Cape Town - The final field for the R1 million 2013 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate has been announced, assembling one of the South Africa’s most exciting fields ever.

Durban July winner Pomodoro will be looking to follow up on his Durban July win while Joey Ramsden's Variety Club aims to follow up on his status as the best miler in the country. Mike Bass' sprinter, What A Winter, meanwhile, will look to follow up on his victory in the Grade 2 Diadem Stakes (1 200m), but is yet to be proven over the mile trip.

Justin Snaith returns this year with Run For It and will be looking to follow up on his victory with Gimmethegreenlight in the L’Ormarins Queens Plate of last year.

Master Plan, Bravura, Tribal Dance, Castlethorpe, Slumdogmillionaire, Depardieu, Fabiani, Martial Eagle and Bulsara will also be vying for the crown as the 2013 L’Ormarins Queens Plate looks set to be a spectacular battle.

Favourite Variety Club (ridden by master jockey Anton Marcus), meanwhile has the worst draw of 15 out of 15 and will need a lot of luck in the running while his biggest danger, 2013 J&B Met favourite, Jackson, is also drawn out wide at 13 out of 15, ensuring a wide open race.

One of the Cape’s most prestigious greatest horse races and one of South Africa’s most important calendar meets, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate takes place at Kenilworth Racecourse, Cape Town on January 12.

In a recent development, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner of 2013 and in subsequent years could receive automatic entry into the lucrative Breeder’s Cup Mile in the USA in the same year of its running.

This comes after negotiations between L’Ormarins Queens Plate marketing head, Jonathon Snaith, and Breeders’ Cup Director of Racing, Jonathan Christian, with the aim to incorporate the Queen’s Plate into the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” Series.

The $26 million Breeders’ Cup race-meeting takes place annually in the USA in November.

South Africa’s prestigious weight-for-age race - in which the best thoroughbred horses in South Africa are accepted according to their merit ratings - the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate is also one of the Cape’s most acclaimed social gatherings with royal blue & white race day fashions, world-class entertainment and a variety of hospitality & culinary offerings.

One of the country’s largest collections of classic cars will also be on display courtesy of the Franschhoek Motor Museum while an annual highlight is always the late afternoon announcement of the Best Dressed and Best Hat competitions with judging by some of South Africa’s top fashion designers and media personalities.

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, 11:00-23:00, January 12, 2013, Kenilworth Racecourse, Cape Town. Tickets can be purchased through Computicket.