SP SPRINT - 25 JANUARY 2023

3YO’S LOOK READY –BUT SNAITH HOLDS TACTICS ACE

Troy Finch

Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech holds Make It Snappy's 2 draw at the WSB Met function on the V&A Waterfront

As we count the days down to Saturday’s R2 million WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met, the experts appear to be of the consensus that only a handful of the nineteen strong field can be seriously considered winners of the 161st renewal of the Cape flagship.

With a projected R10 million up for grabs in the Pick 6, there are five other tricky legs to negotiate, too!

Defending champion Kommetdieding finished 0,3 lengths behind Jet Dark last time. Last year's winner has had a good preparation heading into this race

and he most definitely merits healthy respect.

In what is expected to be his swansong appearance before he departs for the Klawervlei paddocks to take up stallion duties, Kommetdieding will again be ridden by Gavin Lerena and has drawn a very favourable barrier gate 6.

Boasting the distinction of being the first horse since Mike de Kock’s great filly Igugu (2012), and another star in Pocket Power ( 2009), to register the consecutive Durban July – Met double, Kommetdieding comes in fighting fit after placings in the

Gr2 Green Point Stakes and the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate – both races over his less than optimum trip of a mile.

The son of Elusive Fort meets last year’s second and third-placer Jet Dark (0,75 lengths) and Linebacker (0,95 lengths) again, as well as having to contend with recent L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner Al Muthana, and two really smart 3yo’s in Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas runner-up Cousin Casey, and the dual Gr1 winning 3yo filly Make It Snappy.

Jet Dark ran a good race when third in the Grade 1 L'Ormarins

Candiese Lenferna

Chase Liebenberg

King's Plate last time. The manner in which he stayed on at the finish was encouraging. He was an impressive winner of the Gr3 Cape Mile at his penultimate effort. The son of Trippi finished second in this race last year and from his good draw of four, he can go one better – and he sure looked in dirty good health at the Snaith beach party last Friday!

We have been going through the records and Oh Susanna set the bar as the only 3yo filly in the race’s long history to come out on top when she won in 2018. Is Make It Snappy up to emulating her?

The daughter of Dynasty could not have been more

impressive when winning the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes last time. She set the pace, found another kick and kept going well to hold all challengers at bay. She does face her toughest test to date, but carries a handy galloping mass of 51,5kgs and she could be hard to peg back.

The decision to run Make It Snappy here as opposed to taking on Captain’s Ransom, whom she beat in the Paddock Stakes last time, in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes, was obviously not taken lightly.

But she will clearly be more comfortable over the 2000m, and Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech will know what it

takes for a filly to win this race. Delpech was aboard Imperious Sue in 1998 and 2012 heroine, Igugu.

Interesting the early forecast suggests a strong headwind and that coupled with the tactical mastery of Justin Snaith, who has five runners at his disposal, will mean that Make It Snappy will definitely not have things her own way.

Piere Strydom takes the ride on recent LÓrmarins King’s Plate winner Al Muthana in what will be the veteran champion jockey’s final Met. The Aussie-bred gelding is at his best over the mile, but is in a good space and cannot be ignored.

He does have a wide draw of 12 to contend with, but being a horse who likes to run at them from off the pace, that will not be a concern.

Another drawn on the wide side is Equus Champion 2yo of his generation Cousin Casey, the only other 3yo in the race. The son of Vercingetorix won the Gr2 Cape Racing Punters Cup at his first start this term and then went second to the boomer Charles Dickens in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. The air of confidence

around Woodhill Racing Estate is tangible, and this fellow will arrive in the pink of good health on Saturday.

A Met regular, Do It Again ran in his first Met nine months before Make It Snappy first saw the light of day. It is a fact that 8yo’s don’t have a great record in this race, but this relatively low-mileage son of Twice Over can boost his earnings over the R10 million mark with a big effort on Saturday.

Christophe Soumillon partners the newly blinkered Golden Ducat from the pole position draw. With three runs under the belt since a long lay-off, the son of Philanthropist will be at peak fitness and must be a place consideration.

We can make a case for a few more – Universal, Linebacker and even the low-profile Zapatillas if back to his best.

The race is off at 17h10. Don’t miss it!

Cousin Casey – ready to show his star quality

Chase Liebenberg

CHARLES GIVES CAPE DERBY A BOOST

In a move that will create plenty of excitement and debate, star 3yo Charles Dickens will line up in the R1,5 million Gr1 Cape Derby at the final meeting of the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival of Racing on Saturday 25 February.

Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson confirmed the decision to the Sporting Post yesterday morning and said her charge had pulled up well after being narrowly beaten by Al Muthana in the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate earlier this month.

“He is well and a decision was made that we will aim him at the Derby at the end of February. We would not be doing that if we didn’t believe he would stay the 2000m and we are looking forward to it,” added Candice.

Justin Snaith’s Rockpool emerged as a serious Derby contender after another eyecatching victory in the Gr3 Politician Stakes on Saturday. Asked if she thought Rockpool was a threat, Candice said that she felt that he still had some improving to do.

“We always respect quality opposition, and naturally he looks like a lovely horse with scope. But he will need to improve further.”

Entries for the 2000m Cape Derby close at 11h00 on Monday, 6 February.

Supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 14 February.

Declarations are due by 10h00 on Wednesday, 15 February.

MET’S DYNASTY OF CHAMPIONS

Gold Circle/ Candiese Lenferna

Dual Gr1 winning 3yo filly Make It Snappy enjoys the Monwabe beach outing near Muizenberg on Friday

‘Coursing through the veins of the majority of runners is the blood of ancestors who have stamped their mark on this time-honoured event, none more so than in current favourite, the threeyear-old Make It Snappy…’

This weekend's prestigious WSB Cape Town Met meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth promises racing action as sizzling as the summer temperatures experienced recently in the Mother city.

That the showpiece race, the Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met continues to exert its influence on the South African breeding industry is starkly illustrated by the quality field which will face the starter for this year's renewal.

Coursing through the veins of the majority of runners is the blood of ancestors who have stamped their mark on this time-honoured event, none more so than in current favourite, the three-year-old Make It Snappy.

A perusal of the filly's pedigree confirms that her links to the Met are more than tangible.

On the male side, she bids to continue a chain of success stretching back to grandsire Fort Wood, whose champion son Horse Chestnut turned the 1999 Met on its head when he destroyed his rivals by eight lengths. Sadly, Fort Wood was denied another Met success when Make It Snappy's sire Dynasty didn’t run after injuring himself in the Gr1 Queen's Plate. He never ran again, but has continued the family trait by siring 2015 winner Futura.

Icy Winter Air, the dam of

Make It Snappy, is by Western Winter, whose outstanding son Yard-Arm carried the famous Rattray silks to a five-length Met victory in 2004, while Jallad, the sire of grandam Icy Air, was responsible for 2006 winner Zebra Crossing.

Then there is Icy Air's broodmare sire Northern Guest, who weighed in with a pair of Met winners; the fine mare Imperious Sue and 2003 winner Angus.

Remarkably, Icy Air had the distinction of finishing second

in the 2005 Met when running Sean Tarry-trained Alastor to a half length, with Horse of the Year Winter Solstice a similar margin back in third.

Can Make It Snappy go one better than her grandam? The answer is yes, for in addition to her impeccable pedigree credentials, she is in the form of her life and comes into the race off splendid victories in the Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Cartier Majorca Stakes.

Granted, she defeated

Hamish Niven Photography

Silvano winner in 2013 - Aldo Domeyer shows his joy after Martial Eagle’s victory

members of her own sex on both occasions, but as a big, powerful Amazon, she has the physical attributes to take on battle-hardened males of the ilk of Jet Dark and Kommetdieding.

Let's turn our attention to her adversaries, whose pedigrees are equally as illuminating.

In addition to the favourite, Dynasty will also be represented by Nexus, who appears to have escaped the ravages of time. In his most recent start, this sprightly seven-year-old failed by just a neck to peg back Rascallion in the recent Anthonij Rupert Wyne Gr2 Premier Trophy. Third in that race was his stable companion Warrior, a stakes winning son of Futura. Blinkered first time Golden Ducat, whose half-brother Rainbow Bridge triumphed in 2019 and 2021, is out of a mare by Jet Master, as

are aforementioned Nexus, Rascallion, second favourite Jet Dark, and Universal.

Lest we forget, Jet Master reigned supreme from 2007 to 2011, siring an unbroken string of five Met winners in triple winner Pocket Power, his own sister River Jetez and Past Master, a record which is unlikely ever to be matched.

Should talented Master Of My Fate four-year-old Zapatillas come up trumps on Saturday, Jet Master will fill the remaining hole in his Met resumé, that of being the grandsire of a Met winner.

Former Klawervlei ace Captain Al likewise has succeeded in both spheres. The sire of Met winners Hill Fifty Four and One World, he is of course the broodmare sire of defending champion Kommetdieding, while champion son Captain Of All is the sire of Linebacker, who will aim to improve on his

third in last year's race. It would be remiss not to make mention of Silvano. On Saturday, the sire of 2013 Met hero Martial Eagle will be represented by two cracking female runners in last year's Durban July victress Sparkling Water and the strapping chestnut Marina, a full-sister to 2018 Met third Marinaresco.

Silvano's standout son Vercingetorix has seamlessly stepped into the shoes of his late sire at Maine Chance Farms and on Saturday he will be represented by Rascallion; the quirky former Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power (a half-brother to Met third Punta Arenas); as well as last season's Champion juvenile colt Cousin Casey. The sole three-year-old male in Saturday's line-up, Glen Kotzen's charge was not disgraced when second to Charles Dickens in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

Northern Guest connection - Garth Puller and Sean Tarry enjoy Alastor’s Met victory in 2005

A BEACH OF GOLD!

Candiese Lenferna /Gold Circle

Jet Dark is clearly feeling good!

Around 200 guests arrived for the annual Snaith Racing Beach outing at Sonwabe beach in Muizenberg on Friday morning.

Included in the parade was a handful of WSB Met runners, who were snapped by dual Equus Award-winning photographer Candiese

Lenferna. The big race favourite Jet Dark, who had many breeders drooling as he pranced around on his toes, was in fine fettle

Racing Analyst Shaheen Shaw said that Jet Dark looked ‘magnificent’ and that all the talk was for Rockpool who subsequently won the

Gr3 Politician Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The large gathering included Met media, along with many international owners and local racing enthusiasts. Seattle Coffee were onsite handing out cappucinos, croissants and bagels.

BEACH BOYS’ MET GOOD VIBRATIONS

A reminder for those based in the Cape that the WSB Cape Town Met Panel Discussion will be held on Thursday 26 January 2023 from 18h00 until late at

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth branch.

Rouvaun Smit chairs the panel that includes Shaheen Shaw and big-race jockey, Grant van Niekerk. Get the information and opinions, have a bet, and enjoy a snack and refreshment amongst fellow racing fans.

Rouvaun Smit and Shaheen Shaw at Friday's beach event, getting the graft ahead of Thursday's WSB Met panel discussion

Candiese Lenferna

BIRTHDAY BOY KARL CHATS ABOUT MET

Karl the jockey - in the famous Khaya Stables silks

One of the greatest jockeys never to win the Met, Karl Neisius celebrates his 66th birthday on Friday and will be at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday to enjoy one of South Africa’s premier racedays.

“I am not so sure that ‘celebrates’ is exactly the right word to use when talking birthdays at my age,” laughs the man who retired in November 2015 at the age of 58 after back problems forced a decision he once thought he’d never have to make.

Looking at the Met field on Saturday, Karl suggests it’s a particularly competitive

renewal and feels that the change of race conditions from the handicap era means that the best horses are in the mix these days.

“I am not going to get any prizes for originality or for finding a lurker, but I feel that any one of Kommetdieding, Jet Dark, Make It Snappy, Cousin Casey and Sparkling Water can win it, and would all be deserving of it,” he says as he runs his fingers down the Winning Form.

We asked him to stick his neck out and give the public some confidence.

“You’re putting me under

pressure now! Look, a case could be made for any one of the five. Kommetdieding is defending his title. He has put in some top notch recent efforts over a mile. This is his optimal trip in my opinion. I think he would be a very popular winner. He is the people’s horse and has a great back story. I’d have to say my heart is with him.”

He goes on to observe that Jet Dark looked a million dollars at the beach event last Friday and will be at his peak. Behind L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner

Al Muthana, he is the highest rated horse in the field. Richard Fourie is also a key jockey booking.

“Then take Sparkling Water, our reigning Hollywoodbets Durban July champion. Go and have a look at the replay of the Paddock Stakes last run. Mike de Kock is a master trainer. He would not have kept her in the Cape for this race if he was not going to have her at her best. A big runner, she is.”

But when it comes to the crunch, Karl says he probably has a slight preference for the Brett Crawford filly, Make It Snappy.

“She has so much in her favour. She is versatile and has the gate speed. So from her draw it she will be right up there for nothing. She has shown she can run from up front or off them. She has a nice galloping weight and a

jockey who is riding at the top of his game. When it comes down to ticking the boxes, she is an impressive physical specimen and looks to hold the slight edge in my opinion.”

Enjoying his retirement, Karl says that he ‘doesn’t do anything too stressful’ because of his back issues, but relishes his golf, time in the gym, cycling, and also keeps close to the racing.

“It is very difficult to simply sever ties with a sport that encompassed one’s every waking moment for almost 45 years. So I stay in touch. And , for example, I enjoyed my trip around the farms recently with the sales inspection team. I have been close to horses all my life, but one is never too old to learn!”

Karl Walter Neisius was born on 27 January 1957 in the Welsh town of Carmarthen. His family moved to South Africa in 1964 and settled in Ottery. The son of a riding instructor, Karl had horses in his blood and joined the SA Jockey Academy in July 1971. He was among the last intake to start at Mariannhill and moved with them to the new Summerveld facility.

He rode his first winner in the year of the global oil crisis when those of us old enough to remember will recall that petrol stations were not open 24 hours. Petrol those days was around 20c a litre - and a kilo of lamb cost 75c. It was so long ago, we even still had great music - David Bowie’s Sorrow was on top of the charts.

“You really are emphasising my age now. The years have flown by, but I remember my first winner like yesterday. It was March 1973 and it was on a filly called Glad Rag Doll for the late Ralph Rixon. He was a great trainer. He really was.”

Still stuck in a reminiscing time warp, Karl recalled his first ride in the Met some 45 years ago and just a week prior to his 21st birthday. He rode the Peaceable Kingdom filly Fast Piece for Terrance Millard to a dead heat-second with Michael Roberts and Arion. The winner of that vintage renewal was a certain horse called Politician, in the hands of Bertie Hayden.

Karl today - turns 66 on Fiday

“Fast Piece started my run of seconds in the Met – I think I had four seconds in total. Maybe if the race conditions were like they are today, things may have been different. Especially with a great horse like Flaming Rock,” reflects Karl.

The records show that the Chris Snaith-trained Flaming Rock ran second in consecutive years. He was beaten in 1992 by Divine Master (Jeff Lloyd) and in 1993 by the ‘galloping goldmine’, Empress Club, under Anton Marcus.

Karl’s last bid to win the Met was on subsequent Durban

July winner Power King for Dean Kannemeyer and Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables back in January 2015, the year Futura won.

The veteran horseman was to retire ten months later. He has attended the Met every year since, and will be in the Khaya Stables suite on Saturday.

“Lady Christine Laidlaw has been a staunch supporter of our racing for many years and she has some lovely runners on Saturday. I was fortunate to ride lots of winners for her and we have stayed in touch,” he adds.

Young Karl back in the day

Another second! Karl and Grande Jete chase Barend Vorster and Polo Classic home in the 2002 Met

A moment for the people! The 2022 winning connections on the happy stage

Candiese Lenferna

The Cape’s flagship horserace and the pinnacle of the inaugural Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival of Racing, the R2 million Gr1 Cape Town Met will be run for the 161st time under forecast sunny skies on Saturday with the fashionistas stepping out to showcase the Mardi Gras theme.

The bumper twelve race programme gets underway at 12h00 – the gates open at 11h00 – and with an anticipated crowd of 10 000 expected to enjoy the top-class horseracing in a wide variety of facilities, it is

recommended that guests arrive early.

Parking is available infield via the Wetton Road entrance.

If you have made a late decision to go racing, the building venues are sold out, but there are a host of different options available outside.

All packages are available on www.caperacing.co.za/wsbmet

The general entrance ticket costs R150, which gives the holder access to:

• Food and drinks areas. Track access close to

the finishing line.

• R50 TAB betting voucher.

• Grandstand Roulette: Cash and prizes to be won – a fantastic new initiative to reward the punters.

Cape Racing have also rewarded 300 regular punters with free entry, and they will be hosted to lunch in the Pocket Power facility.

“The whole day is focused on ‘winning’, so all the emphasis is on the stakeholders in the sport – rewarding punters, owners, trainers and jockeys. We have a massive stage for

The ultimate trophy in racing

Candiese Lenferna

New Predator is the property of a syndicate. He stands at Blue Sky Thoroughbreds in KZN.

the winning moments, with owners being rewarded as we highlight the horse!” Cape Racing’s Kirsti Lyall told the Sporting Post on Monday. For punters, the announcement that the Hong Kong World Pools will be at play on the day will be good news. TAB betting opened on Sunday 22 January.

While TAB will boost the Pick 6

and Quartet on the main race with R1-million carryovers, the last nine races on Met Day will also offer South African bettors the opportunity to bet into the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pools.

TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Swinger and Quinella (first two horses across the line in any order) pools on Races 4 to 12 will be commingled into the Hong Kong Jockey Club tote, which operates the biggest tote pools in the world. Last year, with punters from around the world betting into the Hong Kong World Pools, a whopping R650-million

was wagered with the Hong Kong Jockey Club tote on eight of the 12 races at the corresponding race meeting. This should be surpassed this year as nine races form the World Pool event this time round.

Apart from offering the Quinella, which is not a standard bet that is offered on SA racing, the Win, Place, Swinger and Exacta pools will be substantial in races 4 to 12 where the Hong Kong Jockey Club host the pools. Therefore, large bets will not alter the dividend as is normally the perception.

The players are the same this year - except Kommetdieding will carry the 6 saddle-cloth

Candiese Lenferna

A reminder that only 3 places will be paid on all races, bar the Majorca Stakes where 2 are paid.

The Pick 6 starts in race 4 at 13h50 with the pool estimated to reach R10 million. The quartet pool on the Met (Race 9) is estimated to reach R5 million.

The second Bipot commences in Race 7 at 15h40, with the pool estimated at R1 million. The day will be broadcast live

on Racing240 and streamed on GallopTV.

It will also be shown from 16h00 on the Arena Show on SABC, while SuperSport Variety 4 will show it from 16h30 to 17h30.

We asked why the Met is being run as late as 17h10?

“The main race has run at 17h10 for the last 4 years and sunset in Cape Town is at 19h54 on 28 January 2023,” confirmed Kirsti Lyall.

Both Jehan Malherbe and Rouvaun Smit are calling the racing on Saturday.

The Cape’s ‘Golden Voice’, Rouvaun Smit will call the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met for the eighth time. Enjoy!

SOME MORE FABULOUSNESS FROM VAUGHAN?

The first recorded winner of the Metropolitan Mile, as the Cape Town Met was originally known in 1883, was Sir Hercules and, while the race had a chequered existence for many years in the early 1900’s, by the 1960’s it was firmly established as one of the ‘big three’ contests in South Africa along with the then Vodacom Durban July and the Summer Cup in Gauteng.

The Met really came alive for those outside of racing circles when in 1978 J&B stepped in

as sponsor and the J&B Met as we knew it for many years, was born. That year was the first leg of a double for the great Politician.

On Saturday veteran multiple Met winner Vaughan Marshall saddles 2022 Met third-placer Linebacker, and recent feature winner Rascallion.

It has been over thirty years since Vaughan saddled his first Met winner.

Racing has its vintage years and 1992 was one of them.

The foal crop born that year, while not producing one standout champion, did yield a whole bunch of highly talented performers. Marshall’s La Fabulous had always been close to the best of that legendary class of ’92, and on 27 January 1996 he was rewarded for his consistency when he romped away with the J&B Met.

Not only did he win the Kenilworth showpiece, but ran out one of the easiest winners in recent memory at the time. The race was widely

La Fabulous wins the 1996 Met under Robbie Fradd

considered to be wide open, until a deluge of late support for National Emblem saw the Gauteng visitor firm in to 3/1 favourite. La Fabulous, favourite at one stage of the ante-post proceedings, was allowed to go off at 7/1, despite being perhaps the best handicapped horse in the race, and certainly weighted to finish in front of National Emblem.

The early pace in the Met was not fast, but nor was it quite the crawl that some appeared to think. Carolera, much as expected, was the early

leader by a couple of lengths from Bushmanland and Dupa Dice, with Rusty Pelican soon improving position between the turns.

La Fabulous was nicely poised some five lengths back on the fence, with National Emblem’s jockey Michael Roberts electing to wait the best part of ten lengths back. Carolera was still going easily in front as they turned for home, with Rusty Pelican now up in second ahead of Dupa Dice and Bushmanland.

La Fabulous was still waiting to

pounce, but he didn’t hesitate for much longer. He quickly made ground along the rail, and headed Carolera just past the 400m mark. With nothing much really making any progress in the sprint home, the race was his. Carolera was game as ever, but she simply had no answer as La Fabulous opened up a quick lead and kept going all the way home to win by 2.25 lengths.

Carolera easily held on to second place, two lengths ahead of her fellow Gauteng raider Dupa Dice, with Eldoriza flying up from a

mile back to finish fourth.

La Fabulous, who had been in the care of Marshall since the previous Natal season, was registering the ninth victory of his 22 career starts. The J&B Met was the first Graded Stakes win for La Fabulous. Ironically, in a sense, the very fact that he had never won a major event before contributed greatly to his success, for it gave him the pull in the weights which enabled him to comprehensively beat horses roughly his

equal in terms of merit.

Everything just went right for the former Port Elizabeth campaigner. The moderate pace didn’t place any undue demands on his vaguely suspect ability to stay a true run 2000m, and the gap along the rail stayed wide open, almost inviting jockey Robbie Fradd to take it. That he did, without blinking, and with the best possible outcome!

La Fabulous was bred by his owners, the late Peter and Val Fenix, who were delighted and relieved that the Met winner’s dam was one of a handful of mares they retained when they dispersed the bulk of their breeding stock a few years previously.

La Fabulous was by the Danzig stallion Lustra out of the USAbred Accipiter mare Amanzimtoti, who was acquired for R30 000 by the Fenixes at the Scott Bros Dispersal Sale in 1990.

Chase Liebenberg

The Snaith team welcome Richard Fourie and Rockpool after a smooth win

ROCKPOOL LOOKS REFRESHING!

The Snaith Racing Team unleashed a seriously progressive 3yo in the shape of Futura’s son Rockpool to win the R300 000 Gr3 Politician Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The traditional Derby trial has unveiled exciting prospects in the past, and this colt could be right up there.

The R1,5 million Gr1 Cape Derby will be run at the same venue on 25 February and trainer Justin Snaith is clearly excited.

“The last horse who carried his head so low in his races was Legislate. He used to race like a snake. I really love this horse,” enthused the Cape champion.

Backed from 5’s to 14-10, Rockpool was unleashed late in the race by Winning Form rider Richard Fourie and he put his field to bed in a matter of moments, his beautiful stride carrying him clear to beat stablemate and another Jonsson galloper in the shape of Without Question (25-1) by a deceiving half length in a time of 112,58 secs.

The topweight and 11-10 favourite At My Command was dropped out by Keagan de Melo and had every chance. But he really had no chance with the Snaith pair, managing to save Place Accumulator players by running into third, and 2,25 lengths adrift of the second horse.

Brett Crawford confirmed: “The winner got first run on us, plus we had to give him 6kg’s. At My Command will definitely go for the Derby next.”

Experienced top jockey Richard Fourie labelled Rockpool a ‘fantastic horse’.

“It’s taken him a while to figure out that action. He has a beautiful temperament and Justin had him spot. The owners have a really lovely horse on their hands,” he added.

A broad smiling Justin Snaith is probably already eyeing the Daily News 2000 up on the East Coast in three months from now.

“That’s as confident as we have ever been for the Politician Stakes. He is called Chad Le Clos as he has such a fluid action. I love this horse. To give our horse 6kgs was always going to be a hard task for At My Command. Richard really didn’t want to know about losing!”

Raced by Nic Jonsson and Nancy Hossack, Rockpool was bred by Ndoro Stud and is a son of South Africa’s 2014/15 Horse Of The Year Futura(Dynasty) out of the Jallad one-time winner, Miss Delish.

Futura won from 1200m and never raced in the Derby, winning the 2015 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Met of that year, as well as two Gr1 Champions Cups, amongst his

9 wins. One wonders, without putting the mokkas on, that Rockpool may well be his overdue maiden Gr1 winner.

Like the runner-up, Rockpool was a R300 000 buy from the National Yearling Sale and took his stats tally to 3 wins with 2 places from 6 starts for stakes of R341 750.

Another man who would have been smiling after the race will be Moutonshoek’s Dr Bennie van der Merwe. A firm believer in the classic merits of Galileo’s son The United States, he will be at the Cape Derby to cheer on runner-up Without Question.

Exciting days as the temperatures rocket in the inaugural Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival.

ROCKPOOL’S REGAL ROOTS

There is plenty to like about the pedigree of Saturday's impressive Gr3 Politician Stakes winner Rockpool.

From the third crop of Horse Of The Year Futura, who is siring a more than respectable 7% stakes winners to foals of racing age, Rockpool is a full-brother to four-time stakes winner Dindingwe -Zimbabwe's Champion 2YO of 2019-2020.

The pair were produced by

the winning Jallad mare Miss Delish, a half-sister to frontrunning G2 Premier Trophy winner Milton (Lateral).

Rockpool, sired by a son of Dynasty out of a mare by Jallad, is bred on a similar cross to the Dynasty sired Gr1 winners Eyes Wide Open, It's My Turn, and Liege - all of whom were produced by a daughter of Jallad.

Dynasty really made his mark on the Politician Stakes, with

his sons Irish Flame, Jackson, Blaze Of Noon and Horizon all winning the race in their respective year.

Miss Delish's dam Missing No More, a daughter of Whitney Handicap winner

Unaccounted For, won four times and ran fourth in the now Gr1 Majorca Stakes.

In turn, Missing No More was produced by the stakes placed Wassl mare Wassila -a half-sister to Gr2 Prix de Sandringham winner

Rockpool (Richard Fourie) gets the better in eyecatching fashion of stablemate Without Question (JP van der Merwe)

Spring Star (Danehill).

The pair are directly descended in female line from Misty Morn (Princequillo), the Champion Three-Year-Old Filly in North America of 1955 and Champion Handicap Female the following year. Broodmare Of The Year in the USA in 1963, Misty Morn produced a pair of champion two-year-olds in Bold Lad (Bold Ruler) and Successor (Bold Ruler), and also ranks as ancestress of such G1 winners as Adjudicating (Champagne Stakes), Dispute (Kentucky Oaks), Patches (Hollywood Oaks), and Secret Savings (Doncaster Handicap).

Misty Morn was a half-sister to eight stakes winners, including dual US champion sire, and Hopeful Stakes winner What

A Pleasure (Bold Ruler), with her dam none other than legendary producer Grey Flight (Mahmoud). One of the greatest broodmares in the North American stud book, Grey Flight has also left a considerable mark on the South African stud book. Her descendants based in South Africa include the highly successful National Assembly, as well as Philanthropist, whose local progeny include Gr1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby/Gr1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup victor Golden Ducat.

Sire of 16 Gr1 winners, National Assembly continues to make his presence felt on the South African turf as broodmare sire of highly successful stallions

Rafeef and Vercingetorix.

Grey Flight also appears in the pedigree of Saturday's beaten Politician Stakes favourite and third place finisher At My Command, whose damsire was National Assembly's champion son National Emblem.

Grey Flight, whose name appears in the pedigrees of top US sires Uncle Mo and Pulpit, as well as unbeaten sensation Flightline (the latter is inbred to Grey Flight), also ranks as the third dam of US champion, and brilliant Gr1 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner, Inside Information - who, like Unaccounted For (broodmare sire of Rockpool's dam Miss Delish), was sired by Private Account.

Girsonfield was established in 1999 by Susan and Frank Corbett with the ambition of creating an affordable thoroughbred stud farm for Northern breeders in Britain. Here is a scene from a chilly early morning recently.

BILLY EYES DERBY

The United States' son Billy Bowlegs charges home under Muzi Yeni

JC Photos

A Gr1-winning son of the great Galileo, Moutonshoek stallion The United States continues to grow in stature and has a promising Derby prospect in the shape of Billy Bowlegs who won the Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday in the manner of a decent sort.

Just 24 hours after his son Without Question booked his own Cape Derby ticket with a chasing second to highly vaunted stablemate Rockpool in the Gr3 Politician Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Billy Bowlegs produced the performance of his short career so far to beat two promising fillies in the R250 000 Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes run over 1800m.

Under a typically enthusiastic and confident ride by Muzi Yeni, Billy Bowlegs (28-10) outran the two fairer sex gallopers in the latter stages to register a half length victory in a time of 110,34 secs.

Billy Bowlegs (Muzi Yeni) storms home – second placed None Other is out of the pic (Pic – JC Photos)

None Other (3-1) stayed on for second, with the 28-10 Bonete plodding away a further 3,25 lengths back in third.

A broadly smiling trainer Alec Laird called the winner ‘an improving big puppy and the plan is coming together’. He observed that the colt is getting stronger.

That must be heartening news for owners Laura de Haast, Sita Govender, Krishna Nagendran – a big buyer at the recent Tattersalls Cape Premier Yearling Sale – and the International Racing Club, whose nominee is the UKbased Joao da Mata.

A R300 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Billy Bowlegs took his stakes tally to R271 875, with his third win from just 7 starts.

A son of the exciting Moutonshoek Galileo stallion The United States, the winner is out of the one-time winning Captain Al mare Yourethetops and was bred by Wicklow Stud.

Two others for the Highveld Season feature black-book are Robbie Sage’s Unzen (Erupt) and Grant Marountrained Anfields Rocket (Coup De Grace). Both caught the eye on the afternoon.

A KISS OF SPEED

In an emotional moment for the Soal family, the very promising Kiss Me Captain found her best form to register an emphatic victory in the R150 000 Listed Swallow Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday.

After the devastating recent loss of popular owner and breeder Kevin Soal, his daughter and part-owner Courtney marked a first stakes victory for the speedy daughter of Captain Of All (Captain Al), who turned on the jets late to put a disappointing last effort in the

Joburg Tourism Gr3 Magnolia Handicap behind her.

Tucked off the pace as Maharanee and Sweet Pepper led the charge, Diego de Gouveia produced Kiss Me Captain (15-2) with an electrifying turn of foot to beat the smart Maharanee (11-2) by 2,25 lengths in a time of 65,86 secs for the 1160m.

The runner-up’s stablemate and race favourite Southern Skies (28-10) was well beaten a further length away in third.

“She blew me away today

and that clearly wasn’t her run in the Magnolia last up,” enthused De Gouveia.

Trainer Adam Azzie said that Kiss Me Captain’s late owner and breeder Kevin Soal was looking down from above and would have been proud.

The winner has now won 4 races from 6 starts with 1 place for stakes of R270 000.

A daughter of champion sprinter Captain Of All (Captain Al), she is out of the one-time winning Caesour mare, Bearing Strait.

Diego de Gouveia shows his delight as Kiss Me Captain cruises to victory

GAUTENG GUINEAS ENTRIES ARE IN

Candiese Lenferna

Mike de Kock’s Shoemaker (114), East Coast (112) and Natie Kotzen’s recent impressive Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes winner Royal Victory (111) are the three top-rated of the 22 entries received on Monday morning for the WSB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 4 February.

Gareth van Zyl’s Money Heist

and Roy Magner’s impressive Turffontein Sunday winner Unzen are next on 108. A son of Erupt, Unzen caught the eye with a terrific return to form on Sunday

Grant Maroun’s Anfields Rocket also made a scintillating winning return on Sunday after returning from the Cape where he ran downfield in the

Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

The son of Coup de Grace clocked 55,9 secs for the 1000m and impressed with an eletrifying turn of foot from last to win going away. He has unfortunately pulled a wide gate.

The race is the first leg of the SA Triple Crown

A maximum field of 16 can run, with capacity for 3 reserve runners.

Supplementary entries close at 09h00 on Monday 30 January. Declarations are due on Tuesday 31 January.

RULES, PENALTIES

- HAVE YOUR SAY

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that as outlined in a previous Press Release of 9 November 2022, an invitation for comments on the proposed Rules and Penalty Guideline amendments is extended to all stake holders and members of the public.

The associated proposed Rules and Penalty Guidelines will be published on the NHA website and open for comment from 20 January 2023 until midnight South African Standard Time (SAST) on 10 February 2023.

To access the proposed Rules and Penalty Guidelines and to comment thereon, kindly go on to the NHA website landing page, under RULES & CONSTITUTION or under RACING INFORMATION tabs for “Rules & Penalty Guidelines Comments”.

Step 1: Register Step 2: Confirm email

Step 3: Log On Step 4: Complete Comments (to submit comments click

SAVE NOW) – You may edit your submission at any time before 10 February 2023.

No comments can be made after 10 February 2023.

All comments entered on the site will be considered as final on submission date.

The NHA may not necessarily respond to any submission directly, but all comments will be considered by the NHA National Board before finalisation of any amendments.

CRAIG & WARRENMAKING SA PROUD!

South African jockeys Warren Kennedy aboard Prowess and Craig Zackey on Tokyo Tycoon enjoyed a night to remember at the Karaka Millions.

Saturday’s 16th running of the NZ$1m DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka Million 2YO was a Karaka Million like no other –the first million-dollar race ever run at Pukekohe, with regular venue Ellerslie closed for redevelopment.

Syndication powerhouse Te Akau Racing won New Zealand’s richest two-year-old race for the seventh year in a row, with Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) extending his unbeaten record to three out

of three. Bought by David Ellis for NZ$125 000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2022, he has now earned NZ$599 150.

Tokyo Tycoon earned his place in the Karaka Million line-up with stylish victories in his first two starts, including a powerful performance at Pukekohe on Boxing Day that made him one of the favourites for the big one. Remarkably, by the time he stepped out on to the track for Saturday’s Karaka Million, he was one of seven runners for Te Akau Racing among a well-credentialled 14-horse field.

A horror gate of 13 in Wednesday’s barrier draw appeared to have dealt a

severe blow to Tokyo Tycoon’s chances, and his prospects looked even bleaker when he stumbled in the first couple of strides.

But jockey Craig Zackey bided his time at the tail of the field, then found a way into clear air halfway down the straight.

“Wow,” Te Akau Racing’s Karyn Fenton-Ellis said. “Winning this race for the seventh year in a row, it really takes a team, and my goodness gracious, does Te Akau Racing have a magnificent tangerine team. They’re such dedicated people.

“It all begins at the top of the

Warren Kennedy steers Prowess to a memorable victory

business with my wonderful husband David Ellis, who selected and bought this horse as yearling at Karaka, as he’s done over many years.

“We believe in the New Zealand racing industry, we want people to be involved and have the opportunity, and gosh we love winning this race.”

Tokyo Tycoon is trained by multiple premiership winner Mark Walker, who replaced the Hong Kong-bound Jamie Richards partway through last year.

Tokyo Tycoon delivered an extraordinary moment for Zackey, a former champion apprentice in South Africa who only arrived

in New Zealand late last year.

“It’s unexplainable,” he said. “To have only come to New Zealand a few months ago and to be winning one of the biggest races here is overwhelming. I think it’ll take a day or two to hit me!”

It was then SA Champion jockey Warren Kennedy’s turn.

The super-talented filly Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) was slightly under the radar as she arrived at Pukekohe on Saturday to face one of the strongest fields in the history of the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), but she stepped out of the shadows and stole the show.

Many had expected a match race between prolific winners

Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) and Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh), but the favourites were upstaged by a brilliant performance from Prowess. Bought by trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood for $230,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021, she has now had six starts for four wins, two placings and $693,240 in stakes. Prowess has always looked like a special talent, winning her only two-year-old start by nine lengths and scoring again when she kicked off her threeyear-old season at Cambridge in September.

She rounded out her spring preparation with a pair of third placings in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), but then a bold win in the Group Two

An elated Craig Zackey returns to the winner’s box

Auckland Guineas (1600m) on New Year’s Day hinted that she might be about to scale greater heights.

She could have chosen no better moment to do it than at Pukekohe on Saturday.

“It’s pretty special,” James said. “I think this is certainly the best field of threeyear-olds that we’ve seen assembled in New Zealand in quite some time. “I truly believe that a number of these horses – hopefully us included – will be able to go and fly the flag for New Zealand racing and breeding in Australia, where it really matters.

“The ownership group is headed by Dean Skipper, who

had his first horse with me 30 years ago. He later went off to make his fortune, but he said he would be back, and when that happened, we went to Karaka and bought this filly. He and his family have been just a joy to have on board. Normally people have to race a few slow ones before getting a filly like this!”

Kennedy had Prowess positioned in midfield, sitting just on the outside of Wild Night up to the 700-metre mark. She started to stride forward purposefully coming up to the home turn, then took the lead with ease at the top of the straight.

Wild Night and Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) gave it all they had to try

to reel her in, with Legarto charging home late after struggling to find clear air. But there would be no catching Prowess, who took the win by three-quarters of a length.

It also completed a Karaka Million double for South African jockeys.

“We’re good mates but also very competitive, so I was happy to see him win the two-year-old race – but even happier that I’ve managed to win this one,” Kennedy said.

“The two South African boys winning the million-dollar races is just fantastic. We’re delighted to be able to deliver results like this for all the owners and trainers who have put their support behind us.”

TEN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AT MEYDAN ON FRIDAYKONG

Flying French grey Batwan is one of several star attractions as Meydan Racecourse hosts a bumper eight-race card on Friday,

Horses from ten different countries clash at this fourth meeting of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, including from France where trainer Nicolas Caullery is based.

He has three runners, including Batwan (pictured) who puts his perfect Dubai record on

the line when going for a third 1200metre turf win in the Listed Dubai Sprint (Presented by Longines), race two. The eight-year-old is looked after at Meydan by Caullery’s partner and assistant Marine Henry, who issued an upbeat bulletin.

“Batwan is back in his home, he loves Dubai,” she said. “He settled in like a superstar and worked really well. He hasn’t raced since the beginning of October so he may need the

race and it’s also stronger than the two he won here last year.

“We hope to get our revenge and get to the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint this year.”

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Man Of Promise was third in the Al Quoz last year and rates as one of the biggest dangers to Batwan, having finished runner-up to Lazuli in the Ertijaal Dubai Dash over 1000metres three weeks ago.

Batwan – the flying French racer will be a star attraction on Friday

“Man Of Promise has definitely come forward for his first start of the year and has a good draw in 14,” said Appleby. “Stepping back up to six furlongs [1200m] will play to his strengths and I feel he is the one they all have to beat.”

An open race also sees UAE newcomer Nahaarr take his chance for Michael Costa, while Ahmad Bin Harmash’s Thunder Of Niagara makes a quick return after winning over 1000metres last week.

The official feature is the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes (Presented by Longines), which is a good prep for the Gr2 Godolphin Mile with Heavy Metal in 2018 and Secret Ambition in 2021 winning both races in recent years.

Champion Trainer Bhupat Seemar runs three of the

eight-strong field. Stable jockey Tadhg O’Shea opts to partner Law Of Peace, with Antonio Fresu on Discovery Island and Ray Dawson on Imperial Empire.

Twice a winner over course and distance, Naser Askar’s Law Of Peace makes his seasonal debut here, having been last seen winning the Listed Abu Dhabi Championship in March.

“Law Of Peace is having his first run, but he’s beaten Discovery Island and he’s a very versatile horse as to distance and surface,” said Seemar. “He’s drawn a bit wide [8], but he’s going to come from behind so that’s OK.

“Discovery Island has drawn one. He was second in the G2 Maktoum Challenge R1 and I think he’s a better horse than last year.

He should run a good race.”

Imperial Empire reverts to a mile after finishing ninth in the G3 Dubawi Stakes last time out and Seemar is confident this will suit him.

“Imperial Empire is doing great as well,” he said. “Unfortunately, in the 1200metre Dubawi Stakes the sprinters were out of the gate and gone, so he couldn’t really get involved. I think this is where he belongs.”

Rivals to the Seemar trio include Prince Eiji, fifth in Maktoum Challenge R1 last time out, and his Doug Watson-trained stablemates Everfast and Thegreatcollection, while Salem Bin Ghadayer brings out two recruits from the UK, Ever Given and Mister Saint Paul.

HOW THE HANDICAPPERS RATED THE FEATURES

The exciting Rockpool has had his merit rating raised from 88 to 101 after winning the Gr3 Politician Stakes for three-year-olds over 1800m on the summer course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 4th placed GRINKOV made for the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 102.

There were also ratings increases for 2nd placed WITHOUT QUESTION, who goes up from 88 to 99, and for 5th finisher NARINA TROGON, who was raised from 85 to 87 to make him higher than the 86-rated 7th placed BLACKBERRY MALT.

There were drops for two horses. FAMOUS AND RICH is down from 96 to 93, while DOWSER drops from 84 to 83.

Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes

BILLY BOWLEGS has had his rating raised from 100 to 106

following his win in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes for three-year-olds over 1800m on the standside track at Turffontein on Sunday. The Handicappers believed that 3rd placed BONETE made for the most suitable line horse here, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 97.

In assessing the race this way BILLY BOWLEGS actually runs to a mark of 110, but the specific race conditions do not allow for a more than six-pound increase in the winner’s rating and so the Handicappers were obliged to cap BILLY BOWLEGS at 106.

The race conditions also do not permit any ratings increase for any horse other than the winner. Accordingly, runnerup NONE OTHER remains on 101 despite running to a mark of 104. AFRICAN TORRENT, KING OF ROME, and OTTO LUYKEN all run above their marks as well, but remain on 85, 77, and 89 respectively.

The only drop was for RYAN’S DREAM, who is

down from 81 to 79.

Listed Swallow Stakes

KISS ME CAPTAIN has had her rating raised from 98 to 104 after she won the Listed Swallow Stakes for threeyear-old fillies over 1160m at Turffontein on Sunday.

Runner-up MAHARANEE was deemed to make for the best line horse here, which leaves her unaltered on a mark of 112.

Here too the specific race conditions do not permit a more than six-pound increase for the winner, with no increase at all for any other runner, so the Handicappers were obliged to cap KISS ME CAPTAIN at 104 even though she actually ran to a mark of 111. Likewise, 3rd placed SOUTHERN SKIES remains unchanged on a mark of 98 despite actually achieving a rating of 104.

Two horses were given a drop. SWEET PEPPER is down from 113 to 111, while STRIKE A MATCH drops to 87 from 90.

Clerk of the course Jon Pullin remains optimistic that Saturday’s Trials day at Cheltenham will go ahead, with frost covers expected to be deployed later in the week.

The track was hit with a minor setback yesterday after temperatures reached -6.5C overnight, but Pullin is confident his team will be able to handle conditions due to a positive forecast in the coming days.

Speaking yesterday afternoon he said: "Unfortunately we had a sharp frost last night and more than what was forecast. We thought it'd be between

-3C and -4C, but it got down to -6.5C and it has pushed us back a little today.

"Temperatures have risen to 6C today and on Wednesday we're expecting the daytime figures to read between 7C and 8C, which will certainly help.

"We might just get down to 0C on Wednesday night, but Thursday is another positive day with temperatures at 5C and 6C."

Cheltenham will host nine races on its Trials day card on Saturday, including the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase. The first race is at 11.40am.

Pullin said: "I'm hopeful we'll be frost-free by Thursday afternoon. If we are then we may look to cover the track for protection because we're expecting temperatures of -1C on Friday night into Saturday morning.

"Just before this cold spell started, we were looking like we'd be clear of it all last weekend, but it kept creeping forward. It's due to be like this until the end of the week and it's certainly longer than we were anticipating."

www.racingpost.com

FREEZING – BUT CHELTENHAM LOOKS LIKELY CARRY ON GARY!

International golf legend Gary Player could have a Gr1 contender in Australia after Thursday's Blue Diamond Preview at Sandown.

Player won nine majors in an illustrious career that included 159 tournament victories around the world, leading him to become an inaugural member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

While Player was consistently notching tournament successes, he also built his own stud farm, Gary Player Stud, halfway between Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Player's stock won more than 2000 races, including Grade 1 wins in the US, before he sold his stud in 2016, keeping a small band of broodmares in his homeland.

Player is a part-owner of twoyear-old colt Altruist, who is by Snitzel out of the multiple South African Group 1 winner Carry On Alice.

Carry On Alice's breeder, South African operation Klawervlei Stud, are also partowners of Altruist along with local syndicator OTI Racing.

ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK

Let’s hope this game is an appetizer to what we might see later in the season between these two teams! It’s a highlight reel clash at the Etihad Stadium and I cannot wait to get round 4 of the Emirates FA Cup off to a flyer.

Manchester City vs Arsenal | Sunday 27 January | Etihad Stadium | 22h00

To Win (90 mins)

Manchester City 15/20 Draw 31/10 Arsenal 34/10

Manchester City

The squad depth available at Manchester City is almost a mockery. Pep Guardiola has

formed an incredibly talented squad with an unplayable mentality and desire to win. I agree with comments that the Spanish manager has made during the week suggesting that the expectation at City is often unattainably high. I suggest this is more a compliment to the work being done at City than anything else.

City come into this game having lost just once at home. No, they don’t have the history or tradition that other clubs in England might boast, but to suggest that the Etihad isn’t a fortress is foolish. My only concern with this game is how much of an effect the “Pep roulette” will have. As much as competing on all fronts is

part of the City mould, the FA Cup might not be looked at in the same light as the Premier League or the Champions League.

It would be remiss of me to write about City and not mention Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker is in redhot form. He comes into this game off the back of a hattrick against Wolves and just hasn’t shown any indication of slowing down this season. I thought that the Wolves game (much like the Manchester derby) highlighted how teams can stifle Manchester City. Before Haaland broke the deadlock, City looked tamed and it was Wolves who for the most part seemed to dictate the pace.

Of course, individual brilliance is part of a team but against a better opposition, one wonders whether City can avoid being taken advantage of.

Arsenal Arsenal is absolutely flying now. They currently sit at the top of the Premier League and having accumulated 50 points at the half-way mark it’s no doubt confidence is at an all-time high. I must be honest, given the opportunity the Gunners must compete for the league title, I am intrigued to see how Mikel Arteta navigates the rest of the season.

It's been well documented that Arsenal have enjoyed playing at the Emirates this year, but their form on the road doesn’t

differ all that much. They have an attacking line which can compete with the very best in the world, their midfield is both robust and delicate enough to enjoy intricate play and their defensive line enjoys traditional English football physicality.

I know that I have said this pretty much every time I have written about Arsenal this year, but the work that Arteta has done, the patience displayed by the board and the fundamental investment in the team all seems to be coming to fruition. The FA Cup is giving us a taster for what will surely be a blockbuster fixture when these two meet in the league.

Predicted Line-up: Manchester City: Ortega,

Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Silva, Rodri, Foden, Mahrez, Alvarez, Palmer.

Arsenal: Turner, Tierney, Magalheas, Holding, Tomiyasu, Xhaka, Elneny, Marquinhos, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.

Prediction: Man City + BTTS (47/20)

I see this game being a little more open, both teams have an unbelievable attacking ability and I’m sure we will see it on full display. If I’m completely honest, I am just edging on City coming through this. Arsenal might want to keep their momentum on track – but I suspect their mental focus might be split given their recently unprecedented domestic season!