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Michael Roberts won the Met as a rider exactly 50 years ago on the great Sledgehammer, a horse he has always said was the best he ever rode in South Africa, and he could now land the Met as a trainer at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. (Picture: Wayne Marks).
See It Again is not a tailor made winner this year, like he was expected to be last year, but he can make amends
The WSB Met is way more wide open than a weight for age race would usually be and this is due to some of the fancied horses having clouds or question marks over their heads which brings the lower rated contestants into it.
See It Again is the highest rated runner and would be the one to beat if it was not for blotting his copy book in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, finishing last. However, he suffered a bad trip as he was caught wide the whole way, so can perhaps be forgiven. Another negative is that he raced in Durban, then travelled up to Jo’Burg for the Summer Cup and then down to Cape Town. This is a big negative according to experienced horseman. He also has a tricky draw of eleven out of 17. On the plus side he is a twice Gr 1 winner over this trip, he has been the best performer in the Hollywoodbets Durban July twice and was the best performer in the Betway Summer Cup. He has only run below par twice in his career, firstly in last year’s Met and then in this year’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate. He ran one absolute cracker in each of his first two Cape campaigns and in his third campaign his cracker could be in the Met. The blinkers have come off which should allow Piere Strydom to ride him more positively and without fear of setting him alight. Strydom missed out on the ride in the LKP due to injury, so another plus point is he is back aboard. Owner Nick Jonsson won with one of his less fancied horses last year and this year See It Again could upset the Jonsson-owned favourite Eight On Eighteen.
Eight On Eighteen ran a cracking second to One Stripe in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. However, One Stripe, it came out in reports later, still had a ton in hand, according to Gavin Lerena. Illustrating  this point was Great Plains chasing One Stripe in the straight of the LKP but just going further and further behind, eventually being beaten 11,20 lengths. In the Cape Guineas he had got within 2,75 lengths of One Stripe. So, saying Eight On Eighteen is 1,5 lengths better than Great Plains might be more accurate than saying Eight On Eighteen is 1,25 lengths inferior to One Stripe. On the plus side Eight On Eighteen is progressive and strikes as one who will enjoy the step up in trip.
Red Palace has a lot of class, stays the trip, has a jockey in Gavin Lerena who is in sublime form, she is drawn in pole and is up against a group of males who mostly have question marks above their heads.
Oriental Charm perhaps ran a flat race in the LKP after a fine win in the Green Point Stakes and he will not only be at his peak, but will relish the step up in trip. On paper he has a bit to do to match See It Again, but he might well have improved since last July.
Rascallion should run a courageous race from the front like he did last year, as he has little other option from a wide draw.
Zapatillas is unfortunately drawn wide because on his day he can match it with the best. He was one of the unlucky runners in the Met two years ago, so should see out the trip.
Master Redoute is a tough horse who enjoys running through tight gaps, but on the downside he hasn’t run since winning the Gold Cup.
Pacaya ran on well in the Premier Trophy and could earn a cheque.
Litigation should run another honest race from a nice draw.
Future Swing ran on well in the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy and was a touch unlucky. He still has to prove he is a Gr 1 weight for age class though.
Montien is classy and the only downside is whether this handy to front-running sort will see out the trip, but he might do and could be a big runner.
Atticus Finch is held by See It Again on paper, but he is an honest and progressive sort and could surprise.
Baratheon has not won a stakes race before but will stay the trip, so could earn.
Royal Aussie looks more like a miler and is yet to prove he stays this trip.
Magic Verse ran a cracker in the Premier Trophy, but will have to up his game again.
Al Muthana is yet to prove he stays the trip and seems off form.
See It Again is taken to defy the negative points surrounding him and bounce back to his top class best and predicted to follow him home are Red Palace, Eight On Eighteen, Oriental Charm and Zapatillas.