World Sports Betting Cape Town MET 2024 - Barrier Draw Event

The 2024 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met barrier draw was held in typically stylish Cape fashion in the 1881 Room at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on Wednesday, 17 January 2024.

Cape Racing’s Alistair Cohen and Vicky Minott hosted the event, ably assisted by World Sports Betting director, Hilton Hasson, who drew runners’ names from an ornate antique Met trophy. Representatives were then called to the stage and in keeping with the Cape Splendour theme, selected a Cape protea from the bouquet on offer to reveal their draw.

2023 World Sports Betting Cape Met winning trainer Justin Snaith was first to the stage, drawing 9 for WITHOUT QUESTION, who will be partnered by the newly qualified, but eminently deserving Rachel Venniker, who will be making her Cape Met riding debut.

Snaith holds a strong hand of five runners on 27 January and the remainder drew as follows:-

2 - DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE (Daniel Muscutt)
3 - PACAYA (JP van der Merwe)
8 - ROYAL AUSSUE (Kabelo Matsunyane) 
6 - MUCHO DINERO (Grant van Niekerk)

Next to face the foliage were the connections of family fairytale horse, MONTIEN. Trained by Piet Botha, Anthony Andrews takes the ride on the 4yo gelding bred and still part-owned by his parents, Terry and Annabel Andrews, and the pair will face the starter from starting gate 12.

Hotly anticipated was the draw for 4yo SEE IT AGAIN and trainer Michael ‘Muis’ Roberts drew 11 for the ruling favourite, who will be partnered by 6-time national champion rider and regular partner, Piere Strydom.

Highveld trainer Sean Tarry did duty for the connections of BLESS MY STARS, the only filly in this year’s race. The 4yo got draw 5 and will have the services of last year’s World Sports Betting Cape Met winning rider, Richard Fourie.

Ricky Maingard was called up to draw for WATERBERRY LANE and got pole position for the 5yo gelding and jockey Denis Schwarz. Maingard’s second charge, 2023 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner, AL MUTHANA, will jump from gate 7 under Raymond Danielson.

ANFIELDS ROCKET has recently transferred to the care of trainer Brett Crawford, who drew gate 4 for his charge and stable jockey Louie Mxothwa.

SUGAR MOUNTAIN, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, pulled number 10 and the 5yo Silvano gelding will be ridden by 2024 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winning jockey, Aldo Domeyer.

The remaining outside draw of 13 went the way of RASCALLION, trained by Vaughan Marshall and ridden by Bernard Fayd’herbe.

The 162^nd renewal of the Cape flagship, a highlight of the Cape racing and social calendar, will be held over 2000m at Weight-for-Age terms at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 27 January 2024.  This year is also a World Pool event.

The 13-strong field vying for Gr1 honours and the R2 million winner’s cheque will face the starter at 16:45.

History waits at the finish line.