The fourth running of the R3 million Gr1 Sun Met at Kenilworth today presents a tricky poser with a strong case to be made for the top five.
Three weeks ago it was Hawwaam and by how far. After the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate the picture changed dramatically. So what to take as fact and what to throw out the window as fiction?
The late Peter Kannemeyer always preached that we shouldn’t make excuses for beaten horses. We have three to consider here – Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again and Hawwaam.
The defending champion Rainbow Bridge (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Defending champion Rainbow Bridge’s regular rider has been replaced by Ryan Moore – one of the world’s greatest. Dual July winner Do It Again didn’t enjoy a happy passage in the Green Point Stakes and then health issues were touted after his Queen’s Plate unplaced run.
The mind boggling delay at the start of the prestigious weight-for-age mile threw the cat amongst the pigeons for all – and more so for the fragile personality, Hawwaam, who didn’t appear too distraught behind the gates, but produced a flatter than expected effort when not settling. There was criticism of the ride too.
Through all the excuses being showered over the established stars, nobody really seemed too impressed by Vardy’s terrific performance to win his first Gr1 – a superb follow up on the Green Point Stakes success and he is unbeaten this season. The gutsy son of Var should go close to winning this and silencing his detractors – if he stays the 2000m.
Rampant Vardy (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Do It Again was runner-up behind Rainbow Bridge last year, but his two prep runs into the Met have raised question marks again his invincibility. The son of Twice Over was cramped in the Green Point Stakes when clearly in need of the run and then a bit off colour around the Queen’s Plate. The South African Horse Of The Year is too smart to discard.
Sporting Post top-rated Rainbow Bridge won the Champions Cup at the end of last season and his two running on thirds in the Green Point and the Queen’s Plate were good efforts, without setting the world alight. Gavin Lerena has been jocked off in favour the British star – a bitter pill for the former SA champion jockey when his horse is having his peak run over his correct trip with his season target in sight!
Despite the quiet L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate effort by Hawwaam, Anton Marcus – one of the best judges in the country – said there is still no other horse he’d rather ride in this race and he ets the chance to set the record straight. This will be the son of Silvano’s swansong appearance in this country and a line through his last start makes him a worthy favourite.
Hawwaam – much better than his last run (Pic – JC Photos)
While not impressive in the Green Point when dropping out, Head Honcho ran a cracking third and under a length off Rainbow Bridge in he 2019 Met. He led for a long way and there were some schools of thought that he could have just about won it had Keagan de Melo capitalised. Piere Strydom takes the reins and there isn’t a better man for the job of poaching the Cape’s biggest prize from the front.
Undercover Agent ran fourth last year and comes in off two quiet efforts in the Green Point Stakes and the Queen’s Plate. He ran a cracking third in the Matchem and may well be more effective over shorter.
Mr consistency – One World (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
One World never runs a bad race and ran on well in both his preparatory efforts behind Vardy. While the Adam Marcus runner appears to have his measure, it would be folly to write this fellow off with the in-form MJ Byleveld looking to overcome the 13 draw.
Vardy’s stablemate Twist Of Fate looks held on recent form but is another in the mould of One World, who just doesn’t know how to run a bad race.
Regarded by some as the dark horse in the race, Bunker Hunt faces his biggest challenge after running on steadily when beaten 2,25 lengths by Hawwaam in the Premier Trophy. He was placed in the Gr1 Cape Derby last year over the course and distance – but this is much tougher.
The Glen Kotzen duo of Eyes Wide Open and Pack Leader will run in the Chrigor Stud silks and both are capable of a big effort on their day. Eyes Wide Open is a course and distance Gr1 winner and has boxed at the top level with consistency. His recent runs suggest he will need to up his game, but as this is his season target, he will be ready.
Pack Leader has had three runs since a long rest. While his sole stakes success is a listed feature in the Eastern Cape, he has quartet kicker prospects.
The Candice Bass-Robinson duo of Majestic Mozart and More Magic are two genuine longshots who will both need to improve lengths to feature in the money.
More Magic carried only 52kgs when a 2,55 lengths fourth in the Peninsula Handicap behind Belgarion. He had excuses and a wide draw didn’t facilitate his prospects.
Majestic Mozart was also poorly drawn there but ran on steadily and finished a length in front. He is 2kgs better off with his stablemate and showed some flashes of genuine promise in his 3yo career with regular places just off the best.
There is little to choose between Rainbow Bridge, Hawwaam, Do It Again and Vardy and it will come down to personal preferences and viewpoints on their lead-in races.
