Six years on from their record-breaking rout, Snaith Racing is firing up the engines and readying their stable stars ahead of another Met-day assault.
In 2016, Justin Snaith saddled eight winners on the 12-race card, including the first six.
And while unlikely to match that feat at this year’s meeting on Saturday 29 January at Kenilworth racecourse in Cape Town, South Africa’s Champion Trainer does look likely to dominate by winning the three Grade 1 prizes on offer.
Equus Champion Sprinter Rio Querari finished second in last year’s renewal of the Cape Flying Championship over 1000m but should confirm his status as the best speedster in the land by going one better in Race 7.
His lack of race fitness after a well-deserved five-month break and the concession of 3kg to exciting Real Gone Kid contributed to his last-start defeat by the latter. But with that comeback run under his belt and conditions of the race in his favour, a sharper Rio Querari (top-rated and best-weighted in the race) is expected to show up and prove too good for his rivals under regular pilot Grant van Niekerk.
Defending Majorca Stakes heroine and recent winner of the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes, superstar filly Captain’s Ransom sets the standard in Race 8 over 1600m and looks primed to retain the title she won as a three-year-old 12 months ago when trouncing defending champion Clouds Unfold.
Snaith’s charge edged re-opposing Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette over 1800m in her last start and should confirm superiority over her younger adversary reverting to 1600m on 0.5kg better terms.
Two-time Queen’s Plate (1600m) hero and Champions Cup (1800m) winner Jet Dark ventures into unknown territory when stepping up to 2000m in the Grade 1 Cape Town Met, presented by World Sports Betting, (Race 9), but on the evidence of his last-start success when slowly away before bursting clear in the final 400m, he could see out the distance if given another patient ride by in-form S’manga Khumalo.
Vodacom Durban July winner Kommetdieding and dual 2000m Grade 1 winner Linebacker renew rivalry, but Jet Dark could soar to another victory and bag Snaith what may turn out to be a Grade 1 treble.
Preview by Clive Robinson
