Nine Cape Met entries will look to strengthen their big races hopes when they line up in in Saturday’s R200 000 Gr2 Cape Racing Peninsula Handicap at Kenilworth.
While Charity Mile winner Hudoo Magic is the lowest priced of the Cape Met entries in the Peninsula – at around 33 to 1 – a decent performance from the likes of the consistent Sovereign Spirit (66 to1) could see his big race ante-post price shorten.
Five leading local stables send out the nine Met hopefuls, and Candice Bass-Robinson looks to hold the strongest hand with the smart Dynasty gelding Sovereign Spirit who ran an excellent return-to-action effort after the KZN Champions Season when he finished 2 lengths behind Snaith’s Nexus (another Dynasty) last time.
Click below for the Cape Met ante-post
With Aldo Domeyer in the irons from a decent draw, and a 3kg turnaround at the weights with Nexus, Sovereign Spirit, a R5,75 million yearling, looks primed for a winning performance.
He won a slow run July Consolation and was not disgraced in the Gr1 Champions Cup, and could have things go his way as he ranks as the horse to beat.
Sovereign Spirit wins the July Consolation (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
While he has a shocking draw to overcome, recent Cape Mile winner Nexus gets the services of Piere Strydom, who is a past master on the summer course.
Charity Mile winner Hudoo Magic has his first run back at his original Cape base – he was based in KZN for some time – since returning from Gauteng. He has won twice and finished second three times from nine starts on this course. He is well drawn and must have a shout.
Dean Kannemeyer is not a man to overrate his horses, but has entered both Seventh Gear and Sir Michael for the Met.
Seventh Gear has a wide draw to overcome, but seldom runs a bad race and appears to be holding his form well over a trip.
Sir Michael stays on well but tends to lack genuine fight at the business end.
Topweight Capoeira won the Cup Trial during the SA Champions Season, but after being outclassed in the July, needed his return start last month. He has scope for fitness improvement.
Topweighted Capoiera – expected to improve (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The Snaith team can be left out of nothing and their lesser Met light Sachdev has a wide draw to negotiate. He has not won in some time, but ran a cracking sprint after a break and can only enjoy the extra.
Stablemate to top choice Sovereign Spirit, Majestic Mozart did not enjoy the Fairview polytrack when a 1,75 length fourth in the Algoa Cup last time. He is a fair sort on his day and will enjoy the summer run-in.
The false rail is set at 2m out from the 1800m, with a 5m spur at the 600m marker.
The feature is the third leg of the projected R4 million Pick 6 and jumps at 16h10.
The R1 million carryover Pick 6 starts in the fourth race at 15h00.
- Final Cape Met supplementary entries are due by 11h00 on Monday 11 January 2001.
- Cape Met weights will be published on Monday 11 January 2021.
- Cape Met declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 18 January 2021.
