2023 Cape Town Met Tips - Fairytale farewell for Jet Dark at Kenilworth?

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 26 Jan 2023

Jon Vine 26 Jan 2023

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Odds and betting predictions for the 2023 Cape Town Met
This Grade One takes place at Kenilworth on Saturday 28th January
Make It Snappy is the 4/1 joint-favourite with Bet.co.za
Jet Dark is our best bet at 4/1
We're also backing Linebacker each-way at 50/1

Expired

Jet Dark (middle) finishing second behind Kommetdieding in this race 12 months ago. (Getty)

The second leg of South Africa's triple crown takes place on Saturday, as a classy field gathers at Kenilworth for the Cape Town Met. Jet Dark and Kommetdieding return after solid runs in the King's Plate, but it's a Brett Crawford filly who currently tops the market.

Here's a look through the current Cape Town Met betting and a rundown of the most likely runners.

2023 Cape Town Met Odds

Name	Odds
Make It Snappy	4/1
Jet Dark	4/1
Kommetdieding	6/1
Cousin Casey	13/2
Sparkling Water	7/1
Bar	16/1

*Odds taken on 25/1/23*

2023 Cape Town Met Entries

The filly in question is Make It Snappy, who comes into this Grade One on the back of victories in the Paddock Stakes and the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. Crawford's three-year-old will be in receipt of both age and sex allowances, and Bet.co.za list Make It Snappy as their 4/1 favourite.

The first and second from last year's Met, Kommetdieding and Jet Dark - who has joined the favourite at the top of the betting in recent days - will again take part in this historic Grade One. Both were beaten in the King's Plate by shock winner Al Muthana, who can be backed at a lengthy price to repeat that feat, albeit over a longer distance.

Reigning Durban July champion, Sparkling Water can be backed at a single-figure price. As can three-year-old colt Cousin Casey, who finished second behind the beaten favourite in the King's Plate, Charles Dickens when they met in the Cape Guineas.

Other likely runners in Saturday's feature include Vaughn Marshall's Rascallion, Eric Sands' Golden Ducat and Anton Marcus' Universal. Do It Again, Zapatilas, Warrior and Linebacker can all be backed at prices longer than 50/1 with Bet.co.za.

2023 Cape Town Met Tip 1 - Jet Dark

Jet Dark2023 Cape Town Met Tip 1GET 4/1 HERE

With just 51.5kg to shoulder, Make It Snappy could be very hard to beat in this year's Cape Town Met. The being said, Brett Crawford's filly does come into this race on the back of a hard-fought victory over older mares in the Paddock Stakes - where Make It Snappy was getting 6kg at the weights - and this will be the first time she's ever tackled the boys. I'm happy to take the market leader on.

Justin Snaith revealed during the build-up to the Met that JET DARK, despite his relatively young age of five, will be retired to stud following Saturday's race and there's an excellent chance that we could see Richie Fourie's mount bow out with a fifth Grade One triumph.

A two-time winner of the Champions Cup over nine furlongs and the runaway winner of the 2022 Queen's Plate back down over the mile, I had pigeon-holed Jet Dark as a speed horse. I didn't fancy Snaith's runner at all going into the Durban July, especially under a top weight of 60kg. Yet, Jet Dark proved any doubters wrong with a fantastic performance that day, staying on gamely to finish second behind the impressive winner, Sparkling Water.

Snaith's star returned to action this season with an easy win at Grade Three level, but missed his prep-run for the King's Plate after meeting with a minor setback. Despite that hiccup, Jet Dark went on to run well at Kenilworth earlier this month, passing Kommetdieding in the closing stage to finish third as Al Muthana upset Charles Dickens.

Jet Dark rattled home to finish third in this race 12 months ago, having missed the break from stall nine. Snaith's star is drawn beautifully in stall four this time around and he could round off an excellent career with a fairytale ending.

2023 Cape Town Met Tip 2 - Linebacker

Linebacker E/W2023 Cape Town Met Tip 2GET 50/1 HERE

I'm also going to have a small each-way punt on an old favourite of mine, LINEBACKER. Vaughan Marshall's charge hasn't progressed as many had hoped following a superb three-year-old campaign. Linebacker really struggled for consistency during 2022 and hasn't run particularly well on either of his starts over a mile so far this term.

Over 10 furlongs, however, Linebacker's record is excellent. Marshall's star has run over this distance three times, claiming two Grade One wins as a three-year-old while also running very well when third in this race 12 months ago. Marshall said in his press piece building up to Saturday's Met that Linebacker has come on massively for that run in the King's Plate and I can't ignore him at 50/1, now Corne Orffer's mount is back running over his optimum distance.

Verdict

2023 Cape Town Met

Jet Dark is our best bet in the 2023 Cape Town Met. Linebacker is our each-way selection at 50/1.

Jet Dark

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Linebacker

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