Cape Metropolitan Stakes

Cape Metropolitan Stakes
Grade One race
LocationKenilworth Racecourse
Cape Town, South Africa
Inaugurated1883
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
Websitesunmet.co.za
Race information
Distance2,000 metres
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
PurseR5 Million

The Cape Metropolitan Stakes, currently named the Sun Met (and previously known as the J&B Met), is a Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race run on the turf at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town, South Africa.[1] It is run over 2000m. It was first run in 1883 as the Metropolitan Mile.[2]

It is considered one of the three main feature races in South Africa, alongside the Vodacom Durban July, and the Summer Cup.[3]

Sponsors

The Met is a popular fashion event, especially for couples. Especially during its J&B sponsorship period.
A winning couple from the fashion component of the 2007 Met on its 30th anniversary.

J&B Whiskey (part of the Diageo group at the time) were sponsors of the Cape Metropolitan Stakes from 1977 to 2016.[4] The stake pot offered by the company was R40,000, making it a record purse for a race at the time.[5] The race was commonly referred to as the J&B Met during their rein as sponsors.

In 2017 Sun International became sponsors of the race, with it being referred to as the Sun Met.[6]

World Sports Betting (WSB) a South African sports and live games betting site took over sponsorship in 2022 and the race was renamed to the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met. Press release: https://www.sportingpost.co.za/2021/12/met-gets-a-new-sponsor/[7]

Past winners

Horses racing during the 2007 event.

Listed below are the past winners of the Met.[8][9]

Edition Year Horse Jockey Trainer
97 1959 Bulbul Colin Palm Cookie Amos
98 1960 Appeal Court
99 1961 Frantic
100 1962 Jerez Stanley Amos Cookie Amos
101 1963 Polar Bear
102 1964 The Giant Colin Palm Cookie Amos
103 1965 Speciality
104 1966 Renounce Duncan Alexander Cookie Amos
105 1967 Ding Dong James Maree
106 1968
107 1969 Peter Beware Terrance Millard
108 1970 Snow Fun Duncan Alexander J Bell
109 1971 Night Off
110 1972 Force Ten
111 1973 Gold Flame Terence D’Arcy
112 1974 Yataghan Bertie Hayden Syd Laird
113 1975 Sledgehammer Michael Roberts Fred Rickaby
114 1976 Gatecrasher Garth Puller Herman Brown
115 1977 Bahadur
116 1978 Politician Bertie Hayden Syd Laird
117 1979 Politician Bertie Hayden Syd Laird
118 1980 Sunshine Man Felix Coetzee Peter Kannemeyer
119 1981 Queen’s Elect
120 1982 Foveros Basil Marcus Herman Brown snr
121 1983 Arctic Cove Terrance Millard
122 1984 Wolf Power Jeff Lloyd Ricky Maingard
123 1985 Charles Fortune Grant Kotzen Michael Airey
124 1986 Wild West Greg Holme Ralph Rixon
125 1987 Model Man Basil Marcus Patrick Lunn
126 1988 Mark Anthony Felix Coetzee Terrance Millard
127 1989 Fearless Streaker Felix Coetzee
128 1990 Jungle Warrior Felix Coetzee Eric Sands
129 1991 Olympic Duel Felix Coetzee Terrance Millard
130 1992 Divine Master Jeff Lloyd Peter Kannemeyer
131 1993 Empress Club Anton Marcus Tony Millard
132 1994 Pas De Quoi Garth Puller Peter Kannemeyer
133 1995 Surfing Home Jeff Lloyd Tony Millard
134 1996 La Fabulous Robbie Fradd Vaughan Marshall
135 1997 London News Douglas Whyte Alec Laird
136 1998[10] Imperious Sue Anthony Delpech David Payne
137 1999 Horse Chestnut Waichong Marwing Mike de Kock
138 2000 Badger’s Coast Guillermo Figueroa Mike de Kock
139 2001 Bunter Barlow Glen Hatt Mike Bass
140 2002 Polo Classic Barend Vorster Eric Sands
141 2003 Angus Piere Strydom Brett Crawford
142 2004 Yard-Arm Mark Khan Geoff Woodruff
143 2005 Alastor Garth Puller Sean Tarry
144 2006 Zebra Crossing Jeff Lloyd Neil Bruss
145 2007 Pocket Power Jeff Lloyd Mike Bass
146 2008 Pocket Power Bernard Faydherbe Mike Bass
147 2009 Pocket Power Bernard Faydherbe Mike Bass
148 2010 River Jetez Glen Hatt Mike Bass
149 2011 Past Master Gerrit Schlechter Darryl Hodgson
150 2012 Igugu Anthony Delpech Mike de Kock
151 2013 Martial Eagle Aldo Domeyer Yogas Govender
152 2014 Hill Fifty Four Anton Marcus Vaughan Marshall
153 2015 Futura B Fayd'herbe Brett Crawford
154 2016 Smart Call Juan Paul V'd Merwe Alec Laird
155 2017 Whisky Baron Greg Cheyne Brett Crawford
156 2018 Oh Susanna Grant Van Niekerk Justin Snaith
157 2019 Rainbow Bridge Anton Marcus Eric Sands
158 2020 One World MJ Byleveld Vaughan Marshall
159 2021 Rainbow Bridge Luke Ferraris Eric Sands
160 2022 Kommetdieding Gavin Lerena H W Crawford & M Rix
161 2023 Jet Dark Richard Fourie Justin Snaith
162 2024 Double Superlative Daniel Muscutt Justin Snaith

References

  1. ^ "Metropolitan Handicap (South Africa) Winners". www.tbheritage.com.
  2. ^ "History - The Sun Met". Sun Met.
  3. ^ "The J&B Met". Sporting Post.
  4. ^ "The Met loses J&B as title sponsor". Sport24. 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Facts and figures: J&B Met". News24. Retrieved 16 January 2007.
  6. ^ "Sun International unveiled as Met's new title sponsor". www.phumelela.com.
  7. ^ "Met Gets a New Sponsor". 24 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Past winners: J&B Met". News24. 22 January 2007.
  9. ^ "The Met - Past Winners - Results - South Africa". www.racingandsports.com.
  10. ^ "J&B Met". Sporting Post. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.