Cape Town’s showpiece event, the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met over 2000m, takes place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Joining with World Pools adds to the excitement and exposure that a superb day deserves. South African and international racing fans will be glued to the action to claim a huge slice of expanded pools, which raises interest to a whole new level.
The winner of the Hollywoodbets Durban July does not win by accident. Oriental Charm’s class, courage, and determination in the 2024 event were testaments to a horse who refuses to lose and fights to win the biggest events on the calendar. It is certainly not foreign for a horse to follow the July into the Met, and Oriental Charm could be the next horse to claim two huge South African prizes.
Over the last nine months, he rapidly grew through the divisions, building confidence. As jockey JP van der Merwe figured out his most effective racing style, going to the lead, he grew into almost an alpha-male aura. He won a hard tussle, winning a race that is generally not won from start to finish.
He was given a long break between July and December when he stepped out in the World Sports Betting Greenpoint Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Again, he dominated from the front and kicked off his good speed to claim victory. He was always going to battle in the L’Ormarins Kings Plate three weeks ago. The pace would always play against him with so many pacy horses. Added to that, he was going to battle having his second run after a break stepping back with an eye to this race.
He has had a better preparation than his biggest rivals and that should count for plenty. Van Der Merwe is booked to ride for Brett and James Crawford.
Eight On Eighteen is the most interesting runner in the race being a three-year-old. He always held an entry for the Met but it was a last-minute call to sidestep the City Of Cape Town Politician Stakes where he would have been a shoo-in. His run to One Stripe in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in December was full of merit chasing him down but ultimately just missing behind the best three-year-old colt in the country. Three-year-olds do not often run in the Met so this is a change from the norm. But he has Richard Fourie aboard and his presence in the field is richer as a result.
Green With Envy is a dual Grade 1 winner having scooped the Splashout Cape Derby and the Daily News 2000 in 2024. He has had a poor prep into the race having missed the Kings Plate due to pulling up a bit scratchy after the Greenpoint when he ran last. Easy to forgive him for that run because he is proven to be miles better than that. If he is at his best, he has valid claims because he has beaten Oriental Charm at the highest level before.
Runner-up in 2024, Rascallion has a wide gate while Grade 1 Betway Summer up winner, Atticus Finch makes up the list of horses to include.
Two other Grade 1 races form part of the card. Double Grand Slam stands out as a very hard horse to beat in the Maine Chances Farms Majorca Stakes, race 2 over 1600m. She is the best horse in the race and she claimed a much deserved Grade 1 win in the Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m at the start of this year. The small field and the lack of quality should guide her to victory.
Fatal Flaw won the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas over 1600m. It might not have been a quality field but she won from the deepest draw. This is another step up against older rivals but she remains of interest.
The HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship, race 7, over 1000m could be the race of the day. The 2024 winner, Dyce is back to defend his crown. He was fluent 12 months ago and he has since been gelded. Although he was beaten at his last run, his prep has been similar, if not better than last year. Piere Strydom is carded to take the ride.
Gimme A Prince won this race two years ago. He is a dual Grade 1 winner. He ran third in the L’Ormarins Kings Plate behind One Stripe and he felt the sting over the last 100m. He is more at home in the sprints and he is a live chance.
Lucky Lad is also a Grade 1 winner claiming the Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1200m in June last year. He also ran in the Kings Plate and he stayed on well. He is a hostage to fortune in that he comes from far off the pace but that running style suits down the Kenilworth straight. Grant van Niekerk’s patient riding style should also suit. It would be no shock if he won.
Questioning was desperately unlucky in his last run when he found traffic. But this trip is on the short side. He is a quality horse and he will be doing his best work late.
Race 1 over 1000m is the Listed Heineken Summer Juvenile Stakes. Traditionally, fillies have a great record in this race. She’s My World has one-run worth of experience under the belt when she finished second behind Parental Guidance. She seemingly has scope to improve because she was green but hit the line running. She will make significant improvement and she could turn the tables with her conqueror who has had a run in between.
Saartjie has been around Grade 1 level lately with no luck. She might have found the right race in the Grade 3 Tsogo Sun Summer Fling Stakes, race 3, over 2000m. She is down in class and this course and distance is in her wheelhouse. The key to make or break her is a hot pace to aim at. She should get that with light weights Lady Springfield and Omikami possibly setting the gallop.
Poets Warrior is trained at altitude in Johannesburg by Mike and Adam Azzie. His hard, frontrunning galloping style has been a marvel to watch and he has emerged as the long-distance horse to follow this year. It is a brave move to run him in race 4, the New Turf Carriers Reserve Stayers over 2500m. Gavin Lerena is carded to take the ride. He will be giving his absolute all and he could be a hard horse to peg back.
Let It Be Said has become frustrating to follow but he has the right credentials to win race 5 over 1400m. On the back of a string of runner-up finishes, he looks overdue to visit the number one box for the first time in a while. Grant van Niekerk is up for Justin Snaith.
Symphony In White has a serious chance in the Listed SABC Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m, race 6. Raymond Danielson is carded to take the ride for Candice Bass-Robinson. She has been dabbling at Grade 1 and 2 level and just not quite had the quality. She could represent some value. The outside going has levelled up over the last month so gate No 16 should not be such a concern as it would have been at the end of 2024.
The Grade 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m is always a lovely race as it gives a chance for unexposed three-year-olds to show their mettle. Garrix was left with it all to do from a deep draw last time but he made up stacks of ground. He caught the eye when he made his debut and he has progressed at handicap level. He could be more upwardly mobile from here and this race has always been on his radar before the Cape Derby next month. Aldo Domeyer is carded to take the ride.
A few names to keep in mind going forward are Sail The Seas and Regulation, both trained by Justin Snaith. They could also have plenty to come.
Race 10 over 1400m is wildly competitive, possibly the most complex on the card. Please Be True is tipped to take the win but there are plenty with chances. Include as many as you can afford.
Snow Pilot stands out as the best bet on the card in race 11 over 1400m. He fluffed his lines in the L’Ormarins Kings Plate last time but he is worth another chance plummeting in class. He is a former Grade 1 winner as a three-year-old and he has largely been in top form this season. He has developed a strong style of frontrunning and galloping them into the ground. From a deep draw, his options will be solo but his class should see him take out the victory.
The finale also has an open look to it. Empire State is back to 1200m and that could reproduce his best efforts again. Held in high regard he has underdelivered but his early promise could have been that he is simply a smart sprinter in the making.
