade (s/s 109).

The prestigious Grade 1’s fell to Oh Susanna (s/s 97+) and ace miler, Legal Eagle (s/s 106 in the Queen’s Plate). None of the older fillies or mares shaped in the WFA Paddock Stakes – Oh Susanna, Lady in Black and Fresnaye are all three-year-old contemporaries who were spat out by the sensational Snowdance in the Fillies Guineas, and they completed the order of finish with Nother Russia best of the elders.

The Queen’s Plate betting market suggested that odds on fave Legal Eagle would have no trouble remaining perfect over a mile. But he was life and death to win his third LQP in succession, requiring an immaculately judged ride by Anton Marcus to get past front runner, Captain America in deep stretch and also have just enough to stave off the cavalry of Copper Force (s/s 105), Sail South and Marinaresco (s/s 105). The race was a tremendous spectacle with front-runners, stalkers and off-pace closers converging at the finish, but the Champ found a way to repel all challengers, as truly high-class horses seem able to do!

Finally, the performance of Magical Wonderland (s/s 99+) was special. She blitzed them in the Grade 2 Sceptre Stakes, turning on the turbo boost to win convincingly. She is compiling a formidable record down the Kenilworth straight, and will now be aimed at a big money dollar incentive race on Sun Met day over her preferred trip.