GI Mr. Met Cap Preview
SATURDAY 28 JANUARY 2023 – 8:10PM EST | SOUTH AFRICA | 10 FURLONGS | FIRM TURF | $1,500,000
Restricted to 3 Year Olds and Older | 14 RUNNERS
#1 FAST FRANK – crash7 – 12/1
Crash7’s Frankel colt will break from the inside gate. A dual surface performer, the four year old comes off a three month rest after placing in the GI Fall Tent Show in Japan on the grass. He finished his race well against older horses and stays this trip well. Looking for his third Grade I victory after comfortably taking the Big Red Stakes and The Queen’s Dish last year. Watch for him to keep on strongly late under C. Gerhke’s drive, after settling in rear early.
#2 BLODWULF – fairhaven – 7/1
Last years winner of this event was fairhaven’s Siyouni five year old, who returns to defend his crown. He loves a bit of juice in the turf and the rain helped his cause last year when sitting on the pace and keeping on strongly. All three of his wins in the last 18 months came on good turf but he will have to do it here without the rain. Expect to see him with the early pace but he may find a few too good here in the finish.
#3 FARHH FROM LIKELY – cadet2 – 6/1
Since being gelded in 2021, cadet2’s five year old has run up an impressive eight race unbeaten run. He has victories in claim races right up to the GI Roberto Clemente in California last October. A real rags to riches story. Last time out he outclassed a full 14 runner field in the GII Sanders Stakes also in California. He is a threat here and the nine run win streak is very possible. F. Gossett ships in for the ride.
#4 INVINCIBLY – 17away – 21/1
The four year old by I Am Invincible has been consitent in graded contests of late and seems to be improving with experience. His 6th place in the GIII Northern Beer Cap last time looked better than his finishing position, staying on well late to finish only two lenths off the winner. Trainer 17away keeps him at around this ten furlong trip after previously disappointing over a mile and a half. Should be keeping on past a few beaten horses late in the race.
#5 LE PANDA – redhill3 – 7/1
The gelded son of Le Havre only found one rival too good last time when trying to complete a four timer. In his first Grade I start, redhill3’s five year old was finishing best of all when runner up in Newmarket’s ten furlong Eclipse Stakes. Previous to that he stayed on strongly to ease to a two length victory in the GIII Rennen Classic also over ten furlongs. He will be staying on better than most here and also has the speed to play a part in the finish.
#6 WEEKEND AT BOO’S – spkrbx – 7/1
The five year old by Bricks And Mortar has been running consitently in graded company without actually getting his head in front. It will probably be a similar story here for spkrbx’s dual stake winner. Recent third places in the GII Cities Cup and GI The Roberto Clemente puts him in with every chance here. This trip seems to be his best distance but in this grade he will probably find a few too good.
#7 GOLDEN JULY – fdllodged – 8/1
The highest earner in the field is fdllodged’s scratch bred five year old gelding by New Approach, with over $5m in prize money. Last time out he failed to run down Mob Devious in the GI King Kong Cup when a three length runner up. Previous to that he did get up before the line to claim the GI Coxless Stakes in Australia and looks for a fourth top grade victory here. He shouldn’t be far away in the business end of the race and looks to better his third place in this last year. Jockey J. Dawg will be in the saddle.
#8 BLUE DREAMING – houseroyal – 23/1
Houseroyal’s five year old is the most experienced in the field, having his 24th start here. He was a Grade I winner in his last competitve race when just getting up on the line to claim the Jolly Summer Cup here in South Africa two months ago. This looks tougher but two training races since that run should have him sharp. He will be looking to improve on his eighth place finish in this race last year and will run better than his odds suggest.
#9 MOON PHOENIX – maple6337 – 11/1
The son of Malibu Moon makes the trip from Hong Kong after a poor run in the GI King Kong Cup there. Maple6337’s five year old was coming off a front running Grade III win, however never got near the pace and was comfortably outclassed. I suspect another similar run here and may need to be matched in a lower grade to get back into the winners circle.
#10 PIERRO CRY – chops271 – 5/1F
The favourite is the Pierro five year old trained by chops271. Despite finishing behind GOLDEN JULY in both the GI King Kong Cup and when short odds favourite in the GI Coxless Stakes, the betting public fancy him to turn the tables on his rival and return to the form that saw him win two Grade I events last year. The gelding doesn’t know how to run a bad race and will be expected to play his part in the finish under the steering of E. Cerda.
#11 KIAMA AGILITY – chatham05 – 16/1
Dropping back in distance to ten furlongs is chatham05’s four year old by Sea The Stars. He stayed on well last time out when earning a surprise placing in the GI Japan Classic over a mile and a half. That was clearly his best run to date and there’s a suspicion that the longer trip plays to his strengths. Expect a solid run without quite having enough speed to fight out the finish.
#12 KYMARE TYSARCH – montana20 – 8/1
Despite finishing behind a few of his rivals in the GI King Kong Cup last time, his previous run when second in the GI McKinnon put him in with a small shout here. Montana20’s five year old gelding was a Grade III winner in March last year and has been highly tried in better company since with mixed results. If this is one of his going days then he should run with credit without managing to quite trouble the first few home.
#13 ARTIC ELDORADO – kimugle81 – 30/1
The four year old Bated Breath colt comes here as the outsider in the betting market. Last time out he was tried in a stakes event over 11.5 furlongs and clearly didn’t stay, beaten a long way out and finishing in his own time. The drop back in distance will still stretch his stamina limit and will struggle to get competitive here.
#14 IT’S TIME TO CRUSH – given17 – 21/1
Breaking from the outside gate will be given17’s four year old. The colt by Kingman relished the return to 10 furlongs last time and recorded his best run to date when taking the Hollywood Halo Turf Route stakes in Hong Kong. The comfortable two length win gained him an impressive 118 speed figure. Much more is required in this grade but he is going in the right direction.
SELECTIONS :
#7 GOLDEN JULY – #10 PIERRO CRY – #3 FARHH FROM LIKELY – #5 LE PANDA