The Met Tips & Preview - Who will win The Cape Town Met at Kenilworth?

Oh Susanna is the only three-year-old to win The Met this century. She was having her eighth career start that day and went into the race having won the Paddock Stakes after a good runner-up finish to the classy Snowdance in the Fillies Guineas.

Justin Snaith's three-year-old, Double Superlative has been backed towards the top of the market, following an impressive win in the Cape Guineas. That was, however, just his second outing outside of maiden company and this looks like a big step up in class for a horse who lacks experience.

Very few horses in South African racing history have won the Queen's Plate and The Met in the same season. The Queen's Plate is run over a mile and a fast gallop from the get-go often turns that race into an eight-furlong sprint. The Met, meanwhile, is run over ten furlongs and the early pace is never usually as hot, as stamina over this trip is more important than flat-out speed.

Jet Dark showed a fantastic turn of foot to quicken up off an unsustainably quick pace to win his second Queen's Plate. While that run was super impressive, I'm not sure he has the stamina for this trip.

Based on last year's form, there is very little between Kommetdieding and LINEBACKER. Kommetdieding beat Linebacker in the Durban July and performed much better in the Queen's Plate. Linebacker ran flat last time out and was beaten four lengths back in seventh. Yet, there are a couple of reasons why I'd rather side with Vaughan Marshall's runner on Saturday, rather than the Durban July winner.

Both tried to come from off the pace in the Queen's Plate. Kommetdieding found the perfectly split down the inside rail and followed Jet Dark home in second. Linebacker, on the other hand, was forced widest of all to mount a challenge and simply couldn't pick up enough.

Although Linebacker won the Guineas over a mile at Greyville last season, his best performances came over longer trips. Marshall's stable star cruised to victory over ten furlongs in both the Cape Derby - held here at Kenilworth - and the Daily News 2000. He then looked to have the Durban July sewn up, only for Kommetdieding to fly home late and pip him to the post.

Grant Van Niekerk, who guided Linebacker through his excellent three-year-old campaign, returns to the saddle after Craig Zackey took the ride in the Queen's Plate. Zackey didn't do a bad job in the Plate, but Niekerk is undoubtedly the superior rider and he knows exactly how to handle this talented four-year-old.