The weather is good, the track is lush and green, tent town and the picnic areas are abuzz and it is all systems go for Saturday’s J&B Met meeting at Kenilworth.
With no reports of final hitches and all 16 contestants for the R1-million race fit and well, everything is in place for this bumper meeting of the Cape Summer Season.
As to the betting for the race itself, there have been two interesting moves in the past 24 hours. The odds on David Ferraris’ runner Set Afire have shortening dramatically from 25-1 to 12-1 and there has been support for the only filly in the race, Geoff Woodruff’s Special Parade whose odds have tumbled from an initial 33-1 to 16-1.
The favourite, Eventuail, whose price drifted slightly earlier this week after a rumoured overreach injury, has firmed again to 14-10 and bookmakers are expecting a flood of money on the Argentinian-bred winner of the Summer Cup before the off.
The second favourite, Angus has also drifted slightly from 2-1 to 5-2 while last season’s Horse of the Year, Free My Heart, and African Lion are quoted at 7-1 and 8-1 respectively. Red Badge is the only other contender in the hunt at 20-1 with the rest of the field at the odds of 25-1 and better.
With a crowd of 50 000 expected, tickets which cost R80 and include entry to the lawn enclosure, a race card and a R10 betting voucher, are still available. The restaurants were booked out weeks ago but there will enough for everyone to eat and drink from the food stalls and bars.
Parking will be at a premium but patrons are advised to make use of the shuttle buses from the Youngsfield Army Base where safe parking is available at R20 per car.
The 10-race programme which kicks off at 12h35, includes two other important races in the newly sponsored Grade 1 Fancourt Majorca Stakes where the brilliant filly Crimson Heart is expected to build on her reputation and the final race of the day is the Grade 2 J&B Reserve Stayers Handicap where the Port Elizabeth visitor Cereus must be a serious contender.
The Pick Six is expected to reach record heights as the pool begins with an added bonus of a R314 000 carryover. Tote betting is slow at present but a steady increase is expected through the day and a flood as the race draws near.
M-Net is to televise live coverage from 16h00 to 17h00 and it will continue in Open Time from 17h00 to 17h30. The J&B Met is due off at 17h10. As to the main race, it looks to be Eventuail’s race from Set Afire and Angus, with Roman Charger and Diplomat, the two real outsiders that could cause an upset. – Sapa