THE surprise defeat of 1-5 favourite, Dynasty, in Saturday's R400 000, Grade 1 Cape Argus Guineas, has put a whole new complexion on the R1-million J&B Met and on the three-year-old scene in South Africa.

Dynasty was beaten into second place by Mike de Kock's Dominion Royale colt, Domino Man, who has not been entered for either the J&B Met or the Graham Beck Wines Cape Derby so the two top colts are not likely to meet again until the winter season in KwaZulu-Natal or perhaps, in the autumn meetings in Gauteng.

As one of the favourites for the J&B Met, the betting structure for the Cape's premier event could well change, although bookmakers might consider Dynasty as not being fully wound up for Saturday's race seeing as he tipped the scales 5kg heavier than the day he won the Selangor Cup.

Dynasty looked on course to win the Cape Argus Guineas on Saturday as he moved through to challenge for the lead, but Domino Man, who was trying the mile for the first time, accelerated and held Dynasty at bay to the line.

Trainer Mike de Kock was over the moon as his charge thundered past the line ahead of Dynasty, proclaiming he had known his colt was a top contender.

De Kock won the Cape Argus Guineas last year with the late Flight Alert and three years before that with the great Horse Chestnut, the latter having gone on to score a sensational victory in the J&B Met and thereafter stamp himself here and in the United States as a superb racehorse.

Issued by Gill Simpkins