SPORT
These are the true stars of the Cape Town Met, long before the fashion and celebration reach their peak.
Cape Town is the place to be. The Met is more than just a race; it is where sport, style, and drama collide each year. Beyond the glamour, the true essence of the day belongs to the horses, the trainers, the rivalries, and the months of preparation that all boil down to two thrilling minutes on the track.
Currently, one name dominates racing discussions: Eight On Eighteen. Last season’ s South African Horse of the Year and defending Met champion has not appeared since the Hollywoodbets Durban July. However, this absence is not worrying. Trainer Justin Snaith, already riding high from three consecutive Met wins, has kept his star quietly busy. The buzz from the yard indicates the champion is fresh, rested, and prepared to return as a headline contender.
Snaith also adds further strength. The Real Prince, winner of Africa’ s Greatest Race, lines up alongside his younger brother Gimmie Rules. Both possess serious potential to unsettle the field. KwaZulu-Natal’ s Gladiatorian has already arrived in Cape Town and is reported to be improving with each run. He demonstrates a powerful stride, a commanding presence, and clear ambition.
From Johannesburg, Alec Laird introduces another level of intrigue with Fire Attack. Laird is renowned at Kenilworth for arriving with horses finely prepared for top-tier competition. Reports from Randjesfontein indicate that Fire Attack is performing well. His presence rekindles the familiar inland-versus-coastal rivalry that consistently sharpens the Met build-up.
Then there is the Richard Fourie factor. The reigning champion jockey remains measured and patient. With several top stables seeking his services and multiple elite runners in the mix, Fourie continues to assess his options. His final decision on which colours to wear will send immediate ripples through betting boards across the country.
No Met narrative is complete without Nic Jonsson. The owner, who has lifted the trophy three years in a row alongside Snaith, now has a story of his own. Three consecutive wins have turned his association with the race into part tradition, part intuition, part exceptional judgement.
Eight On Eighteen remains his main weapon, but Jonsson is well protected in 2026. Okavango and See It Again wait in the background, both reliable enough to step forward if needed.
As the track firms, the January heat settles in, and more runners arrive in Cape Town, the sense grows that the 2026 edition of the Mother City’ s most glamorous sporting event could be something special. IB
JANUARY 2026 / INBOUND SA 35