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2022 Cape Town Met Tips - Too early to write off Marshall's star

jon-vine
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Last updated: 27 Jan 2022
Jon Vine 27 Jan 2022
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  • Tips, odds and the draw for the 2022 Cape Town Met
  • This historic Grade One takes place at Kenilworth races on Saturday 29th January
  • Kommetdieding remains the favourite ahead of Double Superlative and Jet Dark
  • Linebacker is our best bet at 4/1
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kenilworth racecourse
Kenilworth racecourse. (Getty)

Three weeks after the Queen's Plate was run here at Kenilworth, another of South African horse racing's biggest races will hit our screens this weekend, as a classy field assembles for the Cape Town Met.

The Met was first run in Cape Town way back in 1959. Many of South Africa's most famous names have won this great race, including legends like Politician, Horse Chestnut, Rainbow Bridge and the only three-time winner, Pocket Power.

We've taken a look through the latest odds, analysed the form and the draw. Here are our best betting tips for the 2022 Met.

2022 Cape Town Met Odds


Name
Odds
Kommetdieding10/3
Double Superlative7/2
Jet Dark7/2
Linebacker4/1
Marina7/1
Do It Again14/1
Hoedspruit14/1
Bar33/1

*Odds taken on 27/1/22*

2022 Cape Town Met Entries

Jet Dark flew home from the rear of the field to win his second Queen's Plate at the beginning of the month. Kommetdieding stayed on to place second over a mile that day and the bookies clearly fancy the 2021 Durban July hero to reverse that form over this longer trip, listing Kommetdieding as the 2/1 favourite.

Justin Snaith could be represented by star three-year-old Double Superlative, who ran out a convincing winner of the Cape Guineas in December. Linebacker disappointed when only seventh in the Queen's Plate, but he too can be found at a single-figure price.

Marina is a likely runner for Candice Bass-Robinson, while Justin Snaith could run double Durban July winner, Do It Again and Goodwood Premier Trophy winner Hoedspruit.

Second Base and Puerto Manzano could fly the flag for Janse van Vuuren. Cirillo and Rockin' Ringo also feature in the final field.

2022 Cape Town Met Draw


Draw
Name
Merit Rating
Weight (kg)
Jockey
Trainer
1 Kommetdieding 127 59.5 Gavin Lerena Crawford & Rix
2 Rockin' Ringo 102 60 Corne Orffer Piet Botha
3 Double Superlative 113 54 Anton Marcus Justin Snaith
4 Hoedspruit 116 59.5 Luyolo Mxothwa Justin Snaith
5 Cirillo 118 60 Craig Zackey Sean Tarry
6 Linebacker 126 59.5 Grand van Niekerk Vaughan Marshall
7 Puerto Manzano 111 59.5 Keegan de Melo JJ van Vuuren
8 Marina 118 57 Aldo Domeyer Candice Bass-Robinson
9 Jet Dark 130 59.5 S'manga Khumalo Justin Snaith
10 Second Base 116 59.5 Wayne Kennedy JJ van Vuuren
11 Do It Again 129 60 Bernard Fayd'Herbe Justin Snaith

2022 Cape Town Met Tips



Oh Susanna is the only three-year-old to win The Met this century. She was having her eighth career start that day and went into the race having won the Paddock Stakes after a good runner-up finish to the classy Snowdance in the Fillies Guineas.

Justin Snaith's three-year-old, Double Superlative has been backed towards the top of the market, following an impressive win in the Cape Guineas. That was, however, just his second outing outside of maiden company and this looks like a big step up in class for a horse who lacks experience.

Very few horses in South African racing history have won the Queen's Plate and The Met in the same season. The Queen's Plate is run over a mile and a fast gallop from the get-go often turns that race into an eight-furlong sprint. The Met, meanwhile, is run over ten furlongs and the early pace is never usually as hot, as stamina over this trip is more important than flat-out speed.

Jet Dark showed a fantastic turn of foot to quicken up off an unsustainably quick pace to win his second Queen's Plate. While that run was super impressive, I'm not sure he has the stamina for this trip.

Based on last year's form, there is very little between Kommetdieding and LINEBACKER. Kommetdieding beat Linebacker in the Durban July and performed much better in the Queen's Plate. Linebacker ran flat last time out and was beaten four lengths back in seventh. Yet, there are a couple of reasons why I'd rather side with Vaughan Marshall's runner on Saturday, rather than the Durban July winner.

Both tried to come from off the pace in the Queen's Plate. Kommetdieding found the perfectly split down the inside rail and followed Jet Dark home in second. Linebacker, on the other hand, was forced widest of all to mount a challenge and simply couldn't pick up enough.

Although Linebacker won the Guineas over a mile at Greyville last season, his best performances came over longer trips. Marshall's stable star cruised to victory over ten furlongs in both the Cape Derby - held here at Kenilworth - and the Daily News 2000. He then looked to have the Durban July sewn up, only for Kommetdieding to fly home late and pip him to the post.

Grant Van Niekerk, who guided Linebacker through his excellent three-year-old campaign, returns to the saddle after Craig Zackey took the ride in the Queen's Plate. Zackey didn't do a bad job in the Plate, but Niekerk is undoubtedly the superior rider and he knows exactly how to handle this talented four-year-old.

Verdict

The return to ten furlongs and having van Niekirk back in the saddle will make a huge difference for Linebacker and anyone writing Vaughan Marshall's contender off prior to The Met may be made to eat their words.

2022 Cape Town Met Tips: Linebacker Straight Win @4/1 at bet365 - 20 Units
Linebacker
Straight Win
@4/1 - 20 Units
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