A Guide to the 2021 Cape Town Met

Saturday’s Cape Town Met Day packs a real treat during COVID restricted racing; an unheard of 12 race program!

As the pinnacle of the Cape racing season, almost all runners on the day will have been tuned up to max for this, making it an extra special day.

As usual we have put together the perfect preview for the Met, betting tips and blitz previews for each race on the card. You’ll have just enough info to either side with our betting tips or brass them and go on your own.

 

Race 1 – 1000m Juvenile Plate

This 2 year sprint is devoid of much form that allows us to find value. The favourite is therefore very short and can prove to be a trap considering how unexposed the entire field are.

With your first bet on Race 1 gets refunded up to R500 if it loses, so we’ll definitely be opting for some speculative value!

– This is far from a good thing but more a gamble using the First Insurance refund. The favourite is the most exposed on form but at such short odds not something that interests me. This selection ran a credible 5th, 3.30 lengths off the winner last time out. That winner, High Hosanna, is now an odds on favourite in Race 5, a stakes race with more proven quality. Take the chance and worst case you end up with your .

Race 2 – 1600m Maiden Plate

This maiden plate over the mile looks to have a few fillies close to notching up their first win. Draws are a help at Kenilworth and it seems most of the fancied runners got decent ones, which should result in a well run race.

– Our selection ran against four others in this race in her last appearance. Today’s favourite finished marginally ahead, and was vying for favouritism on that day too. Having watched a re-run neither of them got a great ride but at the time of writing ours is double the odds. I fancy it will be closer race between these two than the betting suggest, and I’ll be siding with the value in a tough one to figure out.

Race 3 – 1600m Juvenile Plate

Another maiden race over the mile, this time with colts and geldings looking to make their breakthrough. Where the last race saw decent draws for the favoured runners, this proves the opposite. Had the draws been kinder to the fancied runners here I’m sure the betting would not be as wide open as it currently is. This could change come race time where smart money often leads the market selections.

– This selection immediately stands out despite no clear favouritism in the betting. Besides a decent draw, his last effort over the mile was in November, where he finished 2nd, 1.5 lengths off the winner. He was fancied then at shorter odd than currently priced. Out of that race there has been 2 winners, a second and 2 third place finishes, all who ran behind Superior Leader that day. At this level of racing any form like that builds confidence, and a repeat of that run could be his ticket out the maidens.

Race 4 – 1400m Pinnacle Stakes

Despite not carrying Graded status, this race is packed with class. It’ll be an open affair, and one of the toughest races on the day to narrow down – there are plenty with chances. No matter the outcome I see it being a cracking finish, even if not one of the day’s feature races.

– Since its gelding, this selection has racked up 4 wins from 5 runs. Added to that his career course and distance stats are 3 wins from 4 runs. Snaith’s stable elect, Richard Fourie, takes the ride once again and their partnership is going from strength to strength. A little short on value in such a competitive race, but it’s evident why, and he looks likely to relish the 54kg opportunity that awaits.

Race 5 – 1000m Juvenile Stakes

A field of promising youngsters step out in this sprint race up the straight. Some of these contenders featured over the Queen’s Plate Festival weekend, providing solid recent form to go on. As always, I advise caution in these 2 year old sprints, a bad start combined with inexperience at the track, and your ‘sure thing’ could be out the race before it’s had a chance to contend it.

– We tipped this colt on Queen’s Plate day and she duly obliged. He meets a couple of other runners from that day again, but I feel there’s something special about him worth following. The 1.50 length win, described as ‘easy’ in the form guide, was just that. It could have been more and with Aldo Domeyer taking the ride again, I’d be so bold as to say it could be the each way bet of the day.

Race 6 – Politician Stakes (Grade 3)

The first graded race of the day sees some of the top local 3 year olds on show. The distance is a testing one and will bring those with the best scope for further out of the pack. The betting suggests a two horse race but with so much inexperience at this distance, is it going to be as simple as that?

– Whilst the odds on favourite looks a standout, it’s not a price I’m keen to take on a somewhat unproven competitor in graded race company. Our selection has breeding to boast about, and his trios of consecutive 3rd place finishes have all come in graded races. In all three occasions he’s gained on the field in the last 400m, so hopefully an extra furlong will suit. Anton Marcus is a seasoned professional in this situation, and I believe has the experience to bring him home.

Race 7 – Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1)

The first Grade 1 of the day is packed with the country’s legendary speedsters. All the fancied runners have picked up the highest accolades in their class, and it’s a case of how close to their prime each of them are. An absolute humdinger of a race awaits. What a field!

– The selection seems a thoughtless one, considering I’m going with the favourite in field oozing with class. At the same time, there’s nothing really that can be said to oppose this. She’s far from a certainty and I could spend all day making a case for most runners. Celtic Sea’s ability to win her last 5 race over 1000-1200m means I need to keep following her. By no means a confident bet, but great to include in doubles and trebles across the day.

Race 8 – Majorca Stakes (Grade 1)

Without dampening the spirits after that rousing preview of the last race, this one seems a little more cut and dry. The double defending champ is back for the hat trick and up against a Cape Fillies Guineas winner that the bookies really like. Outside of that, and you’re bringing just about the entire field into the equation.

– This mare has had an amazing career to date, and a hat trick of Majorca Stakes wins would cement her legendary status. She’s the best weighted, and has beaten better opposition in prior runnings of this race (including Race 7 tip Celtic Sea). Aldo Domeyer has been with her through all of this. The favourite is a deserving one, especially after beating our selection over 1400m in a Grade 3. She gets less of a weight advantage and will need to overcome that over the short trip. I’m siding with the champ here.

Race 9 – Cape Town Met (Grade 1)

The main event brings back some of the currently active legends of the sport for another running of this prestigious race. As with the Queens Plate, sadly we don’t have the defending champ in the line up, but the field is not a disappointment in the slightest. Being a weight for age contest means the best should rise, and there is not much separating this bunch.

gets you a R25 Free Bet to use on any other horse racing, just by taking a bet on the main race!

– Warren Kennedy retains his place on this classy gelding after a very impressive Grade 2 win over 1800m. He is primed for the 2000m off the back of that, but obviously faces much tougher. Do It Again will likely be back to his best, Belgarion can do no wrong and there’s the perennial runner up in Rainbow Bridge to consider. I fancy the draw of 2 Golden Ducat has, allowing hime to be tucked away and saved for the business end. Cast your mind back to the job MJ Byleveld did with One World in last year’s running, and it’s likely Warren will try emulate that..

Race 10 – Cape Stayers (Grade 2)

This 2800m marathon trip gets the long distance specialists out for a crack at the big time. These races often throw up rough results with uncertainty around the pace. The field featured a lot of previous contenders and is often a good time to spot value.

– This selection won a Grade 3 of similar distance in impressive fashion on Queens Plate day. It’s off the back of this that a repeat performance seems possible. Despite the drawback of Justin Snaith not having other runners in the race to help manipulate the pace, Richard Fourie has proved the perfect companion to this gelding. Because of the short odds I would only include in doubles and trebles on the day – this is not the race to be go big on short odds.

Race 11 – 1000m Handicap

This 1000m handicap takes a significant step down in prestige, but hopefully can provide some opportunity to make up lost ground if the day hasn’t gone to plan. In handicaps of this quality you don’t need to find a superstar to make some money, and the betting suggests a pretty open affair.

– At this stage it’s often difficult to know what preferred distances these recent winners prefer, but on the little shown to date this Trippi filly has looked better over shorter. From the 1 draw Aldo Domeyer should hopefully get some short term cover and go with the rest until she needs to show her best at the end. She was started slow last time out but made up huge lengths at the end to win well. A better start should bring out that turn of speed a bit sooner over the slightly shorter distance. At the moment she’s decent each way value, which I’ll gladly take.

Race 12 – 1200m Handicap

The last chance to make some money comes in the form of what looks like a two-horse 1200m handicap. The two fighting out favouritism ran a competitive 1-2 earlier this month, and if you don’t fancy them then the field is yours for the picking.

– Whilst coming out second best last time out, unless you really fancied the run of Real Gone Kid, the weight turnaround is enough to consider my selection. Richard Fourie from draw 1 adds fuel to that claim. Tarantino also lost a couple lengths at the start and the change of jockey makes me think that won’t be allowed again. Roll the dice on this one, and hopefully if you’re not having the best day, it’ll end on a high.