Defending champion Kommetdieding heads a high-class field of 19 horses that will line up in the 161st renewal of the R2 million WSB Cape Town Met at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 28 January.
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According to the Sporting Post website, in what is expected to be his swansong appearance before he departs for the Klawervlei paddocks to take up stallion duties, Kommetdieding will again be ridden by Gavin Lerena and drew barrier gate 6.
Boasting the distinction of being the first horse since Mike de Kock’s great filly Igugu (2012), and another star in Pocket Power ( 2009), to register the consecutive Durban July-Met double, Kommetdieding comes in fighting fit after placings in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes and the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
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Kommetdieding meets last year’s second and third-placer Jet Dark (0.75 lengths) and Linebacker (0.95 lengths) again, as well as having to contend with recent L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner Al Muthana, and two really smart 3-year-olds in Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas runner-up Cousin Casey, and the dual Grade 1 winning filly Make It Snappy.
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Make It Snappy will be comfortable over the 2 000m, and Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech will know what it takes for a filly to win this race. Delpech was aboard Imperious Sue in 1998 and 2012 heroine, Igugu.
The last 3-year-old filly to win the 2 000m contest was Oh Susanna, who stormed home under Grant van Niekerk in 2018. The previous 3-year-old filly to win prior to her dates back to 1905.
The engagement of Piere Strydom to ride Al Muthana is an interesting one on the occasion of the veteran champion’s final Met ride. The Australian-bred gelding has drawn 12 and his stamina is in doubt.
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A look at the latest Hollywoodbets betting shows Make It Snappy has been installed as the 7/2 favourite, ahead of Jet Dark (4/1) and Kommetdieding (11/2).
Sparkling Water and Cousin Casey follow at 6/1.
The winner of the race will take home R1 187 500 with second place worth R380 000.
The payouts for third to fifth are R190 000, R95 000 and R47 500, respectively.
The race is due off at 17:10.
WSB CAPE TOWN MET FINAL FIELD
Under draw, horse, weight, merit rating, jockey, trainer
