The Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1000m is the first Grade 1 on Saturday’s Sun Met card and looks set to be fought out by Bold Respect and Kasimir.

The draw always plays a part in this race.

The high draws went through a phase of being favourable, but recently the inside draws appears to the most sort after. 

However, in Saturday’s race there is a lot of speed among the high drawn horses which should balance things out.  

Bold Respect will be out to prove a point as many believed he should have been made Equus Champion Sprinter for last season. He could only manage a three length sixth in last year’s race, but he had a crack at the Cape Guineas and then had to come down in trip so did not have an ideal preparation. This time he has had two good runs over 1200m and 1000m and caught the eye last time over this course and distance when staying on strongly without being hard ridden. He showed in his Grade 1 win last season in the Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville over 1200m that he has plenty of early pace. He was handy throughout that day and kicked on. He is reliable and should go close.

Kasimir was second to Pacific Trader over 1000m last time in the same race Bold Respect ran in. He has speed and a lovely big action and was not being at all hard ridden in that race. He will have come on from the run and is a worthy favourite, although Bold respect is in a slightly better position to get a tow from one of the speedsters. 

Pacific Trader has a lot of pace but he was more forward in his preparation when beating Kasimir and Bold respect last time and was also receiving 1,5kg so it would be no surprise to see them reversing form. 

Dutch Phillip was one of the best sprinters around as a three-year-old and has enjoyed a good preparation so will be looking to recapture his best. His ideal trip is 1200m but he is effective over this trip.

Attenborough is a top class sprinter on is day. He won the Computaform Sprint and produced a devastating finish from way off the pace in the Mercury Sprint. He was fifth last year in this race from a high draw in an event where the inside draws came out on top so he has a shout here from a middle draw having enjoyed a good preparation.

Rebel’s Champ is the most improved sprinter in the land and can produce a strong finish over this ideal trip. However, he does prefer a little bit of sting out of the ground. 

Speedpoint finished third in the Computaform Sprint and beat Pacific Trader over 1100m in his penultimate start, but was well beaten by the latter last time out when slowly away. He has enjoyed a good preparation and is good enough to place. 

Trip To Heaven was top class on his day and at his best has a devastating finish. He is getting on a bit but is losing ground at the start again, which strangely seems to be the prompt to running his best races.  

Sir Frenchie will find this too sharp but he is capable of a devastating finish and has a lot of speed around him so it could pan out well.

Pleasedtomeetyou was impressive last time in the Need For Speed Sprint over course and distance. However, he will have to improve some more to win here, although he could hold on for a place.  

Sergeant Hardy has a hard task of defending his crown as he has landed a high draw and famously jumps to his left so looks likely to lose some ground at the start again, unless he takes out the horse inside of him, Princess Rebel. 

Princess Rebel won the Southern Cross Stakes over course and distance easily in December. However, the form of that race has not worked out well here and she is up against it.

Sand And Sea made a good return from a wind operation in November but was then off for a bit as he injured himself in the float on the way home. He should improve on his last run when handy and going out the back door over this course and distance, but his interrupted preparation is against him.

Search Party is a couple of lengths off the best of them but is capable of being up with the pace and kicking on so could earn.  

Quinlan has been racing in PE and will need to raise his game to feature here. 

Rocky Valley finished fifth in the Computaform Sprint over this trip but his form since then suggests he is limited.

Bold Respect is the selection to win from Kasimir, Attenborough, Pacific Trader and Sir Frenchie. 

By David Thiselton