Justin Snaith is 22-10 favourite to be the winning trainer in the Saturday’s Sun Met with Candice Bass-Robinson 33-10 and Sean Tarry 4-1. World Sports Betting’s other prices on this particular bet are 7-1 Mike de Kock, 15-2 Dean Kannemeyer, 10-1 Brett Crawford, 18-1 Glen Kotzen, 55-1 Robbie Sage and 110-1 Glen Puller.

“I liked to hear about that 22-10 but what worries me is that I think I was favourite last year too,” says Snaith whose runners came no closer than seventh 12 months ago and who has yet to win the great race. This time, though, he sends out a quarter of the field.

Oh Susanna (Liesl King)

Krambambuli and Elusive Silva are longshots but Oh Susanna, African Night Sky and Copper Force are all in single figures. The last-named finished so strongly in the Queen’s Plate that he was beaten less than half a length by Legal Eagle but form students are still scratching their heads because the performance was well above anything he had done before.

“He always had good form but before his previous run (the Green Point) he had a slight injury and I think the medication knocked him back a bit,” Snaith explains. “In fact he was a bit unlucky in the Queen’s Plate. The re-run doesn’t really show what happened but Lyle Hewitson said he found trouble twice in the straight. Wherever Legal Eagle finishes I reckon Copper Force will either be next to him or in front of him.”

African Night Sky (also on 9-1) is the one the stable has laid out for the race from the start of the season. “They took away the Jet Master Stakes so he was a run short, and having his second race after a rest, in the Queen’s Plate but being beaten less than three lengths in a hard run race was a good effort. He will be spot on for Saturday and he is much better over ten furlongs than a mile.”

Oh Susanna is the shortest priced of the Snaith quintet at 7-1 and bids to emulate Smart Call who completed the Paddock-Met double two years ago. She was beaten over three lengths by Snowdance in the Fillies Guineas but have a look at the re-run before judging her. She lost several lengths almost immediately by tacking across to the rails from her 13 draw and in the straight she came from miles back whereas Snowdance was perfectly placed throughout.

“Snowdance is very good but Oh Susanna is not too far behind her,” Snaith confirms. “As time goes on she will get better and better. She has a decent draw and an in-form jockey. With only 51.5kg you’ve got to give her some sort of a chance.”

Snowdance is well-nigh unbackable for the Klawervlei Majorca (at odds of anything between 2-9 and 1-6). “It’s a big concern,” says her trainer who is worried about the filly being got at. “We have heightened all the security around her but she is flying and she is now better than when she won the Fillies Guineas.”

By Michael Clower

Glen Kotzen goes into Saturday’s Sun Met bullish about Gold Standard’s chances and added, “I will win the Derby, but I don’t know with which one.”

Kotzen sends a string of 18 to the meeting and has reason to feel optimistic as his yard have gotten over the respiratory virus which now appears to be affecting some yards at Milnerton and also Andre Nel’s yard at Rondeberg.

One of his Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby contenders, Eyes Wide Open, had to miss the Cape Guineas due to the virus but bounced back with an impressive win last time out in the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. Kotzen said, “Against his own age group he is going to be hard to beat.”

Glen Kotzen

The Dynasty colt has already won a Grade 1, the Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville as a two-year-old, and was beautifully relaxed in the running last time before showing a fine turn of foot and resolute finish. Kotzen said, “Top horses can do that, you can chase them at the start and then switch them off.” Eyes Wide Open has a fine draw of five and Richard Fourie rides.

Kotzen believes stablemate Pack Leader is the biggest danger. He said, “He turned for home two lengths behind the second last horse in the Cape Guineas on a track which was running fast and White River, running green, first hung inward across him and then hung outward across him.”

The Philanthropist colt still ran on well in his third attempt to get a run, but not surprisingly had less left at the finish than White River. Fourie had already committed to Eyes Wide Open, but would otherwise have given Pack Leader some consideration. Anthony Delpech is a top replacement aboard the latter and Kotzen said, “Pack Leader is working the barns out.” On racing style and pedigree he should relish the step up in trip and has a plum draw of two.

Oratorio colt Opera Royal is the third Kotzen horse in the Derby and he said, “He ran a courageous race when chasing Milton in the Premier Trophy and  therefore Richard was not hard on him last time when he ran on in the Politician. He will now be fresh for the Derby. He doesn’t give much away at home but will be in the mix.” Luyolo Mxothwa rides from draw nine.

Some have questioned whether Gold Standard is the same horses since a fetlock chip was removed last year after he had run a fine second in the Cape Guineas and an equally classy fourth in the Met. But Kotzen said, “He doesn’t have to prove anything to me. He has been prepped for this race, will be cherry ripe and the extra 400m will be right down his alley.”

Kotzen pointed out the Queen’s Plate was a preparation run for Gold Standard and he was widely drawn, so the slow pace of the race had not suited him in the fast conditions, yet he still finished on top of them (the field was backed up behind Legal Eagle, who did not chase the front pair).

Kotzen revealed Fourie believes he has a huge chance of giving the short-priced favourite Snowdance a run for her money in the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m aboard Silvan Star. She missed two weeks of training with a foot injury before her excellent sixth place in The Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes and has been “flying” at home. Unfortunately, she has a tough draw of 14.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

He also runs Final Judgement in the Majorca from a good draw. She didn’t travel well to Port Elizabeth last time in the only race they could earmark as a preparation but he said, “When she’s good she’s very good and I hope she comes to the party.”

He runs Too Phat To Fly in the US$500,000 CTS 1600 and said, “Her best run was in the Cape Fillies Guineas over this trip when she ran on well, but this is a tough race.” Last time out they found out after the 1400m race she had cracked an incisor on the float and are not sure whether it would have affected her performance.

In the Kuda Sprint over 1200m Kotzen has two runners and said, “Let’s Be Frank had the quickest 400m to finish time on debut but looks to be drawn on the wrong side. It all depends on the conditions on the day which side they go, but they usually stick to the inside. We are running Quick Star because he is a smart colt, but he might be green on debut.”

The yard have three runners in the Listed Tattersalls Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m and Kotzen couldn’t separate them. He said, “Lanza was very green on debut and gets no penalty so should go close with Richard Fourie aboard. Twin Falls was green when winning on debut and we expect further improvement. Princess Elsa is very quick and in her debut here she gets a pull at the weights.”

By David Thiselton

In an historic move, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) will be simulcasting South African racing for the first time.

Basil Marcus

Hong Kong will be taking Race 5 to 10 from Kenilworth on Saturday and includes the R5-million Sun Met.

“This is a major achievement for South African racing,” said International Executive Director John Stuart. “The Hong Kong Jockey Club look to simulcast only the major meetings from around the world so one can see how highly they rate South African racing and specifically an event such as the Sun Met.”

In addition the HKJC have sent two of their journalists to cover the build-up to the race meeting and Tellytrack are creating a special production for them where one the presenters will include former jockey Basil Marcus who is well known in Hong Kong. Marcus is a seven-time champion jockey who has settled back in Cape Town after the curtain came down on his riding career.

Legal Eagle remains 4-1 favourite to go one better than his second of the last two years in the Sun Met celebrated with G.H. Mumm at Kenilworth on Saturday but three-time champion trainer Sean Tarry has been more concerned with getting the gelding’s preparation exactly right.

He was initially concerned that the dual Horse of the Year might have had an unduly hard race when winning the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate after having to pull out all the stops to collar Captain America.

“As hard a race as he seemed to have from us watching it, we never saw any indication of that from when he pulled up and there were no telltale signs. He was very fresh – indeed he was full of himself – and he also ate very well afterwards so we have basically handled him as we would normally.”

Tarry has no worries about No 15 draw, particularly with Anton Marcus in the irons and commented: “A good jockey and a good horse – they will find their way.”

All the publicity surrounding Legal Eagle is in marked contrast to his first Met runner, Alastor in 2005. Tarry talked about the build-up to that race in the July 2008 edition of now-defunct South African Bloodstock News magazine.

“Garth Puller, who rode Alastor, helped me with most of the work and I was excited because the horse was going really well,” Tarry related. “A few days before the race I walked into Tattersalls to see what my chances were. When I found out he was a 50-1 shot I was devastated. I suddenly thought that maybe I was missing something. Either that or it was too big a jump in class.”

Tarry, who was at one time a bookie’s clerk, had recovered his composure and his self-belief by the time it came to the sweepstake cocktail party. He bid for his runner and got him for R2,500. He collected 40 times that sum, not quite as good as the odds offered by the bookmakers, but a handsome bonus to add to his percentage and all the kudos that went with it.

Current betting: 4-1 Legal Eagle; 5-1 Marinaresco; 15-2 Oh Susanna, Last Winter; 9-1 Copper Force, Cascapedia, African Night Sky; 14-1 Gold Standard; 16-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower

Jaden’s mother Nicola wrote an emotional message on Instagram this morning, saying: “It is with very mixed emotions that I write this post today. Just four days short of his 16th birthday today our son embarks on the pathway towards his chosen career.

“Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think that we would be leaving him in another country, but his ambition and love for the sport was unwavering. Many have questioned our decision and our reasons are many, but with Australia not having an Academy and Jeff a firm believer that the concept that the SAJA adopts, offers an apprentice a world class Jockey grounding in a disciplined, protected environment , we were led to the very hard decision that Jaden would spend a year abroad so he could continue to school while getting the opportunity to ride every day.

“Live, embrace and grow my boy – but please…. always remember that you are NOT Jeffrey Lloyd you are Jaden and as a mother I hope that not only you but everyone else too, never compares you or feels the need to make comparisons.

“A few weeks ago Dad was having a disappointing day at the races and he came out and won the last race – you turned to me and said “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish” – remember your own words always my boy.

“Dad took eight months to ride his first winner and has gone on to be so successful – just remember no matter what anyone ever says, as long as you always do your best and work hard we will be exceptionally proud of you no matter what – stay safe, we will miss you so much, especially when you just appear from nowhere and give us a “Jaden cuddle”. Don’t let anything change that beautiful heart – love you Jay Jay!”

– Turf Talk

It’s about 28%. People often asked themselves how much Markus Jooste’s buying power boosted prices at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale and last weekend’s Convention Centre auction – the first without him – provided the answer with the average plummeting 27.8% and the aggregate by 28.2%.

Jooste also owned a quarter of the company and almost half the sale’s biggest vendor. He may have fallen from grace as heavily – and almost as painfully – as a skydiver with a faulty parachute but his absence has hit the breeding industry hard.

In a business that – uniquely – has two and a half years between covering and recovering, losses take a long time to work their way through.  Thankfully those reports of the Hong Jockey Club switching some of its purchasing from Australia to South Africa have proved correct.

Hopefully it will succeed with its publicly-stated aspiration to find an acceptable solution to the quarantine restrictions. That would be the silver lining that this country’s breeders now need more than ever.

By Michael Clower

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Tap O’ Noth will attempt to become the first horse since Capetown Noir five years ago to do the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby double and his class should pull him through, although he will have his work cut out fending off Eyes Wide Open.

Tap O’ Noth (Liesl King)

The rangy Tap O’ Noth hung in the straight in the Guineas and a number of horses closed on him in the final stages. However, a closer look at the race suggests he was idling in front and still had a bit in the tank. On pedigree he has a chance of staying the trip, for although he is by the sprint-miler Captain Al he is a half-brother to the Grade 3-winner over 2500m, Strathdon. The latter is admittedly by the stamina influence Silvano, but Captain Al has produced a Met winner before in Hill Fifty Four and Captain America was a Cape Derby runner up and twice third in the Met. Furthermore, Tap O’ Noth now has a plum draw of three. His jockey MJ Byleveld has developed into a top class big race rider over the last couple of seasons and has won the last two renewals of the Cape Guineas.

Eyes Wide Open, is a classy looking sort who won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m as a two-year-old. He proved his class last time when winning the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m. He was carrying only 52kg off a merit rating of 99, but the handicapper was impressed and raised him to 108, a four point higher mark than Tap O’ Noth. He will be improving all the time being by Dynasty and should have come on from that last run. He now has a good draw of five over a trip he should relish and Richard Fourie takes over from Anthony Andrews.

Silver Coin is an interesting runner. He is the most expensive yearling in SA history at R6 million and will be looking for this trip being by Silvano out of a Fort Wood mare who is a half-sister to Smart Banker, who won the Grade 1 Champions Challenge and the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes twice. In his first run as a gelding last time, Silver Coin caught the eye with his rangy action and is good turn of foot to win easily. He was only running off a 74 merit rating but he looks to have plenty more to come and could surprise.

White River took a bump in the early stages of the Cape Guineas but that didn’t stop him running on strongly for second. He will relish the step up in trip considering his running style and pedigree. He is by Trippi out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, who has some good middle distance sorts in her family.

Like A Panther has always had Derby horse written all over him, although perhaps more for the traditional Derby distance of a mile-and-a-half. He would also likely be at his best at an out-and-out galloping track like Turffontein. However, he finished well in the Guineas for third and will relish the step up in trip. He does have a tricky draw of eleven but seems to be a relaxed type who should settle wherever he is.

Silver Coin (Wayne Marks)

Do It Again is held in high regard and is crying out for this trip being by Twice Over out of a Casey Tibbs mare who won the Grade 3 Winter Derby over 2400m. He can improve on his Cape Guineas effort in which he stayed on at one pace.

Pack Leader came from last in the Cape Guineas for fifth and could repeat the feat here. He should relish the step up in trip being by Philanthropist and a half-brother to Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 winner In The Fast Lane.

The filly Fresnaye finished strongly in the Paddock Stakes for a fine third to the top class Oh Susanna and she has won over this course and distance before. Piere Strydom stays aboard, albeit from a tough draw of 12, and she could gain her third successive Grade 1 place.

Spring Man is unexposed and on the up. He held off the fair older horse Mister Colin over this course and distance in a handicap first time out the maidens. However, he was running off only a 78 merit rating and has a wide draw. Stable jockey Corne Orffer has chosen to ride White River.

Another dark horse could be Visigoth as this big colt by Visionaire is a long-striding galloping sort who is crying out for a step up in trip. The furthest he has been is the 1800m of the Politician Stakes and he was not disgraced in fifth place. The blinkers are now off.

Steel Rose was ahead of Visigoth in the Politician after plugging on gamely for third, but he now has a tough draw as opposed to pole position that day.

The Sun Also Rises also has to be considered despite his wide draw as he finished second in the Politician Stakes, ahead of Steel Rose and Visigoth, but Strydom has stayed aboard Fresnaye.

Opera Royal Is a rangy sort who stayed on for fourth in the Politician Stakes and he should enjoy the step up in trip, so also has a place chance.

What A Joker ran on for a place over 1600m last time off a 74 merit rating so will need a lot of improvement.

Kimberley Star is merit rated 94 based on his two-year-old Port Elizabeth form. He has never run beyond 1400m but is by Ideal World out of a Strike Smartly full-sister to the Grade 2-winner over 2000m Prestic, so he should relish this trip. However, he doesn’t look to have had an ideal preparation having had only one run since a four month layoff and gelding.

By David Thiselton

Sean Tarry declares himself “very hopeful” of making it third time lucky with Legal Eagle in Saturday’s Sun Met now that the dual runner-up does not have to shoulder a 2kg penalty.

The three-time champion trainer has been carefully monitoring Legal Eagle to see exactly how much the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate took out of him so that he can judge what work to give the horse in the interim.

Tarry said: “We were mindful of the fact that he may have had a hard race but there were no telltale signs to confirm this afterwards. He was very fresh  – indeed full of himself- and he also ate well. So we have basically handled him as we would normally.”

Tarry, who won the 2005 Met with 50-1 shot Alastor – his first runner in the great race, is untroubled by Legal Eagle’s 15 draw not least because he has the priceless advantage of Anton Marcus in the irons. “A good jockey and a good horse – they will find their way,” he said.

He has also been concentrating on getting the slow-starting Trip To Heaven smartly into his stride. This is to ensure that there will be no repeat of the gelding’s performance in last year’s Betting World Cape Championship when he gave away eight lengths at the break but flew home so fast that he was only beaten a neck by stable companion Carry On Alice.

Tarry explained: “Basically it has been just different schooling in the pens and repeatedly putting him through them.”

It seemed to work in the Diadem but is there any risk that altering his accustomed method will take the horse out of his comfort zone and affect his performance?

“Yes, there is and that’s possible,” Tarry admits. “Indeed I felt that he might have been a little too handy in the Diadem. He certainly didn’t kick as he normally does. But it’s a matter of getting the right balance.”

By Michael Clower

Mike de Kock has a strong hand in the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship and the least fancied of his two runners, Alfolk, could upset Naafer, who is the ruling favourite.

Both horses are Australian breds by Lonhro out of Exceed And Excel mares.

Alfolk, in his last three runs over 1000m, for two wins and a narrow second, has appeared to have something in the tank at the line.

Naafer, on the other hand, has shown plenty of pace in his last two starts, admittedly over 1160m, but has appeared to have little left at the line.

Alfolk has improved continually since gelding and could improve again in this race. He is drawn two and might be able to find protection from the predicted South Easterly wind behind the speedy Jo’s Bond, drawn 3, and from Sergeant Hardy, who is drawn 6. Naafer is drawn 13, in between the two speedy horses La Favourari and Olympian. Anthony Delpech said last week, “You ride him like you find him,” meaning he is not a one dimensional type and Delpech is likely to get cover from those two horses considering the wind direction and predicted strength of between 20 and 25 knots.

Mike de Kock

Sergeant Hardy loves this track and is just as good over 1200 as he is over 1000m, so should stay all the way to the line despite probably having to bear the brunt of the wind.

The conditions will favour Trip To Heaven, who usually loses ground at the start and then sits behind them before using his exceptional turn of foot to mow them down. He only just failed last year after losing two lengths and then not having the straightest passage when he sliced through the field. He does not go in to the race with as good form as he had last year and the Sean Tarry yard have not been as lethal as they were last year. However, he does have the advantage of Anton Marcus aboard and is having his third run after a rest, so should go close.

The eight-year-old Tevez comes from off the pace and overtook Sergeant Hardy close to home last time over 1200m in the Sceptre Stakes only to be scythed down by the strong-finishing Bishop’s Bounty. His five draw means he is next to a lot of speed which will suit him down to the ground.

Bold Respect showed good cruising speed in the front last time in the Listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m and was only caught on the line by the classy Sir Frenchie. He now reverts to 1000m for the first time since slamming a decent Maiden Juvenile Plate field over this course and distance in January last year, so is a most interesting runner.

His Brett Crawford-trained stablemate Search Party is a similar type to Gulf Storm, who won this race for the Crawford yard two years ago, being a handy type, who can kick late. He ran a fair preparation race in the Diadem and is now drawn one outside of Sergeant Hardy so can perhaps get a tow.

Jo’s Bond has her third run after a layoff. She specialises at 1000m, being speedy, but did also place fourth in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m.

Sommerlied is the Scottsville 1000m record holder and is held in high regard. The Dennis Drier yard have not had a good time of it in Cape Town and the horses appear to have been effected by a virus, which does not show up until after the race. However, Lady In Black’s storming second place in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes might herald a form turnaround, so this horse can’t be ignored.

Live Life choked up near the front in her seasonal reappearance when beaten 6,1 lengths over 1100m by Sommerlied, although she was giving the latter 2kg. A new bit was fitted which helped her settle and it paid dividends as she showed her usual good turn of foot in the Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m, coming from last to finish third and beating Sommerlied by nearly a length. Last time out in the Sceptre over 1200m she was perhaps too handy again, so didn’t find the necessary extra but still finished a fair 4,65 length sixth. She is now drawn one and there is a lot of speed around her, so she shouldn’t over race and can finish strongly. She won the US$500,000 CTS 1200 at the Met meeting last year and is the dark horse here.

Graduation Day has only had eleven runs, despite being a seven-year-old, but has won six of them and this classy type can never be written off. He packs a strong finish, but a concern is his overall soundness and he often makes breathing noises.

Alfolk (JC Photographics)

Always In Charge won the Grade 1 Gold Medallion over 1200m in impressive style as a two-year-old and has the class to go close. Last time out his high draw was against him in the Diadem as they all went to the inside and he also probably didn’t take to blinkers, as they are off again. He has a nice middle draw of 8 and is another dark horse.

Talktothetstars is a former Equus Champion Sprinter but his tough schedule might be taking its toll, as he is yet to reproduce his best this season.

Brutal Force has also not reproduced his best this season.

The enigmatic Attenborough is capable of popping up and the pace in the race will suit him. Piere Strydom rides.

La Favourari and Percival are both talented types but the Nel yard are having a nightmare season due to a virus and both horses have not run to form in their last start or starts.

Olympian has a tough task at the weights.

By David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track has a low key eight race meeting tomorrow, although some top class sprinters will be turned out in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1000m.

These races are not always as predictable as the ratings make them appear, as some horses use them as stepping stones to bigger things.

Bull Valley (Candiese Marnewick)

The speedy and classy Wrecking Ball is taken to win it despite having a bit to do at the weights. She will be fit and hopefully her trip to Cape Town to run in the Southern Cross Stakes hasn’t taken a lot out of her. She is an out-and-out 1000m horse and is unbeaten in two starts over this course and distance. Bull Valley and Green Pepper are the best in at the weights but will need to be fully tuned up to catch Wrecking Ball and probably won’t be. Bull Valley is a twice Grade 1-winner over 1200m and is taken to chase her home. Kangaroo Jack bounced back to his best in his last start and could finish in the top three. Raasmaal has his third run after gelding and is interesting dropped back to this trip considering he over-raced over 1450m last time. The classy and speedy Green Pepper returns from an eight month layoff and could get away with it being a sprinter.

The obvious Pick 6 banker is in the first leg where Pearl Of Bahrain is impossible to oppose.

The other PA banker is taken to be Tundra Taita in the seventh race over 1800m. She has stayed on well in her last two starts over 2000m and 1800m respectively and this long-striding sort is set to come into her own this start. However, she does face a competitive field and Return To Power and Faraway Island have also been included after their respective eye-catching finishes in a 1700m and 1800m race.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1200m Dorman has a plum draw and is off the same merit rating as when running Lauren Of Rochelle close. The latter won again on Saturday. Last Battle has the eyecatching booking of Delpech from a plum draw and is off a competitive merit rating over a suitable trip, unlike the 1400m of Saturday which was too far for him. Shortstop should be running on over a trip a touch too sharp.

In the next race also over 1200m State Trooper looks to be going places and Penny Royal and Kenan’s Rock also make some appeal.

The value bet of the day is Shotgun Rider in the last over 1800m as he is 15 points lower in the merit ratings than when staying on for a good third over 1700m in April last year in yielding going.

By David Thiselton