2026 Cape Town Met Top Tips - The Real Prince going for historic treble, Snaith eyes four in a row
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
2. Eight on Eighteen - 5/1 (Richard Fourie)
The reigning Met champion and current Equus Horse of the Year is back to defend his title, and everything about his profile screams danger. Eight on Eighteen boasts an impeccable record over 2,000 and has multiple wins at Kenilworth. He also gets the services of Richard Fourie.
His recent runs suggest he is peaking at the right moment, and while his showing at the King’s Plate was short of his best, there is a case to be made that he needed that run. With that outing under his belt and a favourable draw for the Met, Justin Snaith’s runner seems to have everything aligned for a big performance.
Notably, his narrow loss to The Real Price at the Durban July came at a weight disadvantage. This time, he is half a kilo better off, and that alone makes him a major threat to the Kannemeyer runner. We’re expecting a bold performance from Eight on Eighteen this weekend.
6. The Real Prince - 4.5/1 (Craig Zackey)
The Real Prince sets the benchmark for us heading into the 2026 Cape Town Met. Already the winner of the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the 2026 L’Ormarins King’s Plate last month, he arrives at Kenilworth chasing a rare and historic treble that only the very best in the country can contemplate.
What stands out is how Dean Kannemeyer has prepared him for this race. His runs have been spaced perfectly, which allowed him to build his conditioning. He looked excellent at the King’s Plate, where his determination and adaptability came to the fore under pressure, and that run suggested he has come on again at the right time.
The Real Prince is a horse that can win in different ways too, handy when needed, strong in battle, and tactically versatile. Although he concedes at the weights, his proven ability to deliver on the biggest stages is key, and in a race where temperament and courage are as important as raw talent, The Real Prince ticks all the boxes. We make The Real Prince our top pick.
10. See It Again - 3.5/1 (Andrew Fortune)
The best finisher in the Met field, and arguably all of South African racing, is See It Again. His recent King’s Plate run underlined this fact, and while he was denied clear running until deep into the straight, his turn of foot was incredibly impressive and promising for his backers this weekend.
A proven Derby winner over the distance, he is clearly better over the 2,000 than the mile, and appears to have found a new lease on life since settling into his Cape base in the Snaith yard. Additionally, he arrives at Kenilworth fresher than in previous seasons, which could make a huge difference.
The short price isn’t ideal, though, and he is drawn at gate 10, another minor negative. From the wider gate, he may give up early ground, but his finishing ability could counter that late on. However, for us, See It Again may have to settle for a podium finish rather than the win.
4. Gladatorian - 15/1 (Sean Veale)
Gladatorian may not be heading into the Met with the same hype as the top three, but that’s what makes him a fascinating outsider for us. He’s a seasoned Grade 1 winner and has proven that he can beat the very best at weight-for-age. Indeed, he has already gotten the better of The Real Prince earlier this season.
Stuart Ferrie’s runner’s recent performances in Cape Town were better than they look on paper. After losing early momentum at the King’s Plate, he finished well and was certainly not disgraced by elite opposition. He also thrives when races are run at a true gallop, and pace up front this weekend will bring his stamina into play.
While he may lack the turn of foot of some rivals like See It Again, his toughness, experience, and ability to grind make him an ideal candidate to pick up a paycheck, and possibly even victory. At 15/1, Gladatorian is well worth a punt, and we make him the value pick of the 2026 Cape Town Met.
