The heavily backed Whisky Baron is beginning to remind Brett Crawford of his 2003 Met winner Angus.

Futura, his winner of two years ago, might seem a more logical comparison – like Whisky Baron, he was a constantly improving four-year-old – but Crawford said: “No, they are two different types of horse and Futura had already proved himself as a three-year-old when he was third in the July.

Brett Crawford (Nkosi Hlophe)

“But Whisky Baron and Angus have come much the same route even though Angus won the Premier rather than the Peninsula.”

The handicappers raised Whisky Baron seven points to 110 for his impressive two-length win in the Peninsula – ten points was the maximum permitted under the handicapping rules. Sun Met favourite Legal Eagle (123) has to concede 2.5kg of which half a kilo is weight-for-age.

“Whisky Baron started the Cape season off 96 and we still have to improve him another eight points to have a chance of beating Legal Eagle,” said the Philippi trainer. “But he is still improving and, although it’s going to be difficult, I don’t think it’s impossible.”

Whisky Baron, named after Ridgemont Stud owner Wayne Kieswetter who has substantially increased his bloodstock interests by purchasing Highlands, is the main Crawford runner but Queen’s Plate runner-up Captain America was only a length behind Legal Eagle when third in last year’s Met.

“He ran a great race that day – he never stopped,” recalled Crawford. “He has come out of the Queen’s Plate exceptionally well but his best performances have been at a mile.”

BLOB Miss Frankel, so far the only horse in training in South Africa by the undefeated wonder horse, will make her much-awaited debut at Kenilworth on Saturday.

By Michael Clower