Mike de Kock is very happy with the condition of Hawwaam ahead of Saturday’s Sun Met and is actually pleased he is drawn wide, although he described the betting for both the Met and the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca Stakes as “ridiculous”.

De Kock said about the draw, “At least from draw 12 Anton Marcus will not have to think about getting away from the rail, he will already be away from it. He was obsessed about getting away from the rail in the Queen’s Plate, I struggle to think why when you are in the perfect position to take the shortest way home, but this time he won’t have to do all that thinking.”

Hawwaam over-raced in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate when caught in a head to head fight with Rainbow Bridge for about  three furlongs, so many were of the opinion he had a hard race.

However, De Kock disagreed and said, “I am not convinced he had a hard race. Once his chances were ruined and it became obvious he was not going to place he made no effort in the finish.” 

He concluded, “He has had a good prep, I couldn’t be happier with him.”

The Met has the known front-runner Head Honcho in the line up and there are others like Undercover Agent who like to get on with it.

De Kock predicted the race would be run at a “good, even tempo”.

Hawwaam is the ruling favourite at roundabout 18/10 while the Queen’s Plate and Green Point Stakes winner Vardy is only second favourite at 28/10.

De Kock said, “The Met betting is absolutely ridiculous. Even if things had gone better in the Queen’s Plate Vardy would have been very difficult to beat. When is Vardy going to be given the credit he is due? He is an absolute champion. I just don’t understand it but I think it is because of all this hype from people who seem to have no idea about form.”

De Kock is also bewildered by the betting for the Majorca, a weight for age mile for fillies and mares. 

Whilst agreeing Queen Supreme is looking to be a very good filly he said, “She doesn’t have nearly the formlines of Celtic Sea. Celtic Sea is a a multiple Grade 1 winner and the champion of her generation, yet the betting has Queen Supreme at around even money and Celtic Sea at about 7/2. There is no logic in that.”

Queen Supreme has won five of her seven starts including an easy 2,50 length victory in the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m last time, which followed an excellent 1,60 length fourth in the Grade 1 Gauteng Summer Cup. The Exceed And Excel filly is Irish-bred and although officially a four-year-old she has not yet turned four in actual terms, so she will be improving all the time. She gets a half-a-kilogram hemisphere allowance. 

De Kock said, “She has had a very good prep. She stayed down in the Cape after the race and has blossomed. As time goes on she will get better and better as she is not even physically four yet.”

Queen Supreme is drawn nine compared to Celtic Sea’s eight.

De Kock has three horses in the CTS 1200, Vaseem, Battleoftrafalgar and Alramz.

His regular first call jockey Callan Murray is on Vaseem.

De Kock said, “Vaseem is probably the best sprinter of the three. Battleoftrafalgar had an abscess on the epiglottis after winning the Million Mile so missed a fair bit of work but he is getting there, although the Million Mile form looks ordinary. Alramz has done nothing wrong and has been better in blinkers.

The yard’s other runner on the day is Atyaab in the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m where he is second favourite at around 11/2.

De Kock said he was well and added, “He is exposed, what you see is what you get with him.”

The Australian-bred Dundeel gelding carries second topweight of 59,5kg and jumps from draw six under Murray. 

By David Thiselton

“Punters, follow the Snaith team on Sun Met day. I think we have our horses right at the right time, and I think we are going to have a big one.”

Justin Snaith’s interview with Grant Knowles could be heard all over the grandstand at Kenilworth on Saturday and, whether by accident or design, the volume was turned up to maximum – even on the escalators – as the Met day maestro made his bold prediction for Saturday.

With a staggering R18 million Pick Six up for grabs many punters will be turning to Snaith for their first choice selections – and with good reason. Over the past eight years his average Met day winner haul is better than four and only once during that time has he sunk below three.

“If I had to pick a horse for the day I think Kasimir is a huge runner in the Cape Flying Championship,” he told this writer. “He needed his first run back but he is doing very well and the only one in the race that I’m worried about is Run Fox Run. She hasn’t beaten much [compared with Kasimir] and this is a bigger test for her but she is the unknown.”

For a long time the Met was Snaith’s bogey race and, while he finally won it with Oh Susanna two years ago, hot favourite Do It Again was beaten 12 months ago and his well-documented post-Queen’s Plate setback has threatened to make it go pear-shaped again.

What punters are openly doubting is whether the horse can turn it on in his dual Vodacom Durban July-winning style after having an interrupted preparation. “There hasn’t been much interruption,” says his trainer who believes some members of the media (including this one) have made too much of the horse being under the weather.

“I wouldn’t say under the weather either,” Snaith responds. “It’s just that he hasn’t been at his best. It was too long between his July win and his season starting. He had become a quiet horse – too much boring work up and down the tracks in heavy sand.

“Also that 20 minute delay at the start of the Queen’s Plate didn’t help with a horse who had not been doing as well as I’d hoped because he was already at the limit of his wellbeing. He has improved a lot since.  I don’t want to say too much as to why at this stage because I feel that, with the changes I have made, he has to go and run well first for me to be able to say what might have been wrong – whether it was a slight biliary, whether it was a track issue or what. We have had problems in Philippi with the tracks, tractors breaking down etc.”

The extra two furlongs on Saturday will presumably suit him a lot better? “Without a doubt and, in any case, just look at the distance he was beaten in the Queen’s Plate (just over four lengths). It’s not like he ran ten lengths back. I’m only looking for a small bit of improvement.”

Lastly, does he still think 50-1 shot Bunker Hunt is the dark horse of the race, bearing in mind that Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount is rated between five and seven kilos inferior to the big guns? “That is against him, I agree, and probably it could cost him winning but I do think that not running on Queen’s Plate day is a huge advantage for him.”

By Michael Clower 

The Vaal eight race meeting tomorrow should start off with a favourable result for punters and this can help build up a pool with which to play the exotics.

In the first race over 1000m Varina made a good debut over this trip despite being bumped and with improvement has a fine chance. However, Winter’s Power is likely to give her a run for her money as she showed pace last time in a Juvenile Plate race to finish close to the promising Miracle Flight, although she was receiving 5kg.  Elusive Woman is not far behind these two on formlines and should earn.

In the second over 1000m Fire And Ice’s seven length third place finish to War Room has turned out to be good form and he looks to be the one to beat. He is interestingly bred, being by Noble Tune and a half-brother to the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Missisippi Burning. Last time out when also running third over this trip with first time blinkers on, he lost a length at the start so can do better if jumping better. Karnallie was beaten 6.5 lengths by War Room in a later race but was receiving 3kg. He can improve so will be a threat. Portico had to be eased and switched before running on well again for second over this trip at Scottsville last time. He also has a chance.

In the third race over 1000m Wings Of Honor ran well over 1200m last time and looks to have plenty of natural pace so can win this off a two point lower mark. Moggie Brown has plenty of speed and can do better than her last two starts especially considering she is reunited with Marco van Rensburg who won on her over this course and distance last July, albeit off a five point lower mark. Phillydelphia has always been thereabouts off this mark and should be in the shake up. Miss Boomerang was a highly regarded speedster as a juvenile and a recent win at Flamingo could have buoyed her confidence while a lowered turf rating will help here too. Midnight Top was 1,1 lengths behind Wings Of Honor over 1200m and is now 1kg worse off which gives her a hard task, although she was slowly away that day and was scalped. She is of interest over the step down in trip as she has pace.

In the fourth over 1200m the classy mare Double ‘O’ Eight has her easiest task for some time and from a plum draw is the one to beat.  In Cahoots has a touch of class and a good cruising speed so could be dangerous over this drop in trip despite being given two points for his win over 1475m last time. Topmast beat Grade 1 winner over this trip Eden Roc last time, also over this trip, and off a four point higher mark he can go close with a repeat. State Trooper is unbeaten in two starts over this course and distance but has a tough draw to overcome. Whorly Whorly retuns from a layoff so will likely need it but he is capable of staying on late so might do well fresh. 

In the fifth race over 1200m Crown Guardian is an interesting runner from a fair draw of five with the blinkers back on. The last time he wore blinkers, three runs ago, he finished just 1,80 lengths back over this trip. He is now six points lower in the merit ratings and finished second in his only previous stat over this course and distance. Irrevocable Dream seemed a fair sort early on in his career and he has now dropped considerably in the merit ratings so could go close.  Alex The Great steps up in trip but has won over this distance before and is interesting from a wide draw with Warren Kennedy aboard as he was dropped three points in the merit ratings for his last run. Bockscar is unreliable but can never be ignored as he is capable of a strong finish.  True Words is also interesting as he has some pace and drops down to a trip he has won over before. 

In the sixth over 1600m Valetorio was far from disgraced behind the classy Ikigai last time in the Three Troikas and despite a six point merit rated raise he is still selected to win as the Ikigai form has proved strong wherever he ran. Seven Patriots stayed on well to win his maiden comfortably over this trip in his fourth start and off an 82 merit rating he sneaks into the handicap here with the minimum weight so could follow up. Marshall Foch and Norland are both in good form and will be in the shake up too. Mr Greenlight has talent but has become disappointing, so the blinkers on make him interesting, although he has a tricky draw. 

In the seventh over 1600m Hawthorn looked to have ability early in her career and has had excuses in her last two starts so is interesting off a lowered merit  rating stepping back in trip to her winning distance. Plum Field should be staying on and Magic Mila is interesting as she is still green so can go close first time out the maidens from pole position with Kennedy up despite having to carry 62kg. Tahitian Orana and Passion Peach are the other pair to consider.

Ideal Wolff has a fine chance in the last from a good draw under Gavin Lerena. He made a good debut over 1200m and will relish this step up in trip. However, Ideal Day is an improving sort who has to be respected.

By David Thiselton

Golden Ducat, half-brother to Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam, booked his Cape Derby ticket by running on well to take fourth in the Betting World Pinnacle at Kenilworth on Saturday.

This was the three-year-old’s first outing since being gelded and strictly on ratings he should have finished six lengths last. “I hate throwing a young horse in at the deep end like that but he was to have run at last week’s cancelled meeting,” said Eric Sands, explaining why the horse was faced, on paper at any rate, with such a stiff task.

In the February 22 feature Golden Ducat will renew rivalry with Concorde Cup winner King Of Gems who gave him 3kg and finished half a length in front of him in third. The 2-1 favourite was found to be making an abnormal respiratory noise when examined by the vet but Brett Crawford said: “The trip was too short for him and they went slow. He will be back in his own age group in the Derby which has always been the plan.”

The race was won in convincing style by Priceless Ruler who may also be seen on February 22, in his case in the Selangor Jet Master Stakes. He had finished with only three behind him in the Peninsula Handicap and Dennis Dryer, who trains the four-year-old for wife Gilly, said: “I told M.J. not to worry about that last run, just find cover. There was no pace in the Peninsula and Priceless Ruler was bowling along in front – he has never been ridden like that before.”

Byleveld completed his second four-timer in four weeks including both The Cambo (despite a slipping saddle) and Labyrinth for Vaughan Marshall for whom he rides One World in the Sun Met – “The horse is flying and I can hardly wait for Saturday.”

He made all on the Paddy Kruyer-trained Over The Way in the Racing Association Maiden. The four-year-old was scoring at the 26^th attempt, much to the delight of her ultra-patient owners Frank Sharp and the smartly-dressed Margaret O’Hara.

“We bought her for R100 000 at the Klawervlei Farm Sale but we only paid half that,” Sharp recalled. “We had another filly who died and John Koster gave us a credit of R50 0000. Every time we were thinking of calling it a day with her she would run second so we have carried on.”

Queen Of Quiet is another with a February 22 date and Justin Snaith named the Vasco Prix Du Cap as her objective after Richard Fourie steered the 2-1 shot to victory in the six furlong handicap. But the one to note for the Grade 3 fillies race is surely Cape Fillies Guineas fourth Larentina. She had top weight but simply flew home to dead-heat for second. She was beaten less than half a length and will be 7.5kg better in the Grade 3.

Piet Botha, a man surely going places, won the first with the Louis Mxothwa-ridden Senor Don and has recently added to his owners Marsh Shirtliff who was in the winner’s box with the Aldo Domeyer-ridden Fabian in the last. Candice Bass-Robinson elected to go for this handicap rather than take on the might of Kasimir in Saturday’s Cape Flying Championship but Shirtliff is still looking forward to Saturday “with the R18-20 million Pick Six to challenge for.”

So too are, for a very different reason, are Adam Marcus and Craig Zackey who won with Hello Winter Hello – although the training half of the Vardy combination admitted that he was getting grey hairs!

By Michael Clower

Ryan Moore has an international schedule as extensive and wide-ranging as an airline pilot in the days leading up to his first experience of Kenilworth in Saturday’s Sun Met.

On Saturday he was in Florida to partner the Aidan O’Brien-trained Magic Wand in the Pegasus World Cup Turf International Stakes (he was second) and today he rides More Than This in the Classic Mile at the big Chinese New Year meeting in Hong Kong, replacing Karis Teetan who had won all his three rides on the horse.

From there he goes to Saudi Arabia to ride work on horses entered for the world’s richest horse race, the $20 million Saudi Cup on February 29. Only after that can he set his sights on the Met.

“I hope he will get a chance to sit on Rainbow Bridge before Saturday but, if not, he is a professional and he knows what to do,” says Eric Sands who seems likely to show him extracts from Garth Puller’s fascinating interview with David Thiselton on the challenges facing Moore in the Met. This appeared in the Daily News last week and former champion jockey Puller, who won the Met three times, is Sands’ former brother-in-law.

Puller made specific reference to the interference problems caused by all the jostling for position in the early stages. “The reason is because jockeys want to find cover from the South-Easterly wind. They have that in mind from the jump and, with everybody trying to hide from it, the field takes some time to sort itself out.”

Indeed the South-Easter is the reason why most Cape Town trainers regard ‘Thou shalt not go three wide’ as the 11^th of the Ten Commandments (and more important than most of the others!) whereas in many parts of the world covering a bit of extra ground is often regarded as preferable to getting boxed in, or using up valuable energy by having to check and ease back in order to get a run.

Puller has no doubt that Moore will listen to what Sands has to say and adapt accordingly. “I have watched Ryan ride and he is definitely one of the best five jockeys in the world. No new track or horse will make any difference to him. Also he is not the sort of jockey who is going to ride the horse blind. He will watch the re-runs and probably give the horse a blow-out beforehand.”

By Michael Clower