Defending champion Oh Susanna has become the forgotten horse of this year’s Sun Met with many pundits having written her off due to her increasing tendency to over race but she might prefer racing against males where the pace is usually stronger and on Saturday it is highly likely to be strong.

Oh Susanna has an enormous stride but has tended to over race in her last three runs, all against the girls. Usually a horse over racing will have little chance of getting home, but she actually picked up another gear in both the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 and Cartier Paddock Stakes to get up. She must have an enormous engine and it leaves one imagining how well she would do if she settled. She might be able to do just that on Saturday due to the presence of Milton in the field. This horse only knows one way of running, tearing off to the front usually opening a big lead, and then staying on doggedly in the straight. Oh Susanna from draw five, one inside of Milton, can make a bee line for the front and then wait for him to come around and give her a lead. Thus she has a fine chance of retaining her crown.    

Rainbow Bridge can also over race, so a good draw was vital and he duly landed barrier position two. His usual exceptional turn of foot was not quite there in the Queen’s Plate and he was found to have a little bit of heat in a joint afterwards. However, it had cleared up by the next day and at his best he will be a big runner, especially if the pace is hot through the whole field and not just with two horses out in the front and the rest being held up by a patient third horse.

Do It Again jumps from a middle draw of seven. He jumped from draw 15 of 18 when winning the Vodacom Durban July and from draw six of nine when winning the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate. However, he relaxed well before running on strongly in both so this draw looks ideal and he is a worthy favourite as this imposing horse with the fine action is only getting better.

Legal Eagle ran a flat race in the Queen’s Plate after being a bit quiet in the preliminaries, which was unlike him. He was strongly fancied for last year’s Met, but it did not pan out well and he had to eventually go more handy than intended. His best runs over this trip, which include a Grade 1 win and two Met runner up finishes, have come from off the pace, so he might well be dropped out from a wide draw of eleven.

Made To Conquer, the July runner up, drew four and is classy and progressive, but he does have a tough task at the weights with Do It Again and with Head Honcho from his last run.

Head Honcho is a much improved sort and has an impressive stride. He is the dark horse although he has a tough draw to overcome.

Eyes Wide Open won the Grade 1 Cape Derby last year beating Do It Again by 1,75 lengths. He will be cherry ripe for the first time since that Derby win, although his draw of nine is tricky and Do It Again is a different horse this year.

Undercover Agent likely went too hard in the Queen’s Plate and found little extra. He is a Grade 1 wfa winner over a mile so has the ability to bet the best, but he has a slight stamina doubt and will likely be ridden cold from draw 12.

Tap O’ Noth did beat Do It Again over this trip last year at level weights in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000, but the latter was below his best that day. He had earlier thrashed Do It Again when winning the Grade 1 Cape Guineas, but hasn’t won since then and was beaten 5,9 lengths by Head Honcho in the Grade 2 Premier Trophy over 1800m despite giving away only half-a-kilogram. Furthermore, he has the widest draw of all to overcome. 

Doublemint comes off a win in the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m, beating Kampala Kampari. However, this pair are up against it in this field.

Hat Puntano has never recaptured his Argentinian form in SA but does have a trainer who can get the best out of a horse.

Oh Susanna is selected to beat Do It Again with Eyes Wide Open, Legal Eagle and Head Honcho next best. 

By David Thiselton