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Belgarion
Belgarion, victor last year of the famous Vodacom Durban July, is the bookies favourite at 22-10 to win the race that is so deeply lodged in the South African public s consciousness, the iconic “Met.” This 1 ¼ mile event with a proud history will be staged at Kenilworth on Saturday morning at 10:10 a.m. EST, together with other prestigious Group 1 contests. The five furlong Cape Flying Championships (WFA) for specialist speed merchants, and the Majorca Stakes (WFA) which has attracted a cast of fine fillies and mares over one mile.
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Good spread of runners in this yearâs Met Jack Milner
Belgarion, ridden by Richard Fourie, won the 2020 Vodacom Durban July and is the favourite for the Met. Picture: Candiese Lenferna âItâs a nice spread of generations at weight for age, which is not what we get often these days because the young horses retire early,â said trainer Mike de Kock.
While only 11 runners are carded to go to post on Saturday for the Grade 1 Cape Town Met over 2000m at Kenilworth, it is a strong field with a wide spread of age groups.
The field comprises one three-year-old, two four-year-olds, five five-year-olds, two six-year-olds and one seven-year-old.
Ace trainer Justin Snaith talks about his Met day chances Mike Moon
Trainer Justin Snaith feeds hay to Vodacom Durban July winner
Legislate at their Clairwood stable in 2014. Picture: Supplied Justin Snaith says he expects ‘a good day’, having 12 of his own horses running in the upcoming Met Day, and he also gives some tips on who he thinks are the biggest challenges to his own charges.
Saddling 27 horses for the 12 races on Cape Town Met day might seem a daunting task for some trainers – but not Justin Snaith.
“In fact, it’s the fewest number of runners I’ve had at the Met for quite a while,” he says, explaining that a lockdown ban on owners attending Saturday’s meeting had quietened demand for big-day representation.
Young horses seek a dusting of Sea Cottage stardust Mike Moon
Trainer Syd Laird and Sea Cottage. Picture: Facebook Sea Cottage was voted the GOAT (Greatest of all Time) racehorse in South Africa last year, when the coronavirus halted racecourse action for a while and racing devotees found themselves with little to do but reminisce.
Remarkably, given his legend, the only other memorial to Sea Cottage is a race in his name, run each year in January at Turffontein – a track on which he never set foot.
The Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes for three year olds, over 1800m, is the headline event of this weekend’s South African racing calendar.
Picture: iStock
A remarkable 63 trainers from 12 countries have had 158 horses accepted to compete in the nine-meeting Dubai World Cup Carnival, which culminates in the World Cup itself on 27 March. Of course, the 2020 Cup meeting had to be scrapped as Covid descended on the world. That and diminished racing and stakes throughout the world have sparked keener interest than usual in the mega prizes on offer in the desert. Among the invading throng is South Africa’s Mike de Kock, who has less firepower than in previous years but could still pay to follow judiciously with a hardy and.
A remarkable 63 trainers from 12 countries have had 158 horses accepted to compete in the nine-meeting Dubai World Cup Carnival, which culminates in the World Cup itself on 27 March.