Investec Capy Derby poor field

28 runners highest MR 101.

Something wrong with the race Programming.

Has Hawwaam been entered ?

www.sportingpost.co.za/2019/01/sun-met-day-gr1-feature-entries/

Sales money races at same time plus wfa Met means either option more attractive than the Derby. Sales races should be earlier lead ups to the guineas and the Derby run right at the end of Cape season.

I`m sure if Hawwaam is coming to the Cape he will jump in as a supp entry.. looks too good an opportunity

The CTS race on the same day for R5m clearly has a major impact. The Jhb horses have the Triple Crown, the first leg of which is now 2nd February so not attractive for them to raid CT.
However, I think that the entries are stronger that it looks as quite a few are much better than their current official ratings. The traditional Derby trial this weekend (Politician Stakes) will be quite informative.

Hawwaam is a Met entry, but not a Cape Derby entry. The stable have two others entered in the Derby, and logically would split their talent across the various competing opportunities.

C'mon - most of these have not even begun to reach their ratings and are completely unexposed - Bunker Hunt, Belgarion, Kinghts Templar and Thanksgiving are all very exciting sorts to me. Who did you expect to see here? The first 3 past the post in the Guineas would not stay the trip at this stage.

Case in point - Do it Again was rated 92 when he lined up the Derby last year...

There are two issues here :

The programming has been compressed over the last few years. In the 'old days' the classic features were far better spaced.

The operator simply cannot continue expecting top horses to turn out for such poor stake money :

The Queens' Plate @ R1,5 million, The Cape Guines & Derby @ R1 million apiece are a handful of obvious examples (amongst many) of really poor prize money for historically classic races.

I don't think the prize money for the Guineas has changed since 2013...... Would that I could say the same for my training fees and Mr Wainstein's salary!