By Alistair Cohen
There is nothing quite like the reveal of first entries for a marquee race and on 25 January at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, one of these names will join the honours board with greats like Horse Chestnut, Politician and Pocket Power. The Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met entries were made known today and trainers have not rested on their laurels. An exciting spread of the expected high-class contenders with a smattering of exciting three-year-olds plus some high-quality fillies makes the first step to the 2025 Weight For Age spectacle an already exciting proposition.
31 names are on the list of First Entries and eyes are drawn straight to the favourite in 2024, See It Again. Trainer Michael Roberts signals his intent to travel between three corners of the country. His prep run was a winning seasonal debut at Hollywoodbets Greyville en route to Turffontein for the Betway Summer Cup before likely heading to Cape Town. He has the highest merit rating among the entries with a mark of 131.
None would be shocked to notice that Dean Kannemeyer has slotted Green With Envy into the nominations. Many are already discussing his chances as a potential Met winner based on his Splashout Cape Derby and Daily News 2000 Grade 1 wins. He did not get the rub of the green in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. He is entered to start his season on 7 December in the WSB Greenpoint Stakes. William Iron Arm is a recent arrival to Kannemeyer and he is an entry. But the biggest surprise is Gimme A Prince. A dual Grade 1 winner as a sprinter would make headlines if he lowered the colours of this opposition. Kannemeyer has plenty of options for Gimme A Prince this summer and this is another avenue to consider.
Mike de Kock last won the Met in 2012 with freak filly Igugu and he clicked enter on four runners. Reigning Horse Of The Year Dave The King inevitably makes the list. Dual Grade 1 winner himself including the HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m. His powerful front-running tactics could answer a persistent Met question about the pace of the race. De Kock has listed Grade 1 Woolavington winner Silver Sanctuary who placed at Grade 1 level at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last summer. However, two names who stick out are unbeaten three-year-olds Greaterix and Heather’s Boy. Both horses have been the topic of a few discussions since the grass turned green on the Highveld. The last three-year-old to win the Met was Oh Susanna. De Kock knows how to win this great race with a three-year-old, famously.
2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Oriental Charm galloped at HQ on 26 October before the meeting and his gallop was exceptional to the eye. Brett Crawford has entered the gallant son of Vercingetorix among four entries from the yard. It is not uncommon for a horse to double up from the July to the Met. Crawford has also slotted Billy Bowlegs, Frances Ethel and Zapatillas.
Justin Snaith lifted the trophy with Daniel Muscutt and Nic Jonsson in 2024 when Double Superlative triumphed. The multiple South African Champion Trainer has listed nine entries. Eight On Eighteen won the Langermann has a two-year-old and he returned to the course with a pleasing third in the Cape Punters Cup. He is among the names adding further interest to the three-year-old debate. Get Impressed could be underappreciated by the handicapper. Grizzled performers, Future Swing, Hluhluwe, Pacaya, Royal Aussie, Triple Time and Without Question hold nominations. However, an eye is drawn to Snow Pilot who has been freakishly good in two starts this season. The Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner ran flat in Durban but has returned home with a vengeance.
Flag Man was hoisted as one of the most improved horses last season after he ran so close to Green With Envy in the Daily News 2000 before giving a thrill in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. He is not out of place among these names with Gareth van Zyl at the helm. Van Zyl reports that Flag Man has been in Cape Town since mid-October.
Andre Nel is having a whale of a time currently and he has Cape Eagle who has done most of his good work in KwaZulu-Natal in the past few seasons. He is carded to run in the Summer Cup at Turffontein this Saturday. Gutsy Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup winner Master Redoute loves to be involved as well as Saartjie who made her seasonal return this past Saturday with a pleasing third in the Summer Bowl over 1600m. Owner Sabine Plattner is no stranger to Met wins with Angus and Martial Eagle saluting in the familiar horseshoe silks.
Johan Janse van Vuuren has a small string in Cape Town while the vast majority of his horses continue to perform with aplomb on the Highveld. He has the galloping grey, Barbaresco among the entries.
Last year’s runner-up, Rascallion returned to the course with a brilliant win in the Grade 3 Cape Mile. Vaughan Marshall has been brilliant with this evergreen seven-year-old and a Grade 1 win would be most deserving.
The Bass name is synonymous with the Met and Candice has Red Palace to pin her hopes on. She has some similarities to River Jetez in the manner in which she knuckles down when in the mood and she can be impressive and classy.
Al Muthana famously knocked over Charles Dickens in the L’Ormarins Kings Plate in 2023 and he goes to the well for Ricky Maingard while Piet Botha overachieves with his string. He has nominated Baratheon and Montien, both of whom can be very dangerous on a going day.
SEE IT AGAIN (5G) 0.0 131 BA Michael Roberts
GIMME A PRINCE (6G) 0.0 130 A Dean Kannemeyer
DAVE THE KING (5G) 0.0 128 A Mike de Kock
GREEN WITH ENVY (4C) 0.0 127 A Dean Kannemeyer
FLAG MAN (4G) 0.0 126 A Gareth van Zyl
ORIENTAL CHARM (4C) 0.0 125 A Brett Crawford
SNOW PILOT (4C) 0.0 125 A Justin Snaith
ROYAL AUSSIE (5G) 0.0 124 A Justin Snaith
BARBARESCO (4G) 0.0 122 A e J A Janse van Vuur
RASCALLION (7G) 0.0 122 BA Vaughan Marshall
AL MUTHANA (AUS) (7G) 0.0 120 A Ricky Maingard
MONTIEN (5G) 0.0 120 A Piet Botha
WITHOUT QUESTION (5G) 0.0 120 A Justin Snaith
RED PALACE (4F) 0.0 119 A Candice Bass-Robin
ZAPATILLAS (6G) 0.0 119 A Brett Crawford
FRANCES ETHEL (4F) 0.0 118 PA Brett Crawford
HLUHLUWE (4G) 0.0 118 A Justin Snaith
PACAYA (6G) 0.0 118 A Justin Snaith
SAARTJIE (5M) 0.0 118 A Andre Nel
BILLY BOWLEGS (5G) 0.0 117 A Brett Crawford
MASTER REDOUTE (6G) 0.0 117 AT Andre Nel
SILVER SANCTUARY (4F) 0.0 116 A e Mike de Kock
TRIPLE TIME (5G) 0.0 112 A Justin Snaith
WILLIAM IRON ARM (4G) 0.0 112 A Dean Kannemeyer
CAPE EAGLE (7G) 0.0 110 A Andre Nel
EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN (3C) 0.0 110 A Justin Snaith
FUTURE SWING (5G) 0.0 110 A Justin Snaith
BARATHEON (6G) 0.0 106 A Piet Botha
GET IMPRESSED (4G) 0.0 106 A Justin Snaith
GREATERIX (3C) 0.0 105 A Mike de Kock
#HEATHER’S BOY (3C) 0.0 96 A Mike de Kock
First Supp. Entries: 11:00 Tuesday 17 December 2024
Final Supp. Entries: 11:00 Monday 6 January 2025
Weights Published: Monday 6 January
Declarations: 10:00 Wednesday 15 Jan 2025
Final Field: Embargoed and announced on Wednesday 15 January 2025 at an event TBA
Barrier Draws: Barrier Draws at an event on Wednesday 15 January 2025 TBA
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