Fantastic field for J&B Met

A fantastic field, headed by the fabulous filly Igugu, is set to face the starter for the R2.5-million, Grade 1 J&B Met at Kenilworth on January 28 as the grand finale to the Sizzling Summer Season in the Western Cape.

With the top horses from the three major racing regions included in the 16-horse field, the stage is set for a thrilling clash over 2000m. The general aim will be to beat the champion filly from the Mike de Kock stable, Igugu.

Unbeaten in all but two of her 11 starts with victory in the Vodacom Durban July as the pinnacle of her career to date, the Australian-bred daughter of Galileo has recovered from a slight setback and is likely to start a short-priced favourite for the race. However, this might still depend on where she draws in the field when the ballot is made on Thursday but her versatility and record is likely to override any doubts about her ability to win irrespective of her draw.

De Kock has also accepted with his Brazilian-bred gelding Ilsanpietro who won the Java Handicap and finished second in both the Victory Moon and the Summer Cup and who will have Weichong Marwing in the irons.

The two contenders from KwaZulu-Natal are the Mogok colt The Apache (headline photo) fom the Gavin van Zyl stable and the Dennis Drier-trained filly Beach Beauty.

The Apache is the third highest-rated horse in the field and won the Champions Cup at Greyville after running a place in the Vodacom Durban July. He was also placed in the Summer Cup and was narrowly beaten in the London News last time out.

Beach Beauty has yet to finish out of the money in 11 starts and is in top form in the Cape where she was second in both the Victress Stakes and the TBA Paddock Stakes.

While Joey Ramsden has decided to run Variety Club in the Investec Cape Derby, he runs the Silvano gelding Bravura and the son of Western Winter, Lion In Winter. Bravura won the Green Point Stakes and was fourth in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and is back to his very best.

The winner of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, Gimmethegreenlight from the Justin Snaith stable, is one of two three-year-olds in the race and bids to be the first of his age to win the race since Badger’s Coast 12 years ago. He has finally proven that he is one of the top young horses in the country and will be fancied as a strong opponent for Igugu and a potential winner. - Richard McMillan, Gold Circle.