Sun International was unveiled as the new sponsor of the Western Cape’s flagship race, the Gr1 Metropolitan Stakes, at a sumptuous event in the Ballroom of the Table Bay Hotel on Wednesday, 28 September 2016.
The race, to be run as the Sun Met from 2017, will also receive a significant stake boost to R5 million.
In front of an assembly that included Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille, Sun International COO Rob Collins explained that a few months ago, they were asked to lunch by Phumelela’s CEO Rian du Plessis & Tellytrack boss Rob Scott who invited them to take over the sponsorship. “We leapt at the opportunity and are deliriously excited to be involved,” he stated, adding “And we have been inundated by partners who want to get involved on the day.”
International beverage house Pernod Ricard have added their backing with premier champagne brand G.H. Mumm, which already has an association with horse racing via the Kentucky Derby & the Melbourne Cup.
After moving to the CTS Day of Dreams for 2016, international finance giants Investec are returning the Cape Derby to the Met card, as are Klawervlei with the Majorca Stakes and CTS have agreed to add their seal of approval with both their $500,000 sales races.
The 12 race card will be returning to the previous festival format, boasting all of the Gr1 Sun Met, the Gr1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship, the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby, the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, the Gr2 Western Cape Stayers, the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes as well as the two $500,000 CTS sales races.
