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Met fever has taken hold this week and with Saturday's Kenilworth race meeting expected to generate a tote turnover of R16,3-million, everyone wants a piece of the action.
If the target is achieved, the J&B; extravaganza would be R1-million up on 2005's figures. Racing administrators expect punters to spend R6,5-million on the Met alone.
Yet, due to the open nature of this year's event, betting has so far proved remarkably stagnant, even by the Cape's laid-back standards.
The only movers on Thursday were Alastor, who drifted out to 8-1 from 7-1, and the rank PE-based outsider Superwood, who shortened from 33-1 to 25-1. A surprising move to say the least.
 
| 'I won't be happy to run second' |
The last Eastern Cape horse to make the frame was Western Wind in 1988, finishing second to seven-length winner Mark Anthony, but lifting eyebrows by beating Cape staying stars Aquanaut and Gitano.
At the end of the day, for punters, the bullishness of the Neil Bruss stable about their runner Zebra Crossing has probably proved more significant.
Jockey Jeff Lloyd, rarely outspoken before races, cut right to the chase: "I'll be disappointed if I don't win it, and I won't be happy to run second.
"The Met is won by horses that are specially prepared for the race. When I won on Divine Master in 1992 beating Flaming Rock it was because he was prepared for the race.
"I wouldn't say Zebra Crossing is the best horse, but he has been specially prepared and that makes the difference. He is a long-striding horse and wants a good pace and that is one point of concern. The pace is always a concern in the Cape and it will determine how we race."
He said his dangers were the Mike De Kock-trained Ilha Da Vitoria, Glen Puller's Great Rhythm and Mike Bass' Joshua's Princess.
"But they will all be behind me, watching how I'm going."
- This article was originally published on page 29 of Cape Argus on January 27, 2006
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