Defending champion Kommetdieding heads a high-class field of 19 that will line up at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 28 January in the 161st renewal of one of our oldest and most prestigious racing events, the R2 million WSB Cape Town Met.
In what is expected to be his swansong appearance before he departs for the Klawervlei paddocks to take up stallion duties, Kommetdieding will again be ridden by Gavin Lerena and drew barrier gate 6 at the final field function on the V&A Waterfront on Wednesday evening.
Defending champion Kommetdieding – all set for a big run (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Boasting the distinction of being the first horse since Mike de Kock’s great filly Igugu (2012), and another star in Pocket Power ( 2009), to register the consecutive Durban July – Met double, Kommetdieding comes in fighting fit after placings in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes and the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate – both races over his less than optimum trip of a mile.
Kommetdieding meets last year’s second and third-placer Jet Dark (0,75 lengths) and Linebacker (0,95 lengths) again, as well as having to contend with recent L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner Al Muthana, and two really smart 3yo’s in Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas runner-up Cousin Casey, and the dual Gr1 winning 3yo filly Make It Snappy.
The decision to run Make It Snappy here as opposed to taking on Captain’s Ransom, whom she beat in the Paddock Stakes last time, in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes, was obviously not taken lightly.
Make It Snappy – could be dangerous as she takes on the boys (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
But she will clearly be more comfortable over the 2000m, and Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech will know what it takes for a filly to win this race. Delpech was aboard Imperious Sue in 1998 and 2012 heroine, Igugu.
The last 3yo filly to win the 2000m contest was Oh Susanna, who stormed home under Grant van Niekerk in 2018. The previous 3yo filly to win prior to her dates back to 1905.
The engagement of Piere Strydom to ride Al Muthana is an interesting one on the occasion of the veteran champion’s final Met ride. The Australian-bred gelding has drawn 12 and his stamina is in doubt.
The final field:
1st R1187500, 2nd R380000, 3rd R190000, 4th R95000, 5th R47500, RCIS R100000
WORLD SPORTS BETTING CAPE TOWN MET (Grade 1)
Open to horses at Weight For Age
WFA: 3yrs-6kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Golden Ducat | 60 | 120 | BA | Christophe Soumillon | Eric Sands | |
| 2 | 2 | Make It Snappy | 51.5 | 125 | A | Keagan de Melo | Brett Crawford | |
| 3 | 3 | Marina | 57.5 | 117 | BA | Aldo Domeyer | Candice Bass-Robinson | |
| 4 | 4 | Jet Dark | 60 | 130 | A | Richard Fourie | Justin Snaith | |
| 5 | 5 | Sparkling Water | 57.5 | 122 | A | S’manga Khumalo | Mike de Kock | |
| 6 | 6 | Kommetdieding | 60 | 129 | A | Gavin Lerena | HWJ Crawford/M Rix | |
| 7 | 7 | Universal | 59.5 | 116 | A | Juan Paul v’d Merwe | Adam Marcus | |
| 8 | 8 | Do It Again | 60 | 126 | BA | Bernard Fayd’Herbe | Justin Snaith | |
| 9 | 9 | Nexus | 60 | 114 | BA | Muzi Yeni | Justin Snaith | |
| 10 | 10 | Zapatillas | 59.5 | 122 | A | Luyolo Mxothwa | Brett Crawford | |
| 11 | 11 | Waterberry Lane | 59.5 | 116 | A | Raymond Danielson | Ricky Maingard | |
| 12 | 12 | Al Muthana (AUS) | 60 | 133 | A | Piere Strydom | Ricky Maingard | |
| 13 | 13 | Warrior | 60 | 112 | A | Ryan Munger | Justin Snaith | |
| 14 | 14 | Cousin Casey | 54 | 115 | A | Grant van Niekerk | Glen Kotzen | |
| 15 | 15 | Rain In Holland | 57 | 116 | TBA | Calvin Habib | Sean Tarry | |
| 16 | 16 | Linebacker | 60 | 122 | BA | Corne Orffer | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 17 | 17 | Rascallion | 60 | 122 | A | Sean Veale | Vaughan Marshall | |
| 18 | 18 | Gem King | 59.5 | 104 | A | Gareth Wright | Piet Steyn | |
| 19 | 19 | Pomp And Power | 59.5 | 114 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Justin Snaith | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (2,10) (4,8,9,13,19) (11,12) (16,17) | ||||||||
