With 36 horses carded to run at the J&B Met meeting on Saturday, trainer Justin Snaith will have little time to socialise at the 12-race meeting and that will suit him fine – it means he can turn off his cell phone after Race 3 and pray that when he turns it back on again there are no death threats.
Justin Snaith – loves the big racedays
Historically it’s a no-holds-barred day for Snaith and he chuckles: “If it has four legs and is feeling good, it’s running. My horses are all really well and ready for action.”
But he is loathe to single out those he prefers because “although my intentions are always good, in the past I’ve had death threats from disgruntled punters. It started on Met Day in 2007 when Gulf Trade got rolled in Race 9 and only stopped about a year ago (after he won the national trainers’ championship). But, even so, when I’ve got more than one horse running on Met Day, I won’t put myself in the firing line. Some punters have huge bets at this meeting.”
And that horses can make fools of people is highlighted by last weekend’s Investec Cape Derby result. Although Snaith warned fans in the pre-race interview that eventual winner It’s My Turn was “working the house down”, most still sided with his better-fancied stablemate Black Arthur, who finished fourth.
When pressed about his tips for this Saturday, he suggested punters should follow the jockeys. “I’ve gone for the best jockeys on my better-fancied horses – Piere Strydom, S’manga Khumalo and, where I could, Anthony Delpech. They are all ordinarily top jockeys but at the moment are riding the best in their careers. They’re hot property.”
Three of his minor-race runners, he says, are progressive and could be well handicapped – Prince Of Wales (Race 11), Baritone (Race 12) and, maybe, Star Express (Race 2).
He has three runners in the Met but will not separate his two stable stars – Futura, who won this race last year while in the care of Brett Crawford, and Legislate.
“It’s a close call,” he says. “Futura ran a bit of a flat race when fifth in the Queen’s Plate – he didn’t enjoy the slow pace and is certainly better than that. He will be ready come Saturday. Legislate (second to Legal Eagle in the Queen’s Plate) seems to be back to the same form as when he won the Cape Derby, the Daily News and the Durban July as a three-year-old.
Legislate – big runner in Met
“We are the underdogs,” he says, pointing out that Futura would be getting 0.5kg from Legal Eagle in a handicap and Legislate would be 1.5kg to the good over the big-race favourite.
“Legal Eagle has got it all going for him. Sean Tarry’s team have the confidence.”
Snaith’s third runner is Krambambuli, who is hopelessly out at the weights but is versatile in that he can lead or come from just off the pace. Many trainers will be hoping Snaith has him in the race to set a good and steady gallop so every horse has an equal chance.
Snaith is noncommittal at the suggestion though, saying, “That’s not something I like to do.”
He is taking it one race at a time with Futura and Legislate, but there is a possibility one of them could travel to Jozi for the summer-autumn season. A team decision will be made after Met Day.
“I was very comfortable in Durban last year but the stables I used then are now occupied and I’m concerned where I might be put. Before I take a string to Durban I’ll need to make sure my horses will be comfortable. The other option is to raid from my Turffontein satellite yard.”
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