The stage is set for the 163rd running of the prestigious World Sports Betting Grade 1 Cape Town Met, offering an impressive purse of R5 million. On Saturday, January 25, a field of 17 will thunder down the 2000m stretch at Kenilworth, vying for a place in history.

This year’s renewal promises to be a classic, with a mix of 16 colts and geldings joined by a sole filly, Red Palace, trained by Dean Kannemeyer. Drawing the inside gate, the daughter of Red Ray will have top jockey Gavin Lerena in the irons as she attempts to etch her name into South Africa’s rich racing history.

The Draw Ceremony

The final field and barrier positions were revealed on Wednesday evening after racing at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, with the National Horseracing Authority overseeing the proceedings. The excitement around the race is palpable, with this year’s line-up featuring a blend of proven champions and emerging talent.

Justin Snaith, one of South Africa’s leading trainers, fields five runners in his quest for a third consecutive Met victory and fourth overall. His Met-winning legacy began in 2017 with Oh Susanna, and he returns this year with a formidable team, including past Met champions Grant van Niekerk and Richard Fourie as jockeys.

Snaith is joined by a group of elite trainers, all previous Met winners: Vaughan Marshall, Brett Crawford (now training in partnership with his son James), Sean Tarry, and Alec Laird. The competition among them guarantees a high-stakes, high-quality contest.

Five riders in this year’s Met field have previously lifted the trophy: Grant van Niekerk, Richard Fourie, Gavin Lerena, Aldo Domeyer, and veteran jockey Piere Strydom. Their experience adds another layer of intrigue to this already thrilling race.

The Final Field

Draw Jockey Trainer

1 Red Palace 57.0 119 1 G Lerena Dean Kannemeyer

2 Al Muthana 60.0 116 2 G Wright Ricky Maingard

3 Oriental Charm 59.5 125 3 JP van der Merwe BJ/JI Crawford

4 Future Swing 60.0 114 4 G van Niekerk Justin Snaith

5 Atticus Finch 60.0 121 5 R Danielson Alec Laird

6 Litigation 60.0 113 6 M Yeni Sean Tarry

7 Royal Aussie 60.0 124 7 K Matsunyane Justin Snaith

8 Pacaya 60.0 116 8 R A Venniker Justin Snaith

9 Green with Envy 59.5 127 9 C Zackey Dean Kannemeyer

10 Eight on Eighteen 54.0 115 10 R Fourie Justin Snaith

11 Magic Verse 59.5 114 11 A Domeyer Justin Snaith

12 See It Again 60.0 131 12 P Strydom Michael Roberts

13 Baratheon 60.0 106 13 T Godden Piet Botha

14 Master Redoute 60.0 117 14 S Moodley Andre Nel

15 Montien 60.0 129 15 C Orffer Piet Botha

16 Rascallion 60.0 122 16 S Veale Vaughan Marshall

17 Zapatillas 60.0 119 17 L Mxothwa BJ/JI Crawford