The J&B Met meeting Pick 6 is always difficult to catch, but it is still worth having a go due to the potential big payout, and this year the expected pool is R8 million thanks to a R2,2 million carryover.

Brutal Force (Liesl King)

The first leg is a potential stumbling block as it is a Listed two-year-old event in which weight is decided by number of wins and there is also a filly’s allowance. The two Justin Snaith runners look to have scope and so does the other winner in the field, Felicity Flyer. However, they have to give away weight so the best route looks to be to take the field without the non-runners, which would mean including seven runners.

It gets no easier because the second leg is a fillies and mares handicap over 1400m. However, Silvan Star looks a classy sort and was most unlucky not to remain unbeaten in her second start last time out over this course and distance. She must have a big chance again despite a wide draw. Qing is an impressive sort and is drawn well under Piere Strydom, and she should be effective over this trip despite likely preferring a touch further. She has to overcome a seven point raise but looks up to it. Those two could perhaps be risked as the only two for the Pick 6.

The third leg is a tough MR 96 Handicap over 1200m.  Space Launch is back to a winning mark and can do better than last time when finding no cover.  Captain Swarovski won that race in good style and this scopey sort could continue to progress off a four point higher mark. Sea Fever and Captain Sam both ran well in a strong form race over 1100m and could be included. Mister Matchett ran a cracker last time out when out at the weights and has to be considered. Rodney is stepped back in trip and has good form over sprints so is another one to be considered.

The fourth leg is the Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships over 1000m and a top class field lines up. Carry On Alice’s last run can be ignored, as nothing went right for her, and she is the one to beat. Brutal Force is ever improving since gelding and must go in to the equation. Trip Tease is officially the best weighted horse in the race and has a high strike rate. Guinness is a classy Gr 1 winner who is said to be back to his best. Harry Lime is an outsider to consider as gelding has brought the best out of him and he won in fine style last time out, suggesting he is better than his merit rating, and he could continue to progress.

Guiness (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fifth is the big one, the J&B Met, and it could be at the mercy of the favourite Legal Eagle as his limit is still unknown and the best he has shown to date would be good enough to win anyway. He could be a banker, although the one possibly capable of beating him would be Futura.

The final leg is the J&B Urban Honey Stayers in which an upset is always possible, especially when considering the likelihood of the infamous “Cape Crawl” playing a part. However, the SA Oaks winner Pine Princess is well weighted and looks the one to beat. Solid Speed ran a fine preparation race when winning over 1600m and will appreciate the step up in trip. Last year’s winner Kingston Mines can be included along with last year’s runner up Coltrane, while the reliable Current Event could defy his merit rating, the well weighted Hot Ticket is a class act on his day, Masterly has the masterful Piere Strydom up, Ovidio could be yet to show his best and Gallica Rose is third best in at the weights and interesting over this trip.

This provides a guideline for the most difficult of bets, and taking it usually adds some excitement to the day as the dream of winning big is always a possibility.

By David Thiselton