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2022 Cape Town Met Tips - Too early to write off Marshall's star
- 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
Expired
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 |
|---|---|
| Kommetdieding | 10/3 |
| Double Superlative | 7/2 |
| Jet Dark | 7/2 |
| Linebacker | 4/1 |
| Marina | 7/1 |
| Do It Again | 14/1 |
| Hoedspruit | 14/1 |
| Bar | 33/1 |
*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.
Linebacker2022 Cape Town Met Best BetGET 4/1 HERE
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
Linebacker2022 Cape Town Met Best BetGET 4/1 HERE
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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.
Linebacker
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