Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in pedigree and overseas international racing. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Horse Racing – Results’, ‘Simulcast Preview'’ and Simulcast oversea races.

Kenilworth Racecourse – Track Analysis (Met Day):

Nestled in Cape Town, the left-handed Kenilworth Racecourse is probably one-of-its-kind in featuring three tracks: the Old Course, in use for the bulk of the winter season, that is 2700m in circumference; the 2800m New Course that caters for summer racing, and a separate 1200m chute that streaks right through the infield area.

As one of the marquees high-lighting the ‘The Summer of Champions’ over December and January of each year in the South African racing calendar, the Met Day will entirely be staged on the New Course, where all fields racing through the far turn will navigate mostly a leveled course, except for a slight uphill climb deep into the final 200m. For the main feature – The Met contested at 2000m – runners will travel the full 600m stretch run before hitting the first turn, and is truly good news for outside-drawn runners, as they would have all the time they need to find coverage or be sent forward. Meanwhile, the 1800m Politician Stakes, similar to the main feature, will have a full 400m stretch run on the backside before taking the first turn. Coupled with a more sedate early pace in a route, a bad stall is still manageable. Rather, on the day’s undercard, runners drawing high numbers in both the 1400m Pinnacle Stakes and the 1600m Majorca Stakes will have only a short run-in to the first turn, and need to save as much ground as possible, or be floated wide, and even lose balance through that wicked turn. Thankfully, with the 600m homestretch, deep closers, as they find their balance and momentum, still have all the real property they need to close from far back.

To the midfield chute, the Summer Juvenile Stakes, the Cape Flying Championship, and the MR 76 F&M Handicap, all at 1000m, will see the fields race down-hill first for about 200m, then back up the slope with about 200m to go, and those from the middle or outside part of this chute usually enjoy a better trip. Then, for the 2800m Western Cape Stayers that navigates one full lap of this New Course, the starting gate is positioned immediately after passing the finishing post, thus runners are literally breaking into the first turn. Yet again, with a more dawdling early pace as customary in deep routes, the barrier draw bears little significance in general.

In the 2020 edition of The Met staged on good goings, the eventual quinella of ONE WORLD and RAINBOW BRIDGE were both prompting the early speed, until they took command by the 400m marker, and turned this into a two-horse race of their own. RAINBOW BRIDGE briefly poked his head in front, yet the resolute ONE WORLD simply dug down deep and re-surged to score, whereas HAWWAAM ridden by Anton Marcus, closing like a dust-storm from way back in the field, was late to the scene, and could only settle for third.

With continued sunshine basking the Cape Town area as of late – and through the weekend – at least a good turf strip is on deck for this year’s edition of the Met Day. Should that be the case, the chute would slightly favour runners breaking from middle or outside post positions, while a balanced selection that includes different running styles is more preferred for contests on the course proper.

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