Vardy can live up to his star billing at Kenilworth tomorrow and become only the second horse in the last decade to complete the Queen’s Plate-Sun Met double. Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge look the two biggest dangers.

But punters should avoid getting sucked in if there is a wholesale gamble on the horse and he ends up shorter than 2-1 – as he well might because most tipsters seem to think he is the one. He hardened from 3-1 (a fair price) to 28-10 joint favourite yesterday morning but starting at the head of the market in this race has proved a no-no in recent years with the last seven favourites all expensively biting the dust.

Craig Zackey’s mount produced a devastating turn of foot to land the L’Ormarins showpiece three weeks ago and he won like a class horse but his Achilles heel could well be his pedigree. He is not bred to be a ten furlong horse and, while there are some in the family who have won over the trip, they have not done so at this level.

Furthermore he is up against two exceptional animals in the half-brothers Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge, even though both are complex characters who test their trainers to the limits of their skill, patience and understanding.

Forget Hawwaam’s last run – the 22 minute delay at the start was the last thing he needed – and instead recall the brilliance he has shown in the past. He eased from 5-2 to 28-10 yesterday but he is fully entitled to be as short as that. Mike de Kock has described the betting as ridiculous but bookmakers – and punters – are influenced by reputation as much as form and the trainer’s has long been sky high while not even Ryan Moore is better than Anton Marcus in South Africa.

Just as Vardy’s weakness could be his pedigree, so Hawwaam’s is his temperament and he has to somehow survive all the noise and general hullaboloo that goes with Met day. Hopefully the bands and musicians will be instructed to keep the volume down but they have not always ridden to orders in the past.

The horse’s family has a highly strung element and for race after race Rainbow Bridge had to have the sweat cleaned off before dancing edgily round the parade ring. It never stopped him running a tremendous race and 12 months ago he came into his own inside the final furlong. Currently third favourite at 4-1, he has a big chance of winning the race again, this time in the hands of a man many regard as the greatest big race jockey in the world.

Do It Again, at one time as short as 33-10, is now available at more than twice that price after having had to be put on antibiotics following his disappointing Queen’s Plate run. He is, though, a class act and officially the best horse in the race. He finished second 12 months ago, despite not getting the run of the race, but it’s hard to see him going one better after such a worrying preparation.

It’s even harder to make a case for any of the other nine runners. Twist Of Fate (16-1) can be relied up on to run his usual honest race as can 15-1 shot One World although there are doubts about him lasting out the final furlong. The notorious Cape crawl could, of course, put the cat among the fancied pigeons but hopefully Head Honcho’s penchant for the front will ensure that doesn’t happen.

Pick 6 selections:

Race 4: Alramz

Race 5: Sachdev

Race 6: Silver Host

Race 7: Run Fox Run

Race 8: Front And Centre

Race 9: Vardy

By Michael Clower

Turffontein Inside has a nine race meeting on Sun Met day tomorrow and there look to be some fair opportunities for punters, although this course can spring some upset results so caution is also necessary.

Viper Jet should win the first race, a workriders maiden over 1450m, despite jumping from a wide draw. He finished fifth in the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m and has finished close up in other starts to the like of Marshall, Riverstown, Mohican and Solarize. 

In the second race Sultanah is a scopey sort who ran on strongly last time over 1600m for a close second. That was only her second start for the in-form Candice Dawson yard, so she can improve further and has a good draw. Milford Sound has been knocking on the door and should give a good account of herself. 

The third over 1800m is an uninspiring event and Dawson could clinch a quick double as Master Supreme is a stand out on form, having finished a close fifth to the promising Dual At Dawn over 1400m on debut. The form has been franked and on pedigree and running style he looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip, although the high draw is a bit of a concern. Turf Master is ideally drawn to fulfil his favourite front running style and could place in this field.

The fourth is a MR 112 handicap and the small field and good draw should suit the front-running Seattle Force perfectly unless Duke Of Spin takes him on in front with first-time blinkers on. Divine Odyssey, who is capable of a strong finish, should be close to his peak and is the main danger along with Duke Of Spin.

In the fifth Heart Stwings has always struck as decent and has a plum draw over an ideal 2000m distance. Rabia The Rebel and Pretty Ballerina look the chief dangers. However, those who are not going to banker Heart Stwings can also include Jive Express and Wild Thoughts.

In the sixth over 1000m Arikel loves this course and distance, where she has two wins, a second, a third and a fourth in five starts. She has a fair draw with a 2,5kg claimer up and can beat Mademoiselle and Eskimo Kisses. Winter Watch and Ocean City also warrant respect.

In the seventh over 1450m, a classy three-year-old handicap, Ivalo’s Prince has stuck as decent and could rise above his current merit rating so is the selection. Marshall is held in high esteem but has to bounce back from a disappointing race as favourite for the Dingaans where he was not striding out. Your Pace Or Mine can improve.

In the eighth over 1450m Written In Stone has fair pace and always finds a good finish, although he tends to run on too late so is difficult to win with. He is made a PA banker but for the Pick 6 and Jackpot a few others must be included.

In the last over 1450m Gold Rock is improving and starts handicapping off a reasonable merit rating. What A Story and Tombola make most appeal of the rest.

By David Thiselton

Image: Diego de Gouveia is aboard Seattle Force in race four at Turffontein tomorrow.

Tonight’s meeting at Greyville is as competitive as ever and the exotics should pay rewarding dividends.

The Johan Janse Van Vuuren-trained Gentleman’s Wager has always struck as one who would blossom with experience and he won his first start on the poly over 1900m with consummate ease, beating no slouch in Northern Route by 4,25 lengths. He was given the maximum raise of eight points and is also 1kg under sufferance but he could still be ahead of the handicapper and can win the fifth race from a good draw of five under Ashton Arries. Railtrip has class and has dropped to a competitive merit rating, so can make a bold bid for an inform yard from draw four. However, the Gavin van Zyl yard elect appears to be the hard-knocking Just Cruised In. Land Of Mystery ran on well when stepped up to 1800m last time and should also be a threat. Sunny Bill Du-toy is the most interesting of the rest as he has some class and now has his peak run following a one-and-a-half year layoff.

The meeting starts with an intriguing maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m.  Path To The Stars has not been disgraced in two much stronger fields than this in Johannesburg and should go close from a plum draw under a 4kg claimer. Brunilda is improving and should be running on strongly from a high draw. At Your Request has been knocking on the door over 1400m and should handle the step down in trip. 

The second is a tricky maiden over 1600m. Grey Linngari wears first time blinkers and this should help over a distance on the sharp side of his range. Great Warrior made a fair debut in Jo’burg and could be in the shake up as can the hard-knocking Academy Award.

In the third over 1600m, an uninspiring maiden for fillies and mares, Leanna could be an outsider to consider having her third run after a layoff as she has shown good ability in the past, although it depends on whether she starts on terms and settles well in the running. The one to beat on form is Warren Kennedy’s mount Duchess Of Malfi.

In the fourth over 2000m War Office showed big improvement when stepped up to this trip from sprints third time out and can beat Impressive Master.

The sixth over 1200m is the highlight of the evening, being a MR 96 handicap over 1200m, and the classy Wave can win it, although pole position is not always a good draw on the poly. Di Mazzio loves this course and distance and has a plum middle draw and the well regarded Euphoric is interesting over a course and distance where he has a first and a second from two starts.

The seventh over 1200m could be won by Peppermint Tea who has good pace and stays on. Then Highveld raider Solar Flare is speedy and is interesting on her poly debut from a low draw.

In the eighth over 1200m Someone Exciting produced an exciting finish last time from off the pace on the Greyville turf and she has run second on the poly before. Diamondsandpearls is drawn three and having run a pearler to win her maiden over course and distance she should be in the shake up from draw three. However, it is ultra-competitive and going wide is the suggestion.

By David Thiselton

Many think it is an easy game, and it is a case of pushing buttons when it comes to racing but it is far from that!

Trainer Joey Soma’s smart son of Gimmiethegreenlight, Got The Greenlight who lines up for the R5 Million CTS 1600 race on Sun Met day, left his Highveld base on Monday afternoon after two and a half weeks of quarantine at Randjesfontein and arrived safely in the Cape on Tuesday morning at 10:30am.

Soma said “he travelled well and I am as happy as I can be. He is drinking a lot, adapted well and working well.” Soma added that trainers Paul Peter and Lucky Houdalakis also had to go through the same quarantine process with their Cape Town raiders due to a recent African Horse Sickness scare in Gauteng.

Soma mentioned that it was difficult preparing his horse because they are only allowed out of their stables while in quarantine between 10am and 3pm.

Got The Greenlight has improved from his last run which he needed badly after his break from the KZN Champions Season. With luck in running Soma is expecting to be competitive but it is never easy considering the journey undertaken to prepare for this race in the Cape.

“We are expecting a good run. The win would be the cherry on the cake” said Soma.

By Warren Lenferna

Only once in the last ten years has the Queen’s Plate winner gone on take the Met in the same season. The extra two furlongs has often turned out to be a bridge too far – some didn’t see it out while others, notably Legal Eagle, were not as effective over it.

Vardy has been backed down to second favourite for Saturday’s Sun International highlight but, if you are putting your money down, it could be worth bearing in mind that there are doubts about him having the necessary stamina to follow in Futura’s 2015 footsteps.

He is by the European champion sprinter Var, none of whose progeny has won a Grade 1 beyond a mile. Vardy’s dam (by Jet Master) did not race and her Cape Fillies Guineas-winning sisters Ebony Flyer and Captain’s Lover did not win over further than 1 800m. She has produced two winning foals in addition to Vardy – Shallcross who won a humble 2 400m maiden at Fairview (but it took her until she was four to do it) while Eros’s Girl won the 2 000m East Cape Oaks at the Port Elizabeth course.

“Eros’s Girl beat little of note in that race and two of her four wins came over 1 200m,” says pedigree expert Sarah Whitelaw. “On paper I have my doubts about Vardy getting the 2 000m of the Met.”

Nobody knows Var and his progeny better than Pippa Mickleburgh and the Avontuur general manager points out that his daughter Princess Of Light was only beaten three-quarters of a length (by In Writing) in the 2012 Gold Cup when it was a Grade 1.

“Personally I think Vardy will make it on Saturday because the female line is quite stout,” she says. “The way he races will definitely help but 2 000m will be the maximum of his range.”

Trainers tend to be optimistic in such circumstances and Adam Marcus is no exception – “Vardy is a very athletic horse, he has a lot of size to him and he switches off so beautifully that I don’t think going an extra 200m or 400m is going to have much effect.”

Marcus points to Vardy’s two and a quarter-length defeat of One World in last season’s 1 800m Winter Classic (although One World was thought to be feeling the effects of a tough season that day and was promptly put away until this term).  “I thought that was a great performance from Vardy and I don’t see why the 2 000m on Saturday should be an issue.”

Indeed Marcus believes that Craig Zackey’s mount has improved since the L’Ormarins showpiece. “From what I have seen so far he has certainly come on from the race. My norm is to give horses a couple of really easy days after a race but he was jumping out of his skin to such an extent that I had to get him going again.”

The way Vardy is usually ridden, from the back and coming with a sustained run, should help but there will be no specific orders to hold him up. “The horse is versatile – he has won coming from last and from sitting in the box seat – and I will let Craig make the decisions. If Vardy flies out of the gates and Craig finds himself in a handy position, I don’t want him to feel he has to ease the horse out of it.”

Aldo Domeyer will similarly not be tied to orders on 16-1 shot Twist Of Fate – “I am going to leave things to him. The trip should be more suitable than the mile of the Queen’s Plate and the horse has a lot in his favour.”

BLOB The field is down to 13 – the same as last season’s race and jointly the smallest in the last 25 years – following yesterday’s scratching of longshot Roy Had Enough with a tendon injury. 

By Michael Clower