Legislate will not be lying down after his dismal L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate effort
The weights have been published for the R2,5 million J& B Met to be run at Kenilworth on Saturday 31 January. After Saturday’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, and despite running stone last, July winner Legislate is still on track for the big race. He has been allotted 59,5kgs with King Of Pain topping the weights.
It is likely that there will be plenty of support for Brett Crawford’s impressive Queen’s Plate winner, Futura as well as for runner-up Louis The King, who ran a cracker over the mile at his first Cape start.
A lung wash was performed on Legislate and Justin Snaith decclared afterwards that it was the dirtiest he had ever seen.
“He was full up with mucus and he now has to go on to medication. But it is nothing serious and not a problem – indeed it is exactly what Futura had – and he will be fine for the Met. I just have to freshen him up and then get him ready for the race.”
Despite assurances to the contrary, Legislate did not adapt to the pedestrian pace of the race.
The time of 101.59 sec was nearly four seconds slower than the average of the previous seven runnings.
Louis The King only scratched the surface on Saturday – he will also be ready for the Met
Summer Cup winner Louis The King was only beaten three-quarters of a length at a strange track over a distance short of his best. Piere Strydom said afterwards that there were ‘no excuses’ and that Futura had won a good race on merit.
Sean Tarry’s 7yo Gold Onyx took his time to negotiate traffic and ran on strongly for third.
He is bound to have his supporters as he is the only representative of a very powerful yard. Tarry won the race with Alastor who was piloted to victory by Garth Puller in 2006.
The Gr2 Peninsula Handicap was a heartening race for both Justin Snaith and Dean Kannemeyer.
Assistant trainer David Lilley and Karl Neisius with Power King – he will peak for the Met
Snaith’s Arion came back to his best strongly and this lightly raced Gr1 placer could prove to be the Met dark horse.
The second placed Power King is showing the benefits of gelding and appears to be getting better with every run. On current form and his Winter Serious dual stakes victories as a 3yo, he should make the final field and will peak on Met day.
Final declarations are due at 11h00 on Monday 19 January.
The final field will be announced on Tuesday 20 January.
The draws are scheduled to be done on Thursday 22 January. The Met gallops will be held that same morning.
There are 24 prospective runners – and only 20 can run.
R 2 500 000 J & B MET (Gr1)
WFA: 3yrs-6.0kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
KING OF PAIN (5G) 60.0 114 B Joey Ramsden
LEGISLATE (4C) 59.5 117 Justin Snaith
FUTURA (4C) 59.5 116 Brett Crawford
LOUIS THE KING (4C) 59.5 116 Geoff Woodruff
GOLD ONYX (NZ) (7G) 58.0 109 Sean Tarry
JET EXPLORER (6G) 58.0 109 Justin Snaith
KILLUA CASTLE (AUS (5G) 58.0 109 B Geoff Woodruff
TELLINA (5G) 58.0 109 Geoff Woodruff
READYTOGORIGHTNOW (5G) 58.0 108 Justin Snaith
HALVE THE DEFICIT (6G) 58.0 104 Sean Tarry (Scratched)
PATERFAMILIAS (5G) 58.0 104 Mike Bass
RIVER CROSSING (6G) 58.0 104 Mike Bass
PUNTA ARENAS (6G) 58.0 103 Stan Elley
ASTRO NEWS (6G) 58.0 102 Justin Snaith
DYNAMIC (5G) 58.0 100 Justin Snaith
JOHNNY ROCKETS (5G) 58.0 98 Justin Snaith
SERISSA (5G) 58.0 93 Sean Tarry (Scratched)
TRUE MASTER (5G) 58.0 93 Justin Snaith
CAPTAIN AMERICA (4G) 57.5 105 Brett Crawford
ARION (4C) 57.5 101 Justin Snaith
POWER KING (4G) 57.5 100 B Dean Kannemeyer
DE KOCK (4G) 57.5 98 Brett Crawford
HELDERBERG BLUE (4G) 57.5 98 Mike Bass
RAKE'S CHESTNUT (4G) 57.5 94 Geoff Woodruff
FRENCH REVOLUTION (4C) 57.5 91 Yogas Govender (Scratched)
JET BELLE (5M) 55.5 106 B Glen Kotzen
ACT OF WAR (3C) 53.0 117 Joey Ramsden
MAJMU (AUS) (3F) 50.5 114 Mike de Kock (Scratched)
