2021 Cape Town Met Tips - De Kock's Queen can reign Supreme at Kenilworth

Saturday marks one of the biggest days on the South African racing calendar, as a classy field take part in the 2021 renewal of the Cape Town Met. 

The Met was originally run at Kenilworth way back in 1883. Since being upped to Grade One status, this famous race has been won by legendary horses like Horse Chestnut, Politician and the only three winner, Pocket Power.

We've taken a look through the latest odds and the draw, before coming up with our best bets.

Topping the betting we find this year's Durban July winner, Belgarion, who beat Do It Again, Golden Ducat and Rainbow Bridge that day at Greyville. Since then, Justin Snaith's star has beaten Rainbow Bridge over a mile in the Green Point Stakes, before staying on for third over that trip behind Jet Dark in the Queen's Plate.

Rainbow Bridge was second in the Queens Plate, finishing ahead of both Belgarion and Do It Again. Eric Sands' star won the Sun Met two years ago and ran another cracker to place second behind One World 12 months ago.

There doesn't seem to be an obvious pace angle here, something which won't suit very strong stayers like Belgarion and Golden Ducat. Rainbow Bridge is more of a natural over this trip, and his excellent record in the Met makes him the best of the geldings in my eyes.

Rainbow Bridge would be my selection if QUEEN SUPREME wasn't involved. However, Mike De Kock has chosen to throw his mare into the mix, and Keagan De Melo's mount will be my 2021 Cape Town Met tip.

Queen Supreme won her first Grade One in the Cartier Paddock Stakes, run over nine furlongs here at Kenilworth last January. De Melo's mount then successfully defended her Paddock Stakes crown three weeks ago, where she comfortably beat Summer Pudding and Met rival Princess Calla, when giving her rival a stone at the weights.

Some will question her stamina for this extended trip, given she was only fourth on her only previous start in the 2019 Chris Gerber Summer Cup. However, Queen Supreme was a three-year-old filly, running against older geldings, and she was only getting weight from one of the horses who finished ahead of her, the ultra-classy Soqrat. Plus, she was only beaten a length, so it's not as if her tank was completely empty as she crossed the line.

Queen Supreme is now a mature five-year-old, who's won two Grade Ones around this track. I don't see any reason why she won't be able to see out this trip, especially when there could be a lack of early pace to drag her out of her comfort zone.

Since deciding to run his mare in the Met, Mike De Kock has taken Queen Supreme home to ready her for this headline assignment. She gets at least four pounds from the geldings, and I can't see any of her fellow fillies finishing ahead of her either.