Hollywoodbets Durban July

A total of 36 entries remain in the running for a spot in the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July after final supplementary entries closed. Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

Cape Town Met: Kommetdieding draws ‘pole position’ for Cape flagship race

The final field for the 2022 R2 million Grade 1 Cape Town Met presented by World Sports Betting has been unveiled.

Hollywoodbets Durban July

A total of 36 entries remain in the running for a spot in the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July after final supplementary entries closed. Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The final field for the 2022 R2 million Grade 1 Cape Town Met presented by World Sports Betting was unveiled at Kenilworth racecourse on Wednesday evening.

FOR THE LATEST HORSERACING NEWS PLEASE VISIT THE SOUTH AFRICAN WEBSITE

A field of 11 runners will line up in the Cape flagship event on Saturday, 29 January, headed by the ‘people’s horse’ and 2021 Durban July winner Kommetdieding, who will bid to become the first since Mike de Kock’s filly Igugu (2012), and another popular equine character in Pocket Power (2009), to register the consecutive Durban July-Met double.

READ | RAINBOW BRIDGE RETIRED, WONT DEFEND CAPE TOWN MET TITLE

According to the Sporting Post website, Kommetdieding has the credentials and is a popular favourite after a storming second behind Jet Dark in the recent L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

Trainer Michelle Rix is bullish about the chances of her smart colt and when asked recently who the ones to beat were, she replied, “None actually; I’m pretty confident.”

Owner Ashwin Reynolds also said that he was looking forward to racing against Jet Dark, who beat Kommetdieding by 2.25 lengths last time out in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

Reynolds said he was not worried: ”It will be his third run after a rest, he will be cherry-ripe, but if Jet Dark does beat us, I will take it on the chin and say good luck, he is better than us.”

Asked about Jet Dark’s younger stable companion Double Superlative, the only 3-year-old in the race, Reynolds replied: “A three-year-old? Can Anton Marcus do the weight, 54kg? I am not sure he can.”

Big race jockey Gavin Lerena galloped Kommetdieding on Wednesday morning and declared his mount “in a good space”.

READ | TOP ENTERTAINMENT AND FASHION GLAMOUR RETURNS TO THE CAPE TOWN MET

Jet Dark heads the Snaith quartet and, while he beat Kommetdieding in the Queen’s Plate, the extra 400m could be the equaliser.

Kommetdieding drew stall No 1 in Wednesday’s barrier draw.

Dark Jet will jump from gate 9 with another of the fancied runners, the Vaughan Marshall-trainer Linebacker in stall 6.

CAPE TOWN MET TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW

Tickets are available for purchase on Webtickets or in any Pick n Pay store nationwide.

Admission options start at R40 per person, with general admission including grandstand access costing R100 per person.

Access to exclusive areas with hospitality starts at R1 000 for two people.