Brett Crawford out to land a fourth Met with Make It Snappy (Wayne Marks).

Rascallion Best Longshot Against Crawford Filly In WSB Met

Since her win in the Paddock Stakes there has been an avalanche of money for Make It Snappy

David Mollett (Business Day)

Two months ago the three-year-old filly Make It Snappy was no more on the radar for the WSB Met than Morocco for the Fifa World Cup.

What a difference a few weeks make with the former now favourite for the Cape’s premier race and the West African country making the semifinals in Qatar.

Since her win in the Paddock Stakes there has been an avalanche of money for Make It Snappy who goes to post at Kenilworth the winner of four of her five starts.

Trainer Brett Crawford knows he’s got a lot in his favour on Saturday despite the fact only one three-year-old filly (Oh Susanna 2018) has won the Met in the last 100 years. His runner is well drawn, has a light weight and a top jockey in the saddle.

Jet Dark — second in this race last year — renews rivalry with last year’s victor, Kommetdieding, and there was precious little to choose between the pair in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. It could be the same story on Saturday.

While Jet Dark found Sparkling Water three lengths too good in the Durban July, Justin Snaith’s eight-time winner is now 4kg better off with Mike de Kock’s mare.

That said, there was a lot to like about Sparkling Water’s Paddock Stakes run when the five-year-old stayed on stoutly to finish two lengths behind Make It Snappy. The two meet on the same weight terms.

Trainer Glen Kotzen must have cursed when Cousin Casey drew a wide gate as his colt had run well — also from a shocking draw — when second to Charles Dickens in the Cape Guineas. If Grant van Niekerk overcomes this disadvantage, the son of Vercingetorix can take a hand in the finish.

It’s worth remembering that Vaughan Marshall has won two of the last nine runnings of the Met (Hill Fifty Four 2014 and One World 2020) and the veteran trainer’s duo of Rascallion and Linebacker are both upset material.

Efforts to determine whether Corne Orffer, who rides the majority of horses for this stable, had the choice of rides proved unsuccessful. If he did have the choice, Linebacker is no forlorn hope when you consider he was a close-up third behind Kommetdieding in last year’s Met.

Rascallion is reunited with Sean Veale who didn’t get the smoothest of passages when fifth in the 2021 Durban July and his recent Premier Trophy win suggested he’s peaked at just the right time. A wide gate is the major concern.

As far as Al Muthana is concerned, it’s worth remembering when Ricky Maingard won the 1985 Queen’s Plate with Wolf Power the grey went onto capture the Met three weeks later. Piere Strydom says he’s not worried about the Aussie-bred gelding’s draw of 12 of the 19 runners.

Jockey JP van der Merwe won the 2016 Met on Smart Call and his mount, Universal, is also very much in the mix following his close fourth behind Rascallion in the Premier’s Trophy. With only three starts since his second in last season’s Cape Derby, Adam Marcus’s charge is going to strip a fresh horse.

Drawn on the inside in stall one, Isivunguvungu looks a big player in the Cape Flying Championship though Princess Calla fully deserves her position as favourite. All of the Azzie quartet plus Stiptelik, Alesian Chief and Gimme A Prince have chances and punters may need to load up in this leg of the Pick Six.

Paddy Kruyer could kick off proceedings by winning the opener with Apple Catcher though it’s a slight worry there was no support for the daughter of Pomodoro on her debut. The same stable has a shout with Mulberry Street in the last race in which Strawberry Light looks overpriced at 6-1.

KENILWORTH SELECTIONS

Dave Mollett’s Met Choice

1 (2) MAKE IT SNAPPY

2. (17) RASCALLION

3. (4) JET DARK

4. (5) SPARKLING WATER

1st Race: (2) Apple Catcher (6) Head Girl (9) Jazz Diva (8) Hundredfifthavenue

2nd Race: (9) Carriacou (1) Green Falcon (2) Seattlegreenlight (4) On Board

3rd Race: (7) Live My Life (6) Going Up (8) Oscar’s Winner (5) Veronica Mars

4th Race: (3) Captain’s Ransom (2) Desert Miracle (4) Silver Darling (6) Ciao Bella

5th Race: (3) Gimme More Time (1) Future Turn (13) Nevada King (14) Tothemoonandback

6th Race: (5) The Abdicator (8) William West (1) Golden Sickle (3) Noon Day Gun

7th Race: (3) King Regent (15) Time Fo Orchids (11) Winter Greeting (6) Seeking The One

8th Race: (1) Isivunguvungu (16) Princess Calla (9) Master Archie (5) Alesian Chief

10th Race: (12) Chrome Yellow (6) Nebraas (2) Senso Unico (9) Silver Host

11th Race: (11) Veldskoen (10) Dance Variety (9) Kitchakal (12) Michael Faraday

12th Race: (2) Strawberry Light (15) Mulberry Street (12) Flying First (8) Copper View

Will Al Muthana do the L’Ormarins King’s Plate/WSB Met double? (Wayne Marks).

WSB Met Trainer Comments Print And Video

Michele Wing (Racing News/Gold Circle)

PREVIEW: World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr1

Can the 3 year-olds take this year’s ‘Met’? Be snappy and hear straight from ‘the horse’s mouth’.

COMMENTS

Make it Snappy: “If there ever is a time to run with that type of weight of 51 ½ on your back, it’s now”, Brett Crawford.

Jet Dark: “This is the swansong everyone hopes for. Come Met day, you’ll see the best of him”, Justin Snaith

Kommetdieding,: “Can he do it again?”, Racing News. “He definitely can”, Michelle Rix.

Cousin Casey: “I think he’s definitely the horse to beat and I think the biggest opposition will be the filly from Brett Crawford, Make It Snappy”, Glen Kotzen.

Sparkling Water: “We’ve done a nice gallop with her recently and I’m quite happy and pleased where she is”, S’Manga Khumalo.

Universal: “He’s kept his condition after that last race, he’s moving well, so from my side it’s been a very smooth preparation”, Adam Marcus.

Al Muthana: “The horse is at his best right now. Not a bad draw for him as he comes from behind anyway”, Ricky Maingard.

Rascallion: “He had a long lay-off of about a year, but has come back strong. Unfortunately he’s drawn 17 which is not in his favour”, Vaughan Marshall.

Golden Ducat: “He didn’t have a good prep going into the King’s Plate. I really hope I’ve got him back again, the great horse that he is, for Saturday”, Eric Sands.

Marina: “She’s got a good draw this year. We would be very happy if we could get a place in the Met”, Candice Bass-Robinson.

Do It Again: “He loves this. He bucks past my office every morning. Beautiful draw at 8”, Justin Snaith.

Nexus: “Piere had already committed to Al Muthana, so let’s see how Muzi gets on”, Justin Snaith.

Linebacker: “He’s better than he was last year, The last 2 weeks he has come on tremendously. He’s drawn 16, so also not in his favour”, Vaughan Marshall.

Warrior: “As you saw with Al Muthana at 60-1 / 50-1, you never know. Always looking for the upset”, Justin Snaith.

Zapatillas: “It wouldn’t surprise me to see him make his presence felt”, Brett Crawford.

Pomp and Power: “From a 19 draw, very hard, he’s going to have a lot of luck in running and a lot of things to go his way”, Justin Snaith.

Waterberry Lane: “He’s a horse I bought to go to Mauritius, but never got an import permit, so we’re running him in the Met”, Ricky Maingard.

Rain In Holland: “Nice 70-1 chance. I wouldn’t have picked 15 (draw), but we will deal with it. Don’t leave her out”, Sean Tarry.

Gem King: “Not an easy race been drawn 18, but I’m hoping for a good run”, Piet Steyn.

CLICK HERE to watch trainers being interviewed by Racing News

Admission, hospitality packages: WSB Met

Make It Snappy is the favourite for the Cape Town Met. Picture: Wayne Marks

Make It Snappy Makes A Snappy Headline, But Millions Are Made Elsewhere

Jet Dark and Kommetdieding remain steady in betting, while Sparkling Water, Al Muthana, Marina, Do It Again and Nexus will be tempting.

Mike Moon (The Citizen)

A bare two months ago if you’d said a three-year-old filly called Make It Snappy would start Cape Town Met week as the bookmakers’ favourite for the big race you’d have been considered a raving idiot.

Yet here we are. Met sponsor World Sports Betting has the Brett Crawford-trained youngster at the top of its boards at odds of 15-4 – having leapfrogged the likes of dual-Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, defending Met champ Kommetdieding, Durban July victor Sparkling Water and a few other Grade 1 hotshots.

Three-year-old winners of the Met are fairly rare, as are female horses; Oh Susannah is the only individual meeting those criteria to have managed it in more than 100 years. So, what’s with this upstart?

In November 2022, Make It Snappy had two races and one win on her CV and was, at best, a well-bred, promising prospect. Victory in the 1600m Summer Bowl at 14-1 earned her a starting slot in early-December’s Cape Fillies Guineas, which she nailed at 6-1.

That was a good effort against her peers, but when owners Hollywood Syndicate supplemented her entry into the Met eight weeks later, not a few seasoned observers muttered about over-reach and overexcitement.

Then came the Paddock Stakes, a 1800m Grade 1 contest for elite female horses in early January, and Make It Snappy lowered the colours of Equus Horse of the Year Captain’s Ransom with an astonishing start-to-finish performance.

The punt money wasn’t slow in arriving, and even more of it when the filly drew starting gate No 2 for the Met and leading jockey Keagan de Melo was booked to partner her. With just 51.5kg to carry – thanks to weight-for age and sex allowances – suddenly she looked a real threat to the big guns who will have to lug many more kilos around the 2000m of Kenilworth.

The weight of money for Make It Snappy has seen some of her rivals drifting in the market – though not all, with Jet Dark and Kommetdieding remaining steady.

For bettors who like value, there is plenty of temptation around. How about 7-1 Sparkling Water, 18-1 Al Muthana, 33-1 Marina, 35-1 Do It Again and 45-1 Nexus. These horses seldom run bad races and will give you a run for your money.

Of course, much of the betting interest on Met day will be focused on the tote – especially with the last nine of the 12 races being designated World Pool races by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This means punters all over the world will be contributing to monster-sized betting pools on those races – for Win, Place, Exacta, Swinger and Quinella bets.

Last year, R650-million was wagered on eight Met day races. Could we hit the magic R1-billion this time around?

The 2022 Met itself attracted R97.8-million and R100-million looks a dead cert on Saturday.

Locally, the Pick 6 pool is predicted to top R10-million, while the Quartet on the Met could amass a pool of R50-million.

BETTING

15-4 Make It Snappy

4-1 Jet Dark

13-2 Kommetdieding

7-1 Cousin Casey, Sparkling Water

16-1 Universal

18-1 Al Muthana, Rascallion

33-1 Marina

35-1 Do It Again, Golden Ducat

45-1 Nexus, Warrior

50-1 and upwards the others

The picture says it all … Captain’s Ransom out to score an unprecedented third successive Majorca Stakes victory (Wayne Marks).

Trainers Comments Schweppes Majorca Stakes Print And Video

Michele Wing (Racing News/Gold Circle)

PREVIEW: Schweppes Majorca Stakes Gr1

Captain’s Ransom has the money in the bag.

COMMENTS

Captain’s Ransom: “I do think she’s better over a mile and shorter. She comes in extremely well and you can expect a big showing from her”, Justin Snaith.

Desert Miracle: She was eye-catching in the Cartier Sceptre Stakes when “flashing home from stone last”, Jehan Malherbe. Christophe Soumillon is back in the irons (Racing News).

Silver Darling: “I think she’s better over further. I think she’ll run a game race. You can expect a good run from her here. She’s very well at home”, Justin Snaith.

Chansonette; “The prep the last 6 weeks going into this race has been terrific. We think she’s back to her best. In these kind of races pace is everything, tactics is everything, so that’s where the jockeys must earn their keep

’, Andre Nel.

Ciao Bella: “She did not like the sprint previously and also pulled up with a little bit of a bug after that race. I’ve got her back to where she was. But when you’re up against Captain’s Ransom it’s never going to be easy”, Justin Snaith.

Golden Hostess: “Golden Hostess is a filly that is really not far off any of them. She’s about 2 lengths off Captain’s Ransom (using collateral form to Make It Snappy). I’ll be very happy if we can finish in the money”, Candice Bass-Robinson.

CLICK HERE to watch the trainers being interviewed

Kommetdieding, pictured with elated owner Ashwin Reynolds, will be out to emulate the great Politician by adding a second Met win to his July/Met double (Wayne Marks).

WSB Met Day Pick 6 Analysis

Gold Circle

The Pick 6 pool on WSB Met day on Saturday has a R1 million carry over and the pool is expected to reach R10 million.

Captain’s Ransom needs no introduction and drops back to a more suitable trip of a mile in the first leg, the Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes, and she will be a popular banker. It is a small field of six and if any of the runners are able to dictate at slow fractions they will have an advantage. Desert Miracle’s two races over a mile to date have not panned out well. She has Christophe Soumillon aboard, a jockey with sublime balance and with his world wide experience he must be a good judge of pace, so this classy filly could possibly put some pressure on Captain’s Ransom. Chansonette likely would have beaten Captain’s Ransom in this race last year had she not shifted in late and left the door open, but her current form suggests she has not trained on. Silver Darling is coming into her own like a typical Silvano, but this is on the sharp side and Ciao Bella and Golden Hostess will need improvement.

In the second leg, a tricky handicap over 1600m, Gimme More Time made up ground effortlessly in the straight from well back last time over course and distance, but was then kept in the pocket on the inside by the winner Beyondtheboundary. He took a strong hold over 1600m before that, so the drop to this trip suited him down to the ground. He did receive a two point raise for that last second place finish, but now has a better draw. Piere Strydom has retained the ride. Future Turn looks to be progressive and proved his versatility recently by winning over 1000m, so he is a big runner from pole position. Master Point won well over 1400m last time and the form has been franked. Charlie Croker has hard-knocking form and on formlines is close to Master Point. Gentleman Joe would probably prefer further, but on formlines is worth considering. Nevada King and Tothemoonandback both have chances on some formlines. but do have tough draws.

The City Of Cape Town Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1100m is a tough race to analyse because of the different rates of improvement of two-year-olds. However, Golden Sickle impressed on debut and can possibly afford to give 3kg away to the maiden fillies, while getting 2.5kg from the male winners. She makes most appeal in a race where the field has to be considered.

Next up is the long awaited WSB R7,5 million Gold Rush over 1600m. Royal Aussie looks the one to beat here having finished a running on 6,35 length fourth in the strong Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. However, Winter Greeting is a big and impressive horse who has found just enough to repel challengers in lesser races and this unbeaten horse could still be anything. He is a must include and so is King Regent because he lost two lengths at the start last time when losing his unbeaten record and the horse who beat him, Without Question, caught the eye when finishing a close second in the Politician Stakes. Dave The King was staying on in the Cape Guineas and was just a half-a-length behind Royal Aussie, so is a big runner if able to find cover from a tough draw. Itsrainingwilliam is interesting stepped up in trip being by William Longsword and a half-brother to Rain In Holland. Max The Otter was unlucky last time when cleaned up in the closing stages and definitely better than his fifth place finish suggests. He has a shout from pole position.

In the Grade 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Champiosnhip Resonate has been giving weight to the like of Gimme A Prince and Isivunguvungu and either beating them or finishing close to them. He has incredible natural speed, so is a possible banker consideration. On the other hand Isivunguvungu and Gimme A Prince would have likely improved from those defeats as they likely still needed those runs. Princess Calla is full of speed and class and is capable of producing a devastating finish, so has to be given a strong chance. The other Jo’burg raiders Bohica, who won this race last year, Alesian Chief and Bartholdi, have to be respected. Supreme Warrior has been reportedly flying at home so also comes into it. Master Archie won the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint last year but has given the impression he would prefer a touch further lately, although, on the other hand, he should, therefore, enjoy this tough 1000m course and distance.

In the big one, the WSB Met, Kommetdieding and Jet Dark could fight it out again. Others to consider are Marina, who will relish the step up in trip, as well as the crack three-year-olds Cousin Casey and Make It Snappy. Al Muthana can be considered too as he could get this easy 2000m with not much pace evident in the race.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s headquarters are at Happy Valley (hkjc.com)

World Pool Extends Global Network In 2023

tab4Racing

World Pool, the globe’s largest commingled horse racing pools created and powered by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), will be extended further in 2023 with the addition of major fixtures, including Lightning Stakes Day in Australia, The Saudi Cup and the Irish Derby.

Following the successful introduction of World Pool Moment of the Year in 2022 in Great Britain and Ireland, this has now been extended to all global World Pool meetings and will reward stable staff with a total of over HK$1 million (approx. £103,000) in prizes, as well as a VIP trip to Hong Kong, thanks to additional funding from the HKJC, UK Tote Group, Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and Ascot Racecourse.

Starting on Saturday 28 January with Met Day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in South Africa, the first meeting where racing fans from over 20 countries will be able to bet into the World Pool, and ending on Melbourne Cup Day on 7 February in Australia, one World Pool Moment of the Day will be selected at each World Pool meeting to win a prize of £4,000 (HK$38,785).

Each winning groom from the season’s 25 World Pool days will also enter the chance to be named World Pool Moment of the Year and win a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong for either the 2024 Hong Kong Derby or 2024 FWD Champions Day.

The 25 individual World Pool Moment of the Day winners will be narrowed down to a final four by a panel of global racing experts, before being voted on by the public for World Pool Moment of the Year, which will be revealed at the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin in December.

Last year’s World Pool Moment of the Year winner was Alpinista and winning groom Annabel Willis, who lit up the Knavesmire at York Racecourse when landing the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks before going on to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The Saudi Cup and Lightning Stakes to make World Pool debuts in Q1 2023

Lightning Stakes Day at Flemington on 18 February and Saudi Cup night in Riyadh on 25 February have been confirmed as the two new additions to the first quarter of World Pool races for 2023.

The opening quarter of the year now boasts five fixtures, with two visits to Meydan for Super Saturday (4 March) and Dubai World Cup Night (25 March), as well as the aforementioned Met Day (28 January) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Irish Derby and Lockinge Stakes among 18 UK and Irish World Pool events

For the first time, World Pool will be in operation at Newbury Racecourse in the UK with two races added to the World Pool season on Lockinge Stakes Day on 20 May, while Irish Derby Day is also set to feature amongst 18 UK and Irish events on 2 July. Coverage of Irish Derby Day will also include the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg-Horn, marking the first World Pool race from Germany.

In 2022, World Pool betting turnover hit a new high of HK$6 billion (approx. £622m), up from HK$4.8 billion (approx. £498m) in 2021, across the 21 racedays that were commingled, while Derby Day at Epsom recorded the single highest day of turnover with HK$66.1 million (approx. £6.8m) – *note: turnover is recorded in HK$, and approximate pound sterling figures are therefore based on current exchange rates.

Michael Fitzsimons, Executive Director Wagering Products of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “We were absolutely thrilled with the results from our 21 World Pool meetings in 2022 and are excited to be extending that offering to 25 days this year.

“Having Australia and Saudi Arabia on the fixture list of 2023 World Pool meetings is another important step in the globalisation of World Pool, while adding some high-profile British and Irish meetings to the schedule is another exciting advancement.

“To complement our expanding list of World Pool meetings are the Moment of the Day and Moment of the Year initiatives, which for the first time will reward winning stable staff from all countries hosting World Pool races.

“Last year’s launch of the competition in the UK and Ireland was met with great feedback from yards across the region and we look forward to opening that up to our World Pool days in South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.”

Alex Frost, Chief Executive of the UK Tote Group, said: “We are looking forward to another World Pool season which now extends its reach across eight countries worldwide. For the UK and Ireland, it is welcome to see new additions to this year’s schedule, with two races from Newbury’s Lockinge Day added, along with Irish Derby Day, taking World Pool events hosted in the UK and Ireland to a total of 18.

“The ambitions for a global wagering platform are already being realised with over 20 pool betting operators now part of World Pool. Last year alone, the UK and Ireland saw record turnover of £521 million across 17 World Pool events, showcasing the best of our racing to a global audience, ensuring an improved value proposition for our own wagering customers and creating a more sustainable funding mechanism for horseracing in the future, with additional income for our racecourse partners.

“Our continued thanks go to our partners the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and in collaboration with RMG and Ascot, we are delighted to see Moment of the Day and Moment of the Year nowextended to include all countries hosting World Pool races.”

Martin Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer of Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which represents the media interests of The Jockey Club, Newbury, Goodwood, and York racecourses, said: “RMG is delighted to partner with Hong Kong Jockey Club, UK Tote and our racecourses to bring 11 high-quality British and Irish days to the innovative and important World Pool schedule.

“RMG looks forward to working with all the parties in growing both the sport’s revenues and global appeal. We’re also excited to see the World Pool Moment of the Day and Year awards increase in prize money and evolve into a global initiative for stable staff – the real unsung heroes of our sport.”

Alastair Warwick, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ascot Racecourse, said: “It’s fantastic to see this truly global expansion of the meetings included in the World Pool for 2023. The continued growth of World Pool since launching at Royal Ascot in 2019 has been very impressive and hugely important for British racing. We look forward to being involved again across our major meetings this year.”

Gregory Bortz, the Executive Chairman of Cape Racing, the operator of racing in the Western Cape of South Africa, said: “We are honoured to have WSB Met Day, one of the biggest and most prestigious days on the South African racing calendar, be included as a World Pool event. We believe the sight and sounds of nineteen of our finest equine athletes competing for this prestigious Grade 1 race, with the views and sounds of Cape Town playing out in the background, will make for an unforgettable experience for the countless racing enthusiasts around the globe betting into the World Pool.

“The Hong Kong Jockey Club represents the gold standard for racing operators around the world, and we at Cape Racing look forward to following their lead by ensuring our top-class racing provides the entertainment and turnover befitting of World Pool status.”

Provisional World Pool events to be hosted on the following days in 2023:

January

Saturday 28: Met Day – Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse, South Africa

February

Saturday 18: Black Caviar Lightning Race Day – Flemington Racecourse, Australia

Saturday 25: Saudi Cup – King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

March

Saturday 4 March: Super Saturday – Meydan Racecourse, Dubai

Saturday 25 March: Dubai World Cup – Meydan Racecourse, Dubai

Other key fixtures will be finalised later in the year, but major meetings including Royal Ascot, King George Day, Goodwood Festival, York Ebor Meeting, British Champions Day and Melbourne Cup Day will also form part of World Pool 2023.

Sparkling Water, tipped below to run second, is out to make it two wins from three starts at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. She is pictured above winning the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m at last year’s WSB Met meeting in her first appearance in Cape Town (Chase Liebenberg).

Make It Snappy can run them ragged

Make It Snappy has much in her favour

Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)

The last three-year-old filly to win the WSB Cape Town Met was Oh Susanna back in 2018, the first time that the race was run at WFA. It can be argued that she faced a substandard field relative to what faces Make It Snappy at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow but she has a lot in her favour.

Like Oh Susanna, Make It Snappy comes off victory in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes in a field that included runner-up, hot favourite and multiple Gr1 winner Captain’s Ransom, Triple Tiara winner Rain In Holland, Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water, Group winning Marina, the latter trio also lining up in Saturday’s field.

Given the conditions of the race, Make It Snappy meets her female rivals at similar weights and strictly on their Paddock Stakes efforts, all three will need to make a few lengths improvement if they are to peg back their younger rival but the trio are handled by the best trainer’s around so they cannot be written off lightly.

Make It Snappy also gets lumps of weight from her male rivals barring Gr1 Cape Guineas runner-up Cousin Casey who has to conceded 2.5kg.

Cousin Casey went into the Guineas on the back of a five-race winning streak but proved no match for Charles Dickens who swept past in a common canter and he was hard-pressed to hold off At My Command who fluffed his lines in the Gr3 Politician Stakes last Saturday.

The Guineas was also run at almost a second slower than the filly’s equivalent and given Cousin Casey’s wide draw he will be hard-pressed to match Make It Snappy.

This leaves the older male brigade who meet for the umpteenth time. Jet Dark, Kommetdieding, Golden Ducat have generally been the three principals in the country’s top features over the past three seasons and one must now add Al Muthana to that list.

Ricky Maingard’s runner flew under the radar when upsetting Charles Dickens in the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, most forgetting his victory in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge where then under the care of Mike de Kock, he finished ahead of Linebacker and Jet Dark. However, Al Muthana has not finished in the frame in four starts beyond a mile. That said, Maingard is a maestro, having won this race with ‘miler’ Wolf Power and with Piere Strydom booked there is no shortage of experience in the camp.

Kommetdieding and Jet Dark finished one-two in last year’s event and there is very little between the two which ever way you slice the form. There was a neck between them in the recent King’s Cup with Jet Dark just ahead, but the extra 400m is more in the favour of Kommetdieding.

The two have drawn one gate apart and sandwiched between them is Sparkling Water. Mike de Kock’s filly simply paralysed the field in the Hollywoodbets Durban July but has a bit more to do here given the weights.

She ran way below par in the Gr1 WSB Summer Cup at Turffontein back in November but there was a lot to like about the way she was finishing off her race in the Paddock Stakes behind Make It Snappy.

Anthony Delpech, syndicate manager for the Hollywood Syndicate, owners of Make It Snappy was of the opinion that Sparkling Water may be their biggest danger. “I like the way she ran in the Paddock Stakes,” he said. “I think that she has been prepped for this race.”

Delpech was stable jockey to De Kock for many years so will be well aware of how the De Kock stable operates.

Not having seen Make It Snappy in the flesh, Delpech confirmed that she is a giant of a filly and with only 51.5kg to shoulder from a good draw he was hoping for the best.

Keagan de Melo will be aboard Make It Snappy with her regular ride, Louis Mxothwa, not able to make the weight. De Melo was confident that he would make the 51.5kg required. Speaking at Scottsville on Wednesday, he said the had plenty of time to take off the weight gradually and would be spot on come tomorrow. He was cautiously optimistic about his mount’s chances. “We will be happy with a first four finish,” he said.

With 18 runners due to face the starter, there could well be traffic congestion but given her style of running and being a big filly with a light weight from a plum draw, Make It Snappy has much in her favour and is taken to get home ahead of Sparkling Water, Kommetdieding and Jet Dark with Al Muthana the dark horse once again.

From left Jonathan Snaith, Lucinda Woodruff, Aldo Domeyer and Justin Vermaak providing insight in to tomorrow’s big WSB Met meeting (Cape Racing).

Taking The Reins WSB Met Panel Discussion

Justin Vermaak hosts this preview show which has guests Aldo Domeyer, Lucinda Woodruff and Jonathan Snaith.

CLICK HERE to watch this WSB Met 2023 preview show

The Yogas Govender-trained Martial Eagle, ridden by Aldo Domeyer, was the last seven-year-old to win the Met in 2013 (Picture: Sporting Post)

Today’s Question

The Met was switched to a trip of 2000m in 1948.

In the 75 renewals run since have more three-year-olds or more seven-year-olds won the big race?

See answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Fields, Saturday, CLICK HERE

Turffontein Standside Fields, Sunday, CLICK HERE

NB Please wait a few seconds for fields to appear.

The Justin Snaith-trained Oh Susanna was the last three-year-old to win the Met in 2018, pictured above ridden by Grant van Niekerk. She joined the Mike de Kock Horse Chestnut (1999), ridden by Weichong Marwing, as the only three-year-old to have won it since the distance of the race was switched to 2000m in 1948. (Picture: aushorse.co.au)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

Five seven-year-olds have won the Met since the distance of the race was stepped up to 2000m in 1948 and in that time only two three-year-olds have done it.

In the 75 renewals since 1948 the age of the winners was as follows:

3yos 2,4yos 39, 5yos 21,6yos 8, 7yos 5

This years the age of the runners is split like this:

3yos: Make It Snappy, Cousin Casey (2)

4yos: Universal, Zapatillas, Waterberry Lane, Rain In Holland, Gem King, Pomp And Power (6)

5yos: Marina, Jet Dark, Sparkling Water, Kommetdieding, Al Muthana, Warrior, Linebacker, Rascallion (7)

6yos: Golden Ducat (1)

7yos: Nexus (1)

8yos: Do It Again (1)

Do It Again can thus become the first eight-year-old to win the race for over 75 years.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 27 January 2023