Sun Met hero Rainbow Bridge was reported in good shape at Milnerton yesterday but long term plans are fluid.

Eric Sands, having achieved rather more than merely the greatest success of his 36-year training career, said: “He is obviously a little tired and he left a bit of food last night but he took the race very well.

“There was a little bit of puffiness in one joint but nothing more than you would expect after a race, and I am happy with it. I will probably now give him a working holiday (rather than sending him to the farm). He will trot in the mornings and spend the rest of the day in the paddock.”

And his next run?  “The decision on his future is out of my hands but, assuming he is still with me, we will make a decision with the owners.”

The reason for the uncertainty is that the four-year-old has been owned by Chris Gerber’s family following his untimely death from malaria three months ago. The original brief was to keep to the programme and in a poignant moment during Saturday’s post-race interview Sands looked to heaven and said: “We left a gap in the photograph as there was somebody else there with us- and if it hadn’t been for all Chris’s patience the horse might never have got to the Met.”

Sands was referring to Rainbow Bridge’s recurring lameness before he even saw a racecourse. He was sent to a farm for three months and, still lame, he was then sent back to it for a further six.

But Gerber’s tragic death is not the only human interest story behind the 2019 Met. For the trainer it marked the end of a near 14-year struggle to restore his reputation. In April 2005 Sands was on the crest of a wave, a string of Grade 1 winners to his name and three top horses going to Durban – Hundred Acre Wood and Sporting Treble for the July and Charnwood for the KZN Fillies Guineas. They were to be given a pre-travel liquid paraffin laxative to guard against colic but the wrong bottle was taken out of the cupboard and they were treated with disinfectant instead. They suffered so badly that they had to be put down.

According to press reports at the time the “medication” was administered, not by Sands or his staff, but by a vet. However the trainer, in the eyes of the NHA, is responsible for everything to do with his horses – and it was the same with owner perception. All those Group1 triumphs with horses like Flobayou, Perfect Promise, Jungle Warrior and Double D’Or counted for nothing almost overnight.

Climbing back up the ladder was a long, hard struggle that took guts and perseverance on an Everest-conquering scale and Sands, now 62, reflected: “I never doubted I would make it but the problem was that people doubted me.”

Rainbow Bridge, the second Met winner for Smart Call’s sire Ideal World and bred by Jessica Slack in conjunction with her mother Mary, was an unlikely harbinger of salvation – so nervous that he sweated buckets before every race and burned up precious energy by insisting on jig-jogging round the parade ring.

“He is a very bright horse and he immediately knows when they are any changes,” said Sands. ”At home he is a piece of cake – you could put a baby in his box – but when he gets on a float he sweats. On Saturday, though, I was confident. His weight had been a bit low but I’d got it to the right level earlier in the week and, when I went to his box that morning, his manger was empty so I fed him again. He ate that too. I fed him four times in all so I knew he was well.

“When he got to the course we hosed him down and we did it again just before we saddled him. He walked into the parade ring wet and dried as he cantered down.”

Anton Marcus, winning his third Met, takes up the story: “I took him down a bit faster than normal and he just came back to me. I had reservations about the trip going into the race but as soon as I took him down I had no doubt he would stay and in the last 100m I felt it would take something special to beat me.”

The time of 2 min 2.96 sec was good by Met standards but a fraction slower than those clocked by Whisky Baron two years ago, Martial Eagle in 2013 and of River Jetez in 2010.

Milton (last) was returned fatigued and Oh Susanna (seventh) with a mouth injury but the disappointment of the race was Do It Again despite the 15-10 favourite finishing second. He simply couldn’t go the pace early on and he had only one behind him until the straight. “He was a bit flattish and I struggled to get him where I needed him to be,” said Richard Fourie who was summoned by the stipes to explain his riding. His explanation was noted.

THE SUN MET – WHAT OTHER JOCKEYS SAID

Keagan de Melo (Head Honcho, 3^rd): “This was his first time at this level and he ran his heart out.”

Corne Orffer (Undercover Agent, 4^th): “I managed to get him into a nice position and switched off. I was forced to pull out so I might have been a little bit closer otherwise. I thought it was a phenomenal run.”

Lyle Hewitson (Legal Eagle, 5^th): “He raced smoothly and was as gutsy and honest as he can be. No excuses.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Oh Susanna, 7th): “She would have done better if I could have got her to settle a bit earlier. Against the colts it was a bit tough.”

M.J. Byleveld (Tap O’Noth, 10^th): “I got stuck three wide and it all played against me.”

By Michael Clower

The rich vein of form of the Ashburton-based trainer Louis Goosen continued at Greyville yesterday when he landed the Non-Black Type Marula Sprint over 1000m with Di Mazzio ridden by in-form Mark Khan, although the runner up Sniper Shot could be considered unlucky.

The meeting was switched from the rain effected Scottsville on to the all weather Greyville polytrack surface.

Khan had the strapping five-year-old Australian-bred Bernadini gelding out quickly from a plum draw of three and he dictated at a good gallop. Sniper Shot was travelling well a couple of lengths off the pace but was stuck for a few crucial strides in the straight behind Desolate Road, who was battling to quicken. He then had to dive inside for a run and was only a short-head shy at the line. Hard Play also ran on well on the outside and was a further head back in third. The favourite Tribal Fusion was switched to the outside at the top of the straight and stayed on for fourth but was never a threat. The winner’s stablemate Archillies earned some stake money in fifth.

Goosen and Khan clinched a double together in the process as they had won the second race over 1000m with the Main Aim filly Fleek, who had become expensive to follow.

There was a touching moment after the third race when part-owner Marius Mostert donated his share of the stakes money to trainer Gary Rich for all the hard work he had put in to the troublesome three-year-old Clouds Of Witness. The Master Of My Fate gelding had fought courageously under Billy Jacobson to repel the challenge of Jack Of Hearts and win by three-quarters-of-a-length.

The meeting began with a good win over 1000m by the Michael Roberts-trained two-year-old Crusade filly Hey Delilah ridden by Warren Kennedy. She has some substance and might train on.

Ormond Ferraris made a successful raid with Traffic Guard gelding American Indian who drew away easily to win the fourth over 2000m under grandson Luke.

The Andre Nel-trained Gimmethegreenlight mare O’ Keefe ran on well to win the fifth over 1800m under Gareth Wright.

The seventh over 1600m was won cosily by the Toreador gelding Bravo Bravo under Keagan de Melo.

The last over 1600m saw the hard knocking Paul Lafferty-trained Judpot colt Victorious Man finally getting off the mark under Lyle Hewitson and he won’t stop there.

By David Thiselton

The Scottsville meeting on Sunday features the Non-Black Type Marula Sprint over 1200m.

Sniper Shot, who returns from a layoff, was fancied for last year’s Tsogo Sun Sprint, but after being scratched due to a pulled muscle in his back came out three weeks later and won the Post Merchants.

Trainer Paul Lafferty said, “He is very well and working very well. He is an athlete so I don’t think he will need it. He is a serious runner.”

Desolate Road is a promising sort who should be at his peak in his third run after a layoff over an ideal trip.

Di Mazzio has a shout having proved in his penultimate start on the poly he gets this trip. He is still well handicapped on his best form.

Hard To Play has some class and is course and distance suited.

Tribal Fusion is also distance suited and goes for a hattrick.

Cuvura is consistent and carrying just 52,5kg over a suitable trip has a shout.

The first leg of the PA over 1000m should be fought out by Tarocco, who will enjoy the step down in trip, and Dancing Princess, who is a hard knocker who went close the last time she ran this trip. Fleek must also be considered due to the turn around in form of the Louis Goosen yard.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1950m could be won by the Duncan Howells-trained Stolen Paradise, who is a half-brother to the Track And Ball Derby winner Cape Speed. He will appreciate the step up in trip. Jack Of Hearts and Roy’s Flash make most appeal of the rest. Clouds Of Witness has a wide draw but is hard to leave out and Auld Reekie also has to be considered. .

In the first leg of the Jackpot over 2400m Ballymaine will relish this course and distance and is well drawn in his third run after a layoff so can be risked as a banker. Beyond him it is wide open,

In the next race over 1750m Bon Bon has always truck as having ability and this Bold Silvano mare now looks to have come into her own. She can overcome a seven point raise after winning full of running over 1600m last time. The Johannesburg raider Pretty Ballerina has to be included despite a wide draw.

The seventh race over 1600m could fall to Bravo Bravo who has not been disgraced behind two fair sorts in his last two starts. Baltic Amber looks to be the danger.

In the last race over 1600m Victorious Man will be hard to beat. Jurist proved he is better than his previous form suggested last time and is the main danger from a good draw over an ideal trip with first-time blinkers on.

By David Thiselton

The Turffontein Inside track stages a ten race meeting tomorrow and the Sun Met will form the last leg of the Pick 6.

Oh Susanna is as well as she was if not better than when wining last year and will prefer racing against males as her own gender do not provide a strong enough pace or opposition for her. She has an ideal draw and the pace should be on with three front runners in Milton, Head Honcho and Kampala Campari in the race. Do It Again has proved his class and is only getting better so is going to be hard to beat but he does have to concede 2,5kg to Oh Susanna, who is built like a colt.

Eyes Wide Open won the Cape Derby over course and distance a year ago, beating Do It Again, and is cherry ripe for the first time since. However, Do It Again was unlucky back then, having had to come from last in a race run at a crawl, and he has improved a lot since. Furthermore, Eyes Wide Open has a tricky draw of nine for one who will need to be handy in order to make the most of his resolute finish. However, he could sneak into the first three at long odds with there being question marks hanging over some of the others’ heads. Legal Eagle will have to put a below par run in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate behind him. However, two of his best career runs, in the SA Derby and the Jubilee Handicap, were when running on from the tail of the field and it looks likely that those tactics are going to be employed.

Head Honcho has a huge stride and has improved dramatically this season so is the dark horse although his wide draw will make it tough, especially as he is a front runner in a field with two other front-runners involved. Rainbow Bridge is full of class and his exceptional turn of foot was not quite there in the Queen’s Plate. He was found to have heat on a joint afterwards which could have been an explanation. If at his soundest this time it could be a different story but against him is his temperament as there is a chance he will boil over due to all the noise and activity around the course. Made To Conquer has class and is interesting with blinkers on. He is the hardest of the others to ignore.

The PA starts with a 1200m Maiden and Sea Air should get punters through from a good draw.

The first leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m is tough despite being an Assessment Plate in which I Like It is well in at the weights on official merit ratings. She can be included but the form of her Grade 3 Fillies Mile second has not stood up and she might be overrated. Fortuna Road is tipped to win as she should stay the trip and is progressing nicely and she can go to the front in a race which lacks pace. Animal Lover can also be included as one who has gone close over 2000m at this course before.

Pilgrim’s Progress is a banker consideration in the fifth over 3000m being drawn in pole with a nice galloping weight.

In the sixth over 1450m the distance specialist Rouge Allure is well drawn, but Strawberry Pavlova and Aurelia Cotta will likely be doing good work late.

In the seventh over 1450m Orapa enjoys this course and distance and has the ability to win from a good draw. However, Captain Tortuga is an up and coming sort who will be a threat from pole position. However, the breathing noises he makes are a concern and punters should consider going wide.

In the last leg of the Jackpot, the Johan Jane van Vuuren pair of Torrey Pines and Shezashiningstar look set to fight it out, although it is another one to possibly go wide in.

By David Thiselton

Do It Again is a confident selection to add the Sun Met to his Durban July and Queen’s Plate triumphs at Kenilworth tomorrow – as well as end the six-year hoodoo on Met favourites. Stable companion Oh Susanna could well prove his biggest danger.

The four-year-old, having won the country’s greatest race over 11 furlongs, was widely expected to find last time’s mile on the short side. Not a bit of it. He produced a turn of foot that even Usain Bolt would have envied to make up six lengths in 300m and win going away. He is trained by a champion and Richard Fourie (“everything has gone right for me”) is riding out of his skin at the moment.

Oh Susanna won this with authority 12 months ago and has done little wrong since. The Horse of the Year’s chances of becoming the fifth female to win this in ten years have been boosted by some spectacular homework and Justin Snaith says: “This is her third run of the campaign and you will see the best of her but there is not much in it between her and Do It Again.” At 15-2 she is a huge price and Bernard Fayd’Herbe, bidding for his fourth win, is a Met master.

If you want double figure odds then Head Honcho at 12-1 is the one for you. He has won six of his last seven and he was tremendously impressive in the Premier when his manner of victory suggested there are even bigger things to come. Andre Nel, understandably keen to follow Yogas Govender and Brett Crawford in winning the Met as Sabine Plattner’s private trainer, says that the horse has improved since his last win.

Rainbow Bridge has been a little weak in the market in recent days, drifting from 7-2 to as much as 5-1, possibly because the focus of the papers and the websites has been more on the other leading contenders. Eric Sands and Anton Marcus are under no illusions about the task the four-year-old is facing – on ratings the second favourite should only finish fifth – but things didn’t go his way in the Queen’s Plate when he started the race, quite literally, on the wrong foot.

His jockey will ensure that he gets away on terms this time and his breeding suggests he just might appreciate the extra distance. There is still a worry about the extent of his pre-race anxiety and the noise of the crowd will make the Queen’s Plate seem like a teddy bears’ picnic. If he can cope with all the razzmatazz his renowned finishing kick just might be enough. Have a good look at him as he leaves the parade ring and, if he appears to be coping, don’t leave him out.

And then there is the old faithful. Legal Eagle lost some of his gloss, as well as his unbeaten mile record, in the Queen’s Plate but Sean Tarry explained in this paper on Wednesday how the horse wasn’t quite right (“anybody is entitled to an off day”) and that he seems to be back on song. It’s hard to believe that he will make it fourth time lucky over a distance almost certainly just beyond his best but, twice second and once fourth, he could well make the frame yet again.

Undercover Agent has a chance of getting there too but doubts about the trip, particularly with the race expected to be run at a proper gallop and may find him out in the final furlong. If everybody is wrong about the pace, though, his trainer would be in with a chance of Met number four. However the bookies assess the likelihood of this happening at around one in twenty.

Martial Eagle started at 80-1 six years ago and four of the last nine winners went off at 15-1 or more. But this time it should be the favourite and another victory for a four-year-old, by far the most successful age group recently with five wins in the last eight runnings.

By Michael Clower