The Sun Met 2020 Tips, Race Schedule And Previews
The Sun Met has been run since 1883, originally known as The Metropolitan Mile, and that’s a pretty cool thing to say.
This history makes it a race day to savour. With a whopping 12 races on the card, it’s long day of savouring. Coupled with warm Cape Town sun, Kenilworth’s beautiful race grounds will be filled up with stylishly dressed racegoers ready for a grand day out.
As usual we have the Sun Met 2020 tips you need to get you through the day. You focus on the fun and maybe we’ll land you one or two winners.
Click on each race to reveal our preview and tips
Race 1
The day starts in usual fashion with a maiden plate, this exclusively for fillies and mares. With these races you’re looking for those with enough class to win, or those with enough experience to win. Usually you’ll end up with a couple of runners that could notch up their first win.
Tip: – A lot of these runners have met in previous races with not much standout form. This lightly raced filly however seems to have the makings of a soon-to-be winner. Well bred and from a top owner, she was well beaten 2nd last time out, but showed the ability to fight out til the end. A small strike here should get you around 3.30 on your money.
Race 2
Same as Race 1, but this time for the colts and geldings. The same theory applies where a variety of experience amongst the field makes for tricky punting. The betting suggest no clear favourites at this stage. Watch the prices move closer to race time, this is often a guide to who’s best prepped for this.
Tip: – This gelding’s form stands out for a couple of reasons. It’s never been far off the winner in all its runs, even when trying things out as a 2 year old. It was recently gelded, and has responded well. Warren Kennedy, who’s currently leading the jockey championship, has booked the ride, and that almost seals my confidence. Again, there could be lurkers but a small bet here won’t do any harm.
Race 3
Juvenile Stakes races are a great way to spot early talent, but also extremely hard to back one above the rest. 2 year olds are notoriously inconsistent despite most of them having a win to their name already. Betting movements may reveal a stand out fancy, so be on the lookout.
We tipped Erik The Red before, who won very well on Queens Plate day. He faces a much tougher test with other equally worthy candidates in the field.
TIP: – It’s worthy favourite having won over course and distance a couple of weeks back by a whopping 10.25 lengths. Additionally, this was into a headwind that can only be described as apocalyptic. It’s also very well bred. I’d advise caution and check for any price movements from other runners. Worth including in small multiples at the short price.
Race 4 - The CTS 1200
The first significant race of the day comes in the 4th. A R5 million prize pool, featuring 3 year olds bought through the CTS sale. They still need to qualify through merit, but with 20 runners in the field, is another tough race to call. That said there’s plenty of value about, perfect for an each way bet that, with a field this size, will pay 4 places.
TIP: – This well bred gelding is a lurker of note. Whilst nowhere near the credentials of the worthy favourite, Sarah, he’s been a different horse since being gelded and this make hims a surprise package. I’d learn more towards the places than a 50/50 each way split, but currently at 15.00 a win and 2.40 top 4, there’s certainly value to be had.
Race 5 - The CTS 1600
Similar to the previous race, the same prize money but for horses suited to 1600m. Another massive field, so if you don’t fancy favourites there is good each way value on offer.
TIP: – If this horse is anything like its legendary mother, Beach Beauty, then the mile is right up its alley. It’s drawn dangerously wide which is a problem, but still think it’ll be in the mix close home. Had the draw been better my confidence would be higher. The jockey booking of Bernard Fayd’herbe is a good sign, with his vast experience at his home course.
Race 6 - Politician Stakes (Grade 3)
The first graded race of the day, this over an 1800m trip. This is typically a trial race for the bigger Cape Derby, so the field will be evenly matched and looking to impress. Being round the turn, the draw will come into play and I’ll be looking at that to be a big factor in tight race.
TIP: – As mentioned, the 3 draw will suit this colt. In its last few runs it’s enjoyed the extra distance, and the 1800m should be bang on. It’s been off the track but likely because it’s been aimed at this race. That last race it beat a few decent sorts who came out to win soon after. At around 4.00 it should be decent enough value for me.
Race 7 - Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1)
This is one of the feature sprint races in the whole country, and the first Grade 1 on today’s card. It’s a weight for age race, meaning only younger runners and fillies/mares get weight allowance. This directly favours the high rated horses with no handicapping involved. In this case there are both colts and geldings running off top weight versus one or two competitive fillies and mares looking to stamp their authority on the race.
TIP: – A few of the higher rated horses have plenty of history between them. On Queen’s Plate day it was Chimichuri Run that came up trumps, and edges the others in the betting based on that. Run Fox Run is the unknown danger being the top rated filly, but to me she needs to prove her worth in this company before I can tip here. She may well do that, and Anton Marcus is top class on big days, but I’m sided with the tried and tested.
Race 8 - Majorca Stakes (Grade 1)
Another top class race. This will be a mile to savour with the best distance suited contenders battling it out. Form lines collides here, with most of the horses having run one of two races on Queens Plate day. The trick to unlocking a winner in this one will be deciding which of those races carried the better runners.
TIP: – The betting suggests this filly’s race, the Paddock Stakes, was the better of the two races.
We tipped her on the day, and I tend to agree. She was a deserved winner and I feel she prefers the 1600m whereas Celtic Sea, her only perceived rival in this, is better over shorter. I foresee a ding-dong battle, and it may come down to Gavin Lerena v Callan Murray. Look forward to this one.
Race 9 - The Sun Met (Grade 1)
The banner race of the day also sees a rematch with a bunch of runners from the L’Ormarins Queens Plate. Vardy shocked me that day and is now a notable contender in this. I said something similar to this in that race, but I cannot see anything outside the top rated horses in the race winning. Let’s hope I don’t meet similar fate.
TIP: – This is firmly an each way bet, but at 15.00, I’m looking to hit the big time. The 1.20 for a place (4 places) is there to break my fall, but this gutsy colt has never finished far off Vardy. As 4 year olds they both should be more progressive that seasoned contenders like Do It Again and defending champ Rainbow Bridge. I’m relying on the highly rated Hawwaam fluffing another race, with the lengthy delays at the Queens Plate ultimately costing him a fair chance in that one. MJ Byleveld is onboard and is in the form of his career. My bad record with main races needs to change sometime!
Race 10 - Western Cape Stayers (Grade 2)
I say it every time, but previewing stayers races does no justice to the difficulty it takes in finding a winner. Each of these long distance races has its nuances, and South Africa doesn’t often produce stand out staying champs. We have couple potentials here, and as with a lot of the big races today, this lot met over 300m shorter on Queens Plate day.
TIP: – This 5 year old ran on nicely to beat Crome Yellow last time out over 2500m. You have to feel the extra 300m will suit Richard Fourie even better, and should he come through to win this, we may have a registered staying champ on our hands. The owner has the luxury of 2 other runners in the race, and I fancy a small swinger and exacta with the two of them – Strathdon being the other.
Race 11
As with most big day previews, I’m a value man when it comes to the late races. If you’re down for the day, it’s last chance saloon. If you are up, maybe head to the afterparty and consider it a good days punting. And if you’re having a go regardless, just remember these races are regular everyday affairs.
TIP: – The odds, draw and recent run attract me to this one. At 8.00 you can get 1.68 at time of writing for a place (top 3), so you’re getting the value I promised. Drawn 3 around the Kenilworth bend is a bonus. And last time out, over 1600m, it was running on at the end. The extra 200m could suit this filly well. And there you have it.
Race 12
A slightly more competent bunch take part in this handicap race, also over 1800m. With all the contenders weighted as evenly as possible based on their perceived ability, it’s about finding one that has the edge. Same rules apply as the previous race; odds, draw, recent run.
TIP: – Another one you can afford an each way bet on at 7.00 a win and 1.47 top 3. Drawn 1 on the rail, need I say more. Last time out, although finishing 3.35 lengths back, but was running on at the finish. This was over 1600m, and it’s now going the extra 200m. If Smanga Khumalo hasn’t notched up a win on the day thus far, you could get a little extra from him in search of one. Win or lose I hope you had a magical day following the action, wherever you may be.
That’s it for the Sun Met 2020 tips – happy punting!
ACCESS ALL RACE MARKETS HERE
We’ve got you covered through all 12 races on the big day, with fixed odds and exotics betting. CLICK HERE TO VIEW
BETTING ON HORSE RACING EXPLAINED
First time having a go on the ponies can be a daunting task. With our Sun Met 2020 tips, we’ve also put a guide together explaining all the types of bets you can take. CLICK HERE TO VIEW
HOW TO PICK A WINNER
If you’re wanting to draw your own conclusion on the big day instead of our Sun Met 2020 tips, read through the factors to consider when picking a winner. CLICK HERE TO VIEW
