Punters face tough undercard on Met day

OTHER than the Sun Met, celebrated with G.H.MUMM, there are three other Grade 1 races at Kenilworth on Saturday January 26 – the Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1 000m, the G-Bets Cape Derby over 2 000m and the Bidvest Majorca Stakes over 1 600m.

With the Pick 6 carryover currently sitting at R900 000 and an estimated pool of R7.5 million, one will need to negotiate all of these as they will form part of that bet.

The Majorca Stakes looks to be a race in three between Snowdance, Lady In Black and Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre but the other two look to be a minefield for bettors.

With the Cape Flying Championship at weight-for-age one would think the top-rated runners should have massive advantage but that is not the case with this dash up the straight and there are a number of horses with winning chances.

While Bold Respect is the best-handicapped runner, it is stable companion Pacific Trader who has been priced up as the 5-1 favourite.

The same is true of the Cape Derby where a full field of 20 has been carded to go to post. There are also three fillies in the field and two of them are the best handicapped horses and they are Sean Tarry-trained Second Request and Santa Clara from the Candice Bass-Robinson yard.

Second Request, who is drawn No 1 and has champion jockey Lyle Hewitson in the irons, is quoted at 8-1 while you can get 16-1 about Santa Clara. –