Betting interest in the Grade 1 J & B Met to be run for
a stake of R2-million on Saturday, January 27, has already begun
to pick up momentum. This is according to Managing Director
of Betting World, Michael Weare, who said punters were nibbling
at horses across the board.
For those punters looking for some mouthwatering value, the
dark horse of the race may well prove to be the very well performed
son of the Summerhill Sire Kahal, Majestic Sun, who is presently
quoted at a tempting 66-1 in the betting.
Trained out of Milnerton by the bang-in-form Basil Marcus,
the four-year-old gelding has won seven of his 16 starts including
an excellent victory in the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes on September
30. He finished second in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes at
the end of November when caught on the line by Jagged Ice and
his run in the Queen’s Plate should best be ignored as he was
bustled from a poor draw and fell away to finish some 16 lengths
off current J & B Met favourite, Pocket Power.
An excited part owner Keith Steinberg said earlier today (Wednesday)
that he was looking forward with much anticipation to the big
race.
“As a rank outsider we will be under no pressure on the day
of the race and it is an absolute pleasure and thrill for me
as an owner to have a runner in one of the great horseracing
events on earth. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than
to silence the detractors and cynics who have labeled us as
no-hopers and punters should remember that Basil Marcus is a
man who doesn’t run horses in big races for the sake of it,”
he said.
“This is the very first time Majestic Sun has been allotted
a good draw and his pilot Richard Fourie knows him very well.
The distance is obviously an unknown factor and with the evidence
of ample pace abounding in the race according to those in the
know, we will probably be utilising restrained riding tactics
to give him every chance.
“I am very realistic about it being a big ask, but Basil feels
he has genuinely earned a tilt at the major prize and there
are few better judges of a good horse than him.
“Win, lose or draw, we are just very happy and privileged to
be part of this great day.” said Steinberg.
Majestic Sun was bred by Champion South African Breeders, Summerhill
Stud, and together with the Mike De Kock trained three-year-old,
Emperor Napoleon, are the first sons of Kahal to compete for
J & B Met glory. By Machiavellian out of a Green Desert
mare, Kahal won seven Grade 1 races in his 24 starts.
Summerhill Stud will thus be very well represented in the big
race and, as the countdown continues, the J & B Met is developing
into a fascinating spectacle.