Legislate is in
The suspense is over and we can now concentrate on finding a winner. A high quality field of 15 has accepted to run in the Cape’s premier horseracing event, the R2,5 million J&B Met which will be staged at Kenilworth on Saturday January 31.
After weeks of anticipation and market speculation, trainer Joey Ramsden went the Investec Cape Derby route with the outstanding Dynasty colt Act Of War.
South Africa’s leading 3yo recently won the Cape Guineas in his sixth win in a row and is believed to be destined for a career overseas. His participation would have added plenty of interest to this race.
Justin Snaith – six in the Met
But SA champion trainer Justin Snaith won’t be concerned about anything that hasn’t accepted.
He saddles 6 of the 15 runners and has been involved in a race against time with the Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate, who recently failed off a slow pace in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, and all eyes will be on his public gallop on Thursday.
Gauteng trainer Geoff Woodruff has a very strong hand with Sansui Summer Cup winner Louis The King, recent Gr3 London News Stakes winner Killua Castle and the Silvano gelding Tellina making up his three-pronged attack.
Cape trainer Mike Bass has won the race five times and he sends out a coupling of the flashy Jet Master gelding Helderberg Blue and the outsider son of Trippi, Paterfamilias.
The official public gallops will be held at Kenilworth on Thursday morning at 7am and the official draw will be held later that morning.
‘Made for the mix’ is the theme for this year’s event where elegance will combine with the usual zany attire and outlandish outfits that will grab photographer’s attentions.
A crowd of in the region of 50 000 people is expected at Kenilworth and the announcement that every person on course who purchased a general entrance ticket at www.computicket.co.za will stand a chance of winning a diamond pendant valued at a breath taking R500, 000. (T&Cs apply* www.jbscotch.co.za ) is bound to stir even greater interest.
The field:
Saddlecloth Age Sex Horse Weight MR Trainer Jockey
1 4 C LEGISLATE 60 117 Justin Snaith Richard Fourie
2 4 C FUTURA 60 116 Brett Crawford Bernard Fayd’herbe
3 4 C LOUIS THE KING 60 116 Geoff Woodruff Piere Strydom
4 7 G GOLD ONYX (NZ) 58,5 109 Sean Tarry Grant Behr
5 6 G JET EXPLORER 58,5 109 Justin Snaith Greg Cheyne
6 5 G KILLUA CASTLE (AUS 58,5 109 Geoff Woodruff Akash Aucharuz
7 5 G TELLINA 58,5 109 Geoff Woodruff Gavin Lerena
8 5 G PATERFAMILIAS 58,5 104 Mike Bass Corne Orffer
9 6 G PUNTA ARENAS 58,5 103 Stan Elley Aldo Domeyer
10 6 G ASTRO NEWS 58,5 102 Justin Snaith Luyola Mxothwa
11 5 G DYNAMIC 58,5 100 Justin Snaith Sean Cormack
12 5 G JOHNNY ROCKETS 58,5 98 Justin Snaith Mj Byleveld
13 4 C ARION 58 101 Justin Snaith S’manga Khumalo
14 4 G POWER KING 58 100 Dean Kannemeyer Karl Neisius
15 4 G HELDERBERG BLUE 58 98 Mike Bass Grant Van Niekerk
