Image copyright: Getty Images
The Cape Town Met race meeting at
Kenilworth this Saturday is the first Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) World Pool event of the year and that gives TAB customers a rare opportunity to bet into the world’s biggest tote pools on South African races.
Last year an astounding R650 million was bet with the HKJC tote on eight of the 12 races at the Met meeting and that total is set to be bettered come Saturday because there will be World Pools on nine races. The TAB pools are accessible via the Betway tote platform. The Pic 6 Pool is expected to reach R10 million.
Mike de Kock discussed the chances of his two runners on Met day, Sparkling Water (Met, 2000m) and Desert Miracle (Majorca Stakes, 1600m).
He said: “Desert Miracle is in a very talented six-horse field, but she has a lot of ability too. She’s a miler and we’ve sprinted her due to her issues. But on her last run (a strong-finishing third to Princess Calla) I think she’s a big runner for the first three, back over 1600m. At her best, if all goes her way, she’s a serious filly. She was just touched off in a G1, in her only previous course and distance run, and that Christophe Soumillon had a feel of her, last time, will also help.”
Sparkling Water produced what was much closer to her best with an eye-catching fourth in the Paddock Stakes on Kings Plate day and indications are that Mike has her at her peak for the Met. He commented: “Sparkling Water has enjoyed a great prep for us. On form, at the weights, its going to be hard for her to turn the form with some of the horses who ran behind her in the Durban July, including Jet Dark. She’s carrying a lot more weight. But we’re happy with her, you can’t leave her out of anything.”
Sparkling Water’s jockey SManga Khumalo oozed confidence after galloping his mount during the week and he said: “Wow, I was really impressed, she’s taken her time to settle in, but she’s really come on here in Cape Town. She’s very sound, a good mover and she covers a lot of ground.
“She’s a beautiful filly, she’s been here before, she knows what she has to do and I am quite confident she’ll run a big race.”
The big-race favourite is three-year-old boom filly Make It Snappy, whose recent form, low weight and good draw are the factors that have swayed most experts to side with her, pre-race. Meanwhile the connections of Cousin Casey, the Equus Champion two-year-old colt from last season and now in the big league as a three-year-old, believe theirs is the horse to beat despite a wide draw.
Cousin Casey’s trainer Glen Kotzen, who trained the colt’s sibling Big City Life to win the 2009 Durban July, said he was ‘super confident’ of a big run. He added: “He’s a horse on a different level. He has a high cruising speed and can kick on off that speed, so he can go up there with the pace or come from off them.
“We pulled a 14 draw, but that won’t be putting us off. Cousin Casey will be out of the rat race down the inside. We’ve been following the weather, there could be a Southeaster and gusts of strong wind, so I think it’s going to be quite a tactical race. I think it’s going to suit us because he is so versatile. He’s had a great prep, it could be a race for three-year-olds.”
Horse racing betting at Betway
Make sure you back the right silks and don’t get boxed in, Betway brings you the latest in Horse Race betting. Find competitive odds and markets when you bet on the horses at Betway.
Get in on horse racing today and place your bets on horse racing at Betway.
If you need any assistance, contact us on 0861 787 250 and if you need help placing your first bet, have a look at our How To Bet guide.
Sign up now to kick off your sports betting journey with Betway.
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions follow Betway on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Download the Betway App.