Igugu and Anthony Delpech charge to Met glory
The J&B Met has been won by four odds-on shots in the past 15 years. They were Horse Chestnut (1999), Yard-Arm (2004), Pocket Power (2008) and Igugu in 2012.
The longest priced winner this century was the 2013 victor Martial Eagle, a son of Silvano.
There are five runners by Silvano in Saturday’s race.
Had punters done their homework, Martial Eagle was no fluke. He was the second best handicapped horse in the race behind Beach Beauty. We all just failed to believe his L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate run!
Only one Australian bred has won it in the 21st century. Killua Castle is the only foreign-bred runner this year.
Jet Master (thanks mainly to Pocket Power) has been the winning sire 5 times. He has two runners on Saturday, including Helderberg Blue who runs in the ‘power pink, white and blue.’
Visiting horses have a close on fifty percent strike rate. There are five official visitors in the race.
Interestingly, the trainers of the past four winners have no runners this year.
