Met favourites draw well

Do It Again, favourite for the Sun Met Celebrated with G.H. Mumm, was allowed starting gate No 7 of the 13 runners when the draw was made yesterday afternoon.

Second favourite Rainbow Bridge drew one off the paint in No 2.Last year’s winner and third favourite Oh Susanna also drew well in gate No 5 as she bids to become the first filly to win the famous race two years in succession.

Leading trainer Justin Snaith had fortune on his side, with all four of his runners pulling positions in the inside seven.

“I’m over the moon about Do It Again’s draw,” commented the champion conditioner.“I didn’t want him to be too much towards the inside. I don’t want him to be too involved in the fight for position early on.“I’m also very happy for Oh Susanna, as Bernard [Fayd’Herbe] can place her wherever she wants to be.

It’s the perfect draw for her.

“We had to run Made To Conquer after he put up a sensational gallop with blinkers, while Doublemint is a tough, rapidly improving little horse.”

Snaith celebrated his good for-tune by showing off his sabrage skills once the draw was concluded.

Called up to the stage, he removed a champagne cork with one sweep of a sword.

Super “miler” Legal Eagle drew gate No 11, but his trainer, Sean Tarry, wasn’t worried.

“I’m not too fazed,” said Tarry.

“We want to race the horse cold this year anyway. There’s plenty of pace in the race and there’s no pressure on Lyle [Hewitson] or Legal Eagle this year.”

Trainer Glen Kotzen’s son Kuyan drew position nine for Eyes Wide Open and Kotzen senior, too, was happy.

“Being drawn there will keep him out of trouble,” was how he put it.

Andre Nel has two contenders. They had contrasting fortunes, with Kampali Campari drawing pole position and the more fancied Head Honcho getting stuck out a little wide at ten.

“It could be be er and it could be worse,” was Nel’s resigned comment.

Brett Crawford was the unlucky one, as he pulled No 12 for Undercover Agent, who is trying the distance of 2000m for the first time and could have done with a start that allows him to find a prominent position early on.

“It’s a poor draw and it won’t be easy from there,” he said.

The glitzy draw event was held in the Good Hope Suites at the Grand West Casino in Cape Town and was well a ended by luminaries of the local racing scene. The theme for this year’s Sun Met is “African Luxury – Precious Metals”.

Like last year, sprinting legend Usain Bolt will be in attendance.

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