All the big guns have been entered for the R2,5 million J & B Met to be run over 2000m at Kenilworth on January 28 with the race given an international flavour with the entry of Chester Vase winner and Irish Derby runner-up Golden Sword.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Irish-bred Golden Sword, by top international sire High Chaparral, has been purchased by Mike de Kock out of the Ballydoyle yard of Aiden O'Brien.
As a three-year-old, Golden Sword won the Chester Vase and finished second behind stable companion Fame And Glory in the Irish Derby. He was also fifth in the Epsom Derby behind the unbeaten Sea The Stars.
Golden Sword has been rested since a relatively undistinguished 2011 Dubai campaign and has not been seen since finishing unplaced in the Dubai World Cup in March.
The list of 34 entries for the J & B Met is headed by Vodacom Durban July winner and Horse of the Year Igugu.
The Met holds the distinct possibility of a re-match between Igugu and Ebony Flyer while last start Sansui Summer Cup winner Dancewiththedevil could also be in the mix.
Other top entries include Summer Cup runner-up Ilsanpietro, Pierre Jourdan and The Apache.
Former Guineas winner Solo Traveller, now with De Kock, is also among the initial entries along with SA Classic winner English Garden.
Dean Kannemeyer has entered his top three-year-old colts including the unbeaten Divine Jet.
The outbreak of African Horse Sickness that resulted in a ban on horse exports from South Africa has kept all the big name stars at home, the result being the J & B Met field will not be diluted because of desertions to Dubai.
