Jockey-go-round as final field is unveiled for Cape Town Met

The only surprises in the announcement of the final field for the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met came among the jockey bookings. The 19 horses named were entirely as expected.

Met defending champion Kommetdieding will be among the favourites for the Cape’s biggest horse race at Kenilworth on January 28, as will his great rival Jet Dark.

ALSO READ: Kommetdieding does it again at Cape Town Met

As expected, “Kommet” will be ridden by regular companion Gavin Lerena and Jet Dark by Richard Fourie. But jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe, much-lauded winner of the recent L’Ormarins King’s Plate on rank outsider Al Muthana, has jumped ship and will partner eight-year-old warhorse Do It Again for Justin Snaith.

Speaking of warhorses, veteran Piere “Striker” Strydom takes over the Al Muthana duties for trainer Ricky Maingard. In itself, that’s a bit of a surprise as Strydom forsakes Nexus – on whom he has done very well lately – for a horse that might be challenged by the Met’s 2000m.

Muzi Yeni is on Nexus, who ran a cracker in the 1800m Grade 2 Premier Trophy under Strydom.

Weight problem

Another new partnership is current leading jockey Keagan de Melo and three-year-old sensation Make It Snappy – though this is entirely a weight-related issue.

Luyolo Mxothwa, who steered Brett Crawford’s star filly to three of her four recent victories – including two Grade 1s – can’t make the 51.5kg the beautifully bred daughter of Dynasty has been allotted.

Mxothwa gets the nod for Crawford stablemate Zapatillas.

International superstar Christophe Soumillon is clearly enjoying a sojourn in the Cape and extends it to ride joint-topweight Golden Ducat for Eric Sands – and gets pole position in the draw.

One further minor surprise is that top-level four-year-old Waterberry Lane has been entered by Maingard – giving him two runners – having moved from the Dean Kannemeyer yard.

Final field for the WSB Cape Town Met, R2-million, 2000m

(No & draw, name, weight, MR, equipment, jockey, trainer)

1 Golden Ducat, 60, 120, BA, Christophe Soumillon, Eric Sands

2 Make It Snappy, 51.5, 125, A, Keagan de Melo, Brett Crawford

3 Marina, 57.5, 117, BA, Aldo Domeyer, Candice Bass-Robinson

4 Jet Dark, 60, 130, A, Richard Fourie, Justin Snaith

5 Sparkling Water, 57.5, 122, A, S’manga Khumalo, Mike de Kock

6 Kommetdieding, 60, 129, A, Gavin Lerena, HWJ Crawford/M Rix

7 Universal, 59.5, 116, A, Juan Paul vd Merwe, Adam Marcus

8 Do It Again, 60, 126, BA, Bernard Fayd’Herbe, Justin Snaith

9 Nexus, 60, 114, BA, Muzi Yeni, Justin Snaith

10 Zapatillas, 59.5, 122, A, Luyolo Mxothwa, Brett Crawford

11 Waterberry Lane, 59.5, 116, A, Raymond Danielson, Ricky Maingard

12 Al Muthana (AUS), 60, 133, A, Piere Strydom, Ricky Maingard W

13 Warrior, 60, 112, A, Ryan Munger, Justin Snaith

14 Cousin Casey, 54, 115, A, Grant van Niekerk, Glen Kotzen

15 Rain In Holland, 57, 116, TBA, Calvin Habib, Sean Tarry

16 Linebacker, 60, 122, BA, Corne Orffer, Vaughan Marshall

17 Rascallion, 60, 122, A, Sean Veale, Vaughan Marshall

18 Gem King, 59.5, 104, A, Gareth Wright, Piet Steyn

19 Pomp And Power, 59.5, 114, A, Kabelo Matsunyane, Justin Snaith