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.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

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.

Table Bay (Liesl King)

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.

William Longsword (Liesl King)

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.

Carry on Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

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