Video clip courtesy of Andrew Bon

Whisky Baron, one of the gambles of the race, powered home to a famous victory in the Sun Met at Kenilworth yesterday.

Greg Cheyne set him alight halfway up the straight and struck the front 100m out, drawing clear to beat 2-1 favourite Legal Eagle by a length and a half with long-time leader Captain America third at 22-1.

Richard Fourie, fourth on Gold Standard, promptly lodged an objection to Captain America for interference but this was over-ruled by the stipes.

Cheyne said: “I tried to get into a good position early on but unfortunately I couldn’t maintain it. Luckily Anthony Delpech on Bela-Bela found the fence and I was able to get in and tack on the back of Legal Eagle. When I asked him for his effort he turned it on superbly.”

This was the third Met success for trainer Brett Crawford who confessed to a few anxious moments: “I was very worried at the back turn because he couldn’t get cover and early in the straight I thought he was labouring. But it has been a fairytale. Since we gelded him in July he has won all his five races.”

The four-year-old is owned by Ross Kieswetter and his brother Craig who played cricket for England. They named him after their father Wayne whose whisky interests include a distillery in Scotland.

The brothers now have their sights set on the Vodacom Durban July with the family’s racing manager Craig Carey saying: “Brett must decide but the obvious route is Durban and head for the July.”

Just under an hour earlier Frankie Dettori thrilled the crowd by winning the Investec Cape Derby on Edict Of Nantes, raising his arms in triumph as he entered the winner’s circle and leaping into the air in trademark fashion.

His mount was only an 11-2 chance but the colt strode clear a furlong out to beat Zodiac Ruler by nearly two lengths with 100-1 chance Captain Gambler third.

Dettori said: “I got in a good position and played my cards at the 500m mark. I kicked really hard and soon got the field in trouble.

“I’ve won a lot of Derbies and after winning at Epsom on Golden Horn in 2015 Bernard Kantor asked me to come out for the Cape one so this was a very touching win for me.”

This was another major triumph for Crawford and the colt also has the July on his shopping list.

Candice Bass-Robinson had her first Grade 1 winner when Delpech and Nightingale finished fast to get up almost on the line in the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes.

Michael Clower

Greyville this evening is the aperitif for the three-day KZN racing festival that encompasses The Sun Met at Kenilworth tomorrow and Scottsville on Sunday.

The Kenilworth card has been boosted by a host of carry-over pools and punters can get a head start with Danish Cross in the Greyville opener tonight.

Duncan Howells is in Cape Town over seeing his two runners for tomorrow and assistant James Rich will be doing the honours in his absence. Danish Cross was a hot favourite for her last intended start at Scottsville but was kicked in the starting stalls and was scratched at the instance of her trainer.

She appears to have come out of that incident unscathed and from and inside draw she rates the one to beat in spite of making her poly debut.

Mungo Cherry, with four-claiming apprentice Sandile Mbhele aboard, has run her two best races on the poly and may be a threat while Momo has improved in blinkers and after being touched off a piece of paper at her last outing looks a more likely danger to Danish Cross.

The balance of the card is made up of maiden races and lowly handicaps which could make things tricky for punters.

Johan Janse van Vuuren will also be in Cape Town for the Met and his assistant will saddle Crowd Pleaser this evening. The colt was good enough to run the well thought off Legend to two lengths as a maiden and followed up with an easy Maiden victory over tonight’s course and distance. He has some fair Highveld form to commend him and this being his third run after a break he is in with a strong chance.

Pure Logic will have his supporters after showing much improved form since being fitted with blinkers. He was a beaten favourite when taking on weaker on his handicap debut but he stays the trip and has a plum draw which adds to his appeal.

Howells has a strong chance of a double on the night with Accidental Tourist in the seventh. The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight has shown up well in two outings since shedding her maiden and took on much stronger last time out when third behind stable companion Lunar Rush. She tries this trip for the first time but her pedigree suggest that she will see out ever yard.

Vogue Idea and Tanami fought out the finish when last they met with the former getting home with a neck to spare. Vogue Idea is still in the black as far as the weights are concerned courtesy of four-claiming apprentice Serino Moodley and she also has the better draw which could see the pair finish in the same order.

Greyville’s six-race meeting tomorrow coincides with The Sun Met that forms part of the exotics along with the Blue Label Telecoms Cape Stayers where the Snaith-trained Ovidio is a strong favourite. But Helderberg Blue can finally take his rightful place in the limelight and is taken to put one over the favourite.

Racing moves to Scottsville on Sunday where Howells again looks to have a strong contender for an exotic bet banker in the form of New Golden Age in the fifth. The gelding caught the eye when finishing strongly from a wide draw at only his second start when third on the Greyville turf last Friday. Mark Dixon’s runner Prime Suspect with Anthony Delpech aboard looks the obvious danger. He finished a good third behind the highly-regarded Howells-trained Wild Wicket on debut and is expected to improve.

By Andrew Harrison

It all points to Legal Eagle. The form book, the handicappers and the bookmakers say the 2-1 favourite is the best horse in the race, he won the Queen’s Plate convincingly and his stable is on fire.

Yet the recent history of tomorrow’s Sun Met says he will probably get beaten. Since Pocket Power won for the third time eight years ago every favourite bar one has met with defeat, only one Queen’s Plate winner has completed the double and he himself was beaten 12 months ago.

The two biggest  dangers  are 28-10 shot Marinaresco and 9-2 chance Whisky Baron. Both are four-year-olds -an age group that has won four of the last six Mets – and Marinaresco was less than half a length off Legal Eagle in the Green Point here in December even though the trip was too short for him. It could be his turn this time.

Whisky Baron, narrowly but comfortably beaten by Marinaresco in last season’s Winter Guineas and Classic, is a different proposition since being gelded and has been busy working his way through the ranks. He looks a major threat.

Gold Standard has been heavily backed in the last week – from 12-1 to half that price – and will race in new colours (Drakenstein has bought an interest) but you have to go right back to Badger’s Coast at the turn of the century to find a three-year-old Met winner.

Captain America, only a length behind Legal Eagle 12 months ago, was second to him in the Queen’s Plate and is a huge price at 18-1. Almost certainly the best of the outsiders.

Two of the last five winners were fillies and Bela-Bela could well make the frame at 11-1. She wasn’t quite ready when she only just got home in her last two starts. But good enough to win? Questionnable.

The Conglomerate’s name would resonate round the world if Frankie Dettori  was in a position to do his famous flying dismount but this is another that is more of a place prospect. The same with fellow 18-1 shot French Navy and It’s My Turn (15-1).

Table Bay at 9-2 makes a lot more appeal than Horizon at 12-10 in the Investec Cape Derby. If the former’s stamina – or lack of it – proves to be his Achilles heel then this could be Dettori’s chance. Edict Of Nantes races as if this trip is what he wants.

Trip To Heaven was super-impressive when winning the Diadem by almost four lengths. Disturbingly – particularly as the Betting World Cape Flying Championship is over a furlong shorter – he again gave away ground at the start. S’Manga Khumalo has preferred Carry On Alice but the 28-10 favourite looks the one they all have to beat – including Red Ray (11-2)  and last year’s winner Gulf Storm who is much better than his 25-1 price would suggest.

Sean Tarry may also win the CTS Sprint with Cloth Of Cloud while William Longsword stands out in the Mile. Silver Mountain’s coffin-box draw has surely killed her Klawervlei Majorca chance. Maybe Star Express  or Lady Of The House.

By Michael Clower

The first Pick 6 at Saturday’s big Sun Met meeting is expected to have a pool of R8 million and there are some potential bankers.

Sergeant Hardy is an imposing, long-striding Captain Al gelding, who has the ability to dominate his races, and is a banker possibility in the first leg. However, the brilliant Cloth Of Cloud is unbeaten and her form has worked out well, so she must be considered despite returning from a layoff.  Wider Pick 6s could include Always In Charge and Live Life, and beyond them Elusive Path, Exquisite Touch and Red Light Girl can be considered.

William Longsword is a possible banker in the second leg in what could be his last race before going to stud. The main dangers are Just Sensual and Safe Harbour, while the dark horses are African Night Sky, Epona and Tilbury Fort.

Trip To Heaven could mow them down late in the third leg, but Carry On Alice also has a big shout in suitably fast conditions. Rivarine is unexposed and could be a threat. Wider perms could consider Red Ray, Talktothestars, Gulf Storm, Search Party, Brutal Force, Seventh Plain, Tar Heel and Tevez.

In the next leg the progressive Lady Of The House must be included alongside Silver Mountain and Nightingale. Others to consider are Sail, Star Express, Final Judgement, Real Princess and Olma.

In the next leg Horizon looks to have plenty to come and is a banker consideration. Beyond him Elevated, Newlands, Table Bay, Edict Of Nantes and even Winter Is Coming have to be considered.

Legal Eagle will be bankered by many in the Met, but the unexposed Gold Standard is worth including. Marinaresco, It’s My Turn and Whisky Baron are next in line and beyond them Captain America, Bela-Bela and French Navy are worth considering.

By David Thiselton

Millennials, those aged between 18 and 34, surprisingly proved to be the all-consuming topic at yesterday’s first international Tote conference to be held in South Africa.

“This age group is by far the largest on the planet, it comprises your future customers, punters and racegoers – and they are spoilt for choice,” said Mark Steinhobel, chairman of leading market group VWV, speaking to his Kenilworth audience.

“So what can you do?” he added before answering his own question. “For a start you can stop taking yourselves so seriously. I know the traditions of racing go back a long way and, while you may alienate some of the older racegoers, the alternative is a long slow slide into obscurity.”

Steinhobel referred to a recent survey asking millennials what would persuade them to go racing at the Cape Town course. The top answers were a party, free booze and the Met. “What I can also tell you is that if they do go, and find it a compelling experience, thousands and thousands will hear about it.”

He also proposed the use of jockey cams for live pictures of the racing, this to be relayed on people’s phones as well as on TV. His other suggestion of using Kenilworth for drone-racing didn’t seem to go down quite so well!

Tellytrack chief Rob Scott called for the industry to employ more people of the millennial age group and for those in the industry to embrace what these people want.

Phumelela boss Riaan du Plessis also called for change to attract, and cater for, the younger racegoers, saying: “We have got to reach them but, if we can only offer them the same, that is no good – and if we keep doing what we did in the past we will fail.”

However Paul Cross of Australian wagering company Tabcorp made the point that racing is still hugely popular, just that the way of watching it has changed.

He explained: “Many people argue that racing is in the doldrums with less and less people going but in fact there are more eyeballs watching racing today than there have ever been.”

He also emphasised the importance of the millennials and said that Australian harness racing has recently banned the use of the whip – partly in response to complaints from the younger audience.

Ten minutes later a worried-looking Neil Andrews, who was master of ceremonies, got to his feet and said: “I am very perturbed. My girlfriend has just phoned to say she has heard that they are  banning whips and how do I feel about this?”

By Michael Clower

The big question in the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship on Saturday is whether the country’s highest rated sprinter Trip To Heaven will find the 1000m trip too sharp.

The brilliant five-year-old Trippi gelding is likely at his best between 1200m and 1400m and tends to lose a couple of lengths at the start.

He lost two lengths as usual in the Gr 2 Diadem over 1200m last time and also appeared to peck. He then moved over from the inside to the perceived better going towards the outside, so was probably a good six lengths off the lead in the initial stages. However, he hit the front just before the 200m mark, using his phenomenal turn of foot, and went on to win by 3,75 lengths. Over this trip and with the same luck in running he could mow them down again, albeit later in the race. The wind at this stage is predicted to be a gentle south westerly breeze and it might not be necessary for jockeys to seek protection from the wind on the Standside. If that is the case, Trip To Heaven’s number two draw might not be a disadvantage.

S’Manga Khumalo will not be aboard Trip To Heaven as he has been declared to ride the three time Gr 1-winning filly Carry On Alice, who is drawn seven. This would be a concern for supporters of Trip To Heaven, because it implies Carry On Alice is the stable elect. Betting World duly have her as 33/10 favourite with Trip To Heaven 7/2. Carry On Alice is the reigning Computaform Sprint champion, which is run over the quickest 1000m sprint in the country at Turffontein. She has failed twice to win the Cape Flying Championships, beaten into a close up third both times with Khumalo up both times. However, the current fast conditions at Kenilworth will aid her cause and this her third run after a layoff.

The Sean Tarry-trained pair might fight it out.

However, Rivarine is still unexposed and could be a big threat, while a number of others are capable of winning it on their day led by Red Ray, Talktothestars and Gulf Storm.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith has entries in every one of the 13 races at Saturday’s big Sun Met meeting and asked whether he could go close to the world record eight winners he scored on this day last year, he replied, “You never know.”

He kindly commented on every one of his runners:

Race 1 (MR 96 Handicap over 1200m): “Cuban Emerald was unlucky last time, he had to come from a long way back, and I expect a better race this time. Captain Swarovski has a big weight, but is down in class, blinkers were a bad idea last time and he should run a better race. Fire Master ran a flat race last time, but will be competitive on best form in what is a very competitive race.”

Race 2 (Listed Princess Charlene Of Monaco Foundation SA Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m): “Kasimir by Captain Al makes his debut and is very nice two-year-old, I think he has Dutch Phillip to beat and should be in the firing line.”

Race 3 (R1 million Kuda Sprint over 1200m): “Sir Frenchie could well fight out the finish, he will be very good at 1200m and I think he is one of the horses to beat. He was very green on debut, but has put up a good gallop and will run a big race. I think the Sean Tarry and Mike de Kock runners are the ones to beat. Lacerta has a small chance, but it is very competitive. Henry Tudor will be much better over this 1200m and could be in the money. Varside could place.”

Race 4 (US$500,000 CTS Sprint over 1200m): “Sergeant Hardy is very well and is the horse to beat. Red Light Girl will be better suited to this 1200m (dropping down in trip) and is a nice horse for a place. Le Havre plays up in the stalls, but if he gets it right he could run a big race and could be the dark horse.”

Race 5 (US$500,000 CTS Mile): “African Night Sky is my value bet on the day. He would have won last time if he had not been taken out. Copper Force is doing well at home, but it is a big ask from that draw.”

Race 6 (Gr 1 R1 million Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1000m): “Jo’s Bond has been saved for this race, she may be outgunned, but she won a good race last time (beating Carry On Alice by 0,5 lengths on 2kg better terms than here) and we are taking our chances. Captain Alfredo has a bit to do, this is a very strong field.”

Race 7 (Gr 1 R1 million Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m): “A lot of horses who would normally run here are in other races, so it has opened it up. Star Express is having her third run after a rest and is primed and ready. A Time To Dream needs a bit of luck from the draw, it’s a very hard race and we would just be hoping for a place for her.”

Race 8 (Gr 1 R1 million Investec Cape Derby over 2000m): Zodiac Ruler is an out and out stayer, we have been waiting to send him over this 2000m trip. He disappointed in his last start and might be heading for gelding soon, but he could be the dark horse.”

Race 9 (Gr 1 R5 million Sun Met over 2000m): Bela-Bela put up the gallop of the day. She is doing very well and will be in the firing line. It’s My Turn is a very big runner, we have prepped him for this race. He did not have a gallop into the Politician and we have galloped him into this race. He had a late start to the season and is getting better and better with every run. Baritone, we are just hoping for a half-decent run.”

Race 10 (Gr 2 The Blue Label Cape Stayers over 2800m): “Ovidio is doing very well and I think 4/1 is a crazy price (he is now 13/10 with Betting World). If anything can give Ovidio a go it will be Krambambuli, he has never tried this trip but I don’t think it will be a problem, you don’t need to stay to win these sort of races in South Africa, our staying races are relatively weak. Captain Splendid disappointed last time, he had gone quiet on me, and I have changed his training to wake him up and hope he improves.”

Race 11 (MR 95 Handicap over 1600m): “Richard (Fourie) had the choice of ride here and chose Lineker. He has been very consistent lately and was unlucky last time in a slow run race and he was a little bit strong. He will go close, it’s just whether he is good enough on the day. Fifty Cents had a good run in the Queen’s Plate, he was not disgraced, and I am expecting a nice run, he will fight it out, he has a good chance, this race will be about who is best on the day. Overshadow was very disappointing last time, the jockey said he was not moving well (reported ‘felt amiss’) but I couldn’t find a lot wrong. His work has been good and with Anton up he has got to be a runner, I am expecting a good run. Star Chestnut is consistent and it was a bit far last time, back to a mile he could win, although it’s one of the most competitive races on the day.”

Race 12 (MR  90 Handicap for fillies and mares over 2000m): “Nima is the one to beat if running anything like she did last time. Fear Not is doing well and if running to best form could easily surprise. Evoke Emotion needed her last run and could run into the money. Northern Ballet stays well and has a place chance. Katies Joy had a good run last time and should run a similar race so has a place chance.”

Race 13 (MR Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m): I am very strong in this race. Twinkle Toes has a good chance if she runs to form, they changed it to the last race and Piere Strydom has to get a flight home, which is the only reason there is no rider declared yet. Gimme Six had a very good gallop and could be the filly to beat. Secret Seven also had a very good gallop and could also be in the shake up. Fortissimus disappointed last time and will need luck in running. Miss Hyde is very competitive and is tough and consistent, but it’s a tough race. She has a small each-way chance and could be a nice horse for the PA.”

Conclusion: “My best bets on the day are Sergeant Hardy and Ovidio and my sneaker is African Night Sky.”

By David Thiselton

In the build-up to The Sun Met celebrated with GH Mumm there was a chance for a trio of Miss South Africa semifinalists to get up close and personal with a few of the thoroughbred stars involved in the R5-million spectacle at Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday.

As part of the promotional efforts that have gone into this, Africa’s richest raceday, Ade van Heerden, Chante Holloway and Callie-Jo Bouman all spent time with Whisky Baron and Captain America, the two entrants from the Brett Crawford stable for the 2000m Grade One race at the beach in Muizenberg.

“It was really cool to be that close to the horses and watch them during the morning. They were calm and relaxed the whole time and it was a really great experience,” Bouman said of the morning.

It’s not unusual for a number of the Cape Town-based trainers to take their horses out to the beach for some time in the sun, work on the sand and the icy cool waters of the Atlantic is great for the legs. And after their workouts the horses enjoy nothing more than a roll in the sand, something that caught the models off guard.

“I’ve seen dogs roll like that but never a horse! It’s amazing to watch them and see how happy they were. It was really good to see this side of them,” added Bouman.

Given the short time left until raceday it’s only natural that excitement levels are ramped up and Bouman, who will attend the races for the first time, is eager to see what the day, and the sport of horseracing, has to offer.

“I’m excited. I’ve never been racing before, so just to share in this experience is going to be amazing. Seeing all the horses and the fashions is also going to be great. I’m really excited to be part of this and of course with Sun International involved it’s going to be really special.

And the Belville resident found that picking a horse for the big day was relatively simple given that’s she is currently pursuing a law degree.

“I had a look at the names of the horses and Legal Eagle definitely stood out for me,” says Bouman.

Tickets for The Sun Met celebrated with GH Mumm start from just R150 for general access and can be purchased from Ticketpro and the official after-party presented by GUESS includes some of the biggest names in South African music including Mi Casa, Euphonik, Sketchy Bongo, Goodluck, Kyle Deutsch and Shekhinah.

Racing. It’s a Rush

Bela-Bela has huge public appeal in the R5-million The Sun Met celebrated with Mumm (Grade 1) over 2000m at Kenilworth on Saturday. She’s only the 11-1 sixth favourite in the race, but this pretty-as-a-picture grey captures the imagination of many. She’s the only female in the field and she’s hugely talented.

Her trainer Justin Snaith is happy to draw a comparison with another more famous grey filly – his one-time charge Dancer’s Daughter, who dead-heated for first with Pocket Power in the Durban July in 2008 and went on to run a neck second to him in the Met in 2009. That was one of the affable Cape trainer’s near misses in a race he has yet to win.

He said: “Our bloodstock agent John Freeman was crazy about Bela-Bela at the National Two-Year-Old Sale, and so was my dad Chris and brother Jono – the team who select my horses so well. When we lost her to the Kalmanson’s Varsfontein Stud in the bidding process John suggested we go right over and ask Susan Rowett if I could train her. Jono did and the rest is history, as they say. And Bela-Bela’s an absolute darling.”

He said he’d got the same feeling when Dancer’s Daughter came in. “They are very similar horses, two peas in a pod. In fact I’ve never seen two good fillies so similar. And I train them the same, keep them happy, give them grooms they trust and love – and grooms who love and trust them. They get put in paddocks with their mates in the afternoon and go to the beach. We treat them like the champions they are.”

Snaith is not a romantic when it comes to his horses and knows Bela-Bela has a tough task in the Met, with Legal Eagle being so much better weighted under the conditions.

However, he said: “Make no mistake, she’s a very good filly – the best filly in the country – and she can beat a good colt any day of the week. She’s doing well and I think she will be in the firing line.”

Bela-Bela, of course, is a dual Grade 1 winner, having beaten her own sex in both the Woolavington 2000 last year and the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes this month.

She was very young the last time she found herself pitted against the best males in the Durban July last year and, under sufferance at the weights, ran a great race to finish only 2.65 lengths off winner The Conglomerate.

“Now she’s six months older and stronger. I thought she put in the best workout of the day on Thursday last week when all the Met runners had public gallops. She had no grass gallop into the Paddock Stakes and will strip a much fitter horse on Saturday.

“She’s just chilling this week and will have her final sprint-up tomorrow (Thursday) morning. She’s ready,” said Snaith.

Bela-Bela is not the only horse he will be counting on in the Met. He also sends It’s My Turn and Baritone into battle alongside their prettier stablemate.

He warned against the belief that Bela-Bela is Snaith Racing’s stable elect because “in the Met anything can happen”.

It’s My Turn won last year’s Investec Cape Derby, which was held a week before Met Day, surprising his trainer. “He’s always surprised me, this horse,” admitted Snaith. “First in the Derby and then when I took him to Durban in the Daily News 2000, when he shouldn’t have got beaten. He then ran fourth in the Durban July when things didn’t go his way. He’s pulled up beautifully with every run and there’s no reason he shouldn’t surprise us again.

It’s My Turn has put in two nice preparatory runs in the preliminaries, placing behind Whisky Baron over 1500m and 1800m respectively.

“He’s the dark horse in the race,” said Snaith. “He had to have a fetlock operation after finishing fourth in the Durban July last year and his whole programme has been driving towards the Met.

“He only had one gallop on his own going into his first run back and no gallop at all going into the Peninsular Handicap next time and he’s getting better and better.

“He’s definitely underrated compared to some of the horses in the race and he’s got the right jockey in Piere Strydom, who knows him well.”

“He’s an uncomplicated fellow with a nice draw and will run his race. He could easily be in the shake up.

“Baritone is a hard horse to assess and has it all to prove, but if you give Captain America a chance, you’ve got to give him a chance.”

Snaith saddled a record eight winners on Met Day last year and with 38 runners at this meeting he could again have a great day. When asked if there was a possibility of a repeat, he joked: “I’d be happy with half that.”

So who does he like most of all his runners? “Ovidio is my best bet in the R400,000 The Blue Label Telecoms Cape Stayers (Grade 2) over 2800m and African Night Sky has a good eachway shout in the $500,000 CTS Mile.”

TABNews