All the big guns have been entered for the R2,5 million J&B Met to be run over 2000 m at Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday, January 28 and the race has been given an international flavour by the entry of Chester Vase and Irish Derby runner-up, Golden Sword.
The list of 34 entries released on Thursday is headed by Vodacom Durban July winner Igugu. Trainer Mike de Kock’s ambitions of taking the Equus Horse of the Year to Dubai for the Carnival were thwarted by an outbreak of African Horse Sickness and the subsequent ban on exports from South Africa.
However, the ban has ensured that this year’s J&B Met will probably draw one of the strongest fields seen out in many a year and holds a possible re-match between the two superb fillies, Igugu and Ebony Flyer.
Other top entries include recent Sansui Summer Cup winner Dancewiththedevil, runner-up Ilsanpietro, Pierre Jourdan and The Apache.
Former KRA Guineas winner Solo Traveller, now with De Kock, is also among the initial entries along with SA Classic winner English Garden.
Dean Kannemeyer has entered two of his top three-year-old colts in the unbeaten Divine Jet and Liancourt Rock while Greg Ennion has nominated Astro News.
The Irish-bred Golden Sword, by former Derby winner and top international sire High Chaparral, was bought by De Kock out of the Ballydoyle yard of Aiden O’Brien.
As a three-year-old, Golden Sword won the Chester Vase and finished second behind stable companion Fame And Glory in the Irish Derby. He was also fifth in the Investec Derby behind the unbeaten Sea The Stars.
Golden Sword has been rested since a relatively undistinguished Dubai campaign and has not been out since finishing unplaced in the Dubai World Cup back in March this year.
If the race was run today . . . .
(calculated weight for the J&B Met as at 5 December 2011)
| Horse | age | MR | trainer | weight |
| Pierre Jourdan | 5 | 116 | Gary Alexander | 59 |
| Bravura | 5 | 113 | Joey Ramsden | 59 |
| The Apache | 4 | 114 | Gavin van Zyl | 58.5 |
| English Garden | 4 | 109 | Mike Bass | 58.5 |
| Top Seller | 4 | 106 | Vaughan Marshall | 58.5 |
| Solo Traveller | 4 | 106 | Mike de Kock | 58.5 |
| Tales Of Bravery | 5 | 112 | Vaughan Marshall | 58 |
| Lion In Winter | 5 | 112 | Joey Ramsden | 58 |
| Ilsanpietro (BRZ) | 5 | 111 | Mike de Kock | 58 |
| Golden Sword (GB) | 111 | Mike de Kock | 58 | |
| Dan De Lago (AUS) | 6 | 108 | Brett Crawford | 58 |
| Curved Ball (AUS) | 5 | 107 | Joey Ramsden | 58 |
| Super Storm | 5 | 106 | Mike Bass | 58 |
| Paddy O’reilly | 5 | 105 | Glen Kotzen | 58 |
| Buy And Sell | 8 | 105 | Sean Tarry | 58 |
| Fabiani | 7 | 104 | Glen Kotzen | 58 |
| Cree Lodge | 5 | 101 | Dean Kannemeyer | 58 |
| League Of Honour (AUS) | 5 | 98 | Piet Steyn | 58 |
| Brown Penny | 5 | 95 | Mike Bass | 58 |
| Dancewiththedevil | 5 f | 116 | St John Gray | 57.5 |
| Run For It | 4 | 106 | Justin Snaith | 57.5 |
| Mystic Moon | 4 | 104 | Justin Snaith | 57.5 |
| Galileo’s Destiny (NZ) | 4 | 104 | Mike de Kock | 57.5 |
| Flirtation | 5 f | 101 | Mike de Kock | 57.5 |
| Chesalon | 4 | 100 | Mike Bass | 57.5 |
| Perana (AUS) | 4 | 100 | Mike de Kock | 57.5 |
| Igugu (AUS) | 4 f | 113 | Mike de Kock | 57 |
| Emerald Cove | 4 f | 105 | Justin Snaith | 57 |
| Beach Beauty | 4 f | 108 | Dennis Drier | 54.5 |
| Rain Gal (AUS) | 4 f | 79 | Darryl Hodgson | 54.5 |
| Mushreq (AUS) | 3 | 101 | Mike de Kock | 52 |
| Astro News | 3 | 101 | Greg Ennion | 52 |
| Liancourt Rock (AUS) | 3 | 100 | Dean Kannemeyer | 52 |
| Divine Jet | 3 | 98 | Dean Kannemeyer | 52 |
