With a massive Pick 6 to play for and a quartet that could reach telephone number proportions, today’s R5 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met is surely one of the most open renewals in years.
Three Met contenders in Rascallion, Zapatillas and Montien pictured with Gr1 Cape Flying Championship hopeful, Gimme A Prince (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Preparation is key to winning the big races, and there are a number of runners, including See It Again and Oriental Charm, who need to bounce back and prove a point.
It’s a race that could also well script a fairytale for Milnerton-based former jockey Piet Botha, who saddles a coupling. What an achievement to get this far with an ordinary string!
Cape Racing reports that middle distance races in Cape Town are rarely run at a tearaway gallop but there are plenty of potential pace- forcers in this years, Cape Town Met. This probably won’t quite lead to a pace meltdown but ability to see out ten panels should be important.
Oriental Charm went all the way in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July over 2200m so he will be dangerous from a low draw; Atticus Finch won the Betway Gr1 Summer Cup and has dominated Highveld races from prominent positions; Litigation is an on-pace runner; Baratheon also likes to press on whilst classy filly, Red Palace, the long-striding and athletic, Montien bang-in-form, Magic Verse and super-dependable Rascallion have all done best stalking, or occasionally, setting the speed.
Ignore his last run! See It Again – master jockey aboard and he will relish the hot pace that is likely (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The weight terms of this race and the projected strong pace should suit See It Again ideally. Previously high class from a mile upwards and bred to be even better over a test of stamina, he would be the pick but for some sub-standard recent tries. Former champion jockey, now trainer, Michael Roberts has quite a challenge to revive and refocus the fickle 5YO gelding who finished dead last in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate three weeks ago.
While Future Swing does not rate nearly as highly as See It Again on pure ability he is in prime condition to give it a shot. He should work out a good trip, settled midfield off a brisk pace and has the stamina and finishing kick to make an impact in deep stretch.
Justin Snaith trained stable mate, 3YO, Eight On Eighteen is handicapped a big chance on a line through star contemporary, One Stripe.
Working on the basis that he’s length or so inferior to One Stripe -a recent winner against elders in the prestigious King’s Plate, then he will be a major player carrying just 54kg’s. There is a lingering query – he is untried over the distance.
Nobody’s talking about Royal Aussie – a nice quartet kicker (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Of the balance, Al Muthana has been way below par for a while; Royal Aussie is talented but arguably best up to a mile; the enigmatic, Pacaya is more bust than boom these days and Baratheon is probably in too deep and in any case, better on tighter tracks.
Master Redoute comes in here 26 weeks after winning the 3200m Gold Cup. He is a versatile sort that can show if diligent horseman, Andre Nel has him fit enough on resumption.
Zapatillas is on the comeback trail after an injury and is running credibly under the circumstances. He is not the worst long shot as his form ties in closely to the ever-reliable Rascallion, who ran second in last year’s Met and has won three features from the last four races contested.
The 2025 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met is a fascinating and contentious race.
Exotic bettors may choose to cast a wide net to cover the plausible chances. It jumps at 16h05.
