Justin Snaith realised a long-held family ambition on Saturday by winning Cape Town’s premier race, the Sun Met, and he made racing history in the process.

He regards it as the best day of his racing career as he also won two other Grade 1’s on the card and has opened up a big lead in his bid for second National Trainer’s championship.

Australian-bred Street Cry filly Oh Susanna became the first ever three-year-old filly to win the Met over its current distance of 2000m and historians have to go back to Chair Lady in 1902 to find the last three-year-old filly to win the great race.

Earlier he won the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships with Captain Al gelding Sergeant Hardy and the Grade 1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes with the brilliant Captain Al filly filly Snowdance and also won two other races on the card.

Snaith became concerned when Oh Susanna seemed to not be kicking on in the straight. He added, “But all of a sudden she kicked properly.”

In the end Grant van Niekerk could afford to begin celebrating 50 metres from the line, which caused a few heart stopping moments for her supporters as Last Winter flew in the final stages.

Snaith reckoned Oh Susanna had extra and would have seen off Last Winter if he had challenged earlier.

Regarding Van Niekerk’s early celebration he said, “He was very confident, he looked after the horse a little.”

Snaith said nothing had yet been discussed about Oh Susanna’s future. However, he said if she were given a “ridiculous” merit rating she would likely avoid the Vodacom Durban July. She is currently headed for a break on the farm of her owners, Drakenstein Stud.

Snowdance’s win was equally impressive and Snaith reminded, “Nothing went her way, they went flat out and she then had to sit one wide on her own for a while. She was then green in front and ducked, Grant (Van Niekerk) thought it might have been a bird.”

The commentator was deceived by this movement and said, “She’s getting weary”. Snaith commented, “The only body running out of breath was the commentator! She has plenty of gears.”

Snaith said, “It is rare to have an exceptional pedigree coupled with exceptional performance and that is the best part about Oh Susanna and Snowdance (the latter is also part-owned by Drakenstein Stud). You can’t put a value on them.”

Snaith admitted Sergeant Hardy was done a favour by the false start and particularly so because he was dawn alongside the horse which broke through, Tevez, so Bernard Fayd’Herbe was able to see what had happened and consequently pulled him up immediately. However, nothing should be taken away from him as he is unbeaten in three starts over course and distance and deserved a Grade 1.

Snowdance’s and Sergeant Hardy’s future has not yet been discussed yet either.

Snaith said the latter did not like the turn and he lamented the fact that the only race for him in the SA Champions Season would be the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint at Greyville.

He said if the export protocols did open soon, as is being anticipated by some, all three of these horses would likely head overseas.

By David Thiselton