There were astonishing scenes at Kenilworth on Saturday as veteran Martial Eagle (SAF)

caused a 75/1 upset in the Gr 1 J & B Met over 2000m, seeing off another outsider, Hill Fifty Four (SAF) after a pulsating battle over the

last furlong. Beach Beauty (SAF) stayed on for third ahead of Pomodoro (SAF).

Pre-race concerns about a lack of early pace proved well-founded, with the field dawdling in the early stages and jockeys looking at each other to see who would take the initiative. Stablemates Tribal Dance and Hill Fifty Four briefly (and unwillingly) disputed the lead and it was only after about 700m that the race took some sort of shape with Piere Strydom taking Pomodoro to the front. Hill Fifty Four and Martial Eagle, both of whom had had to overcome wide draws, settled in second and third respectively with Tribal Dance next best, enjoying the rails run. He was followed by Slumdogmillionaire and Beach Beauty, who raced just ahead of Black Wing, Jackson and Run For It.

Pomodoro continued to gallop in the straight with Hill Fifty Four and Tribal Dance quick to challenge. Martial Eagle was still in contention but all eyes were on the fancied pairing of Beach Beauty and Jackson who were given daylight wider out and asked to cut down the leaders.

Instead, it was Martial Eagle who pounced about 250m out, with Hill Fifty Four going great guns to his inside, and the two of them drew clear to fight out a titanic battle. Hill Fifty Four rallied strongly but Martial Eagle always seemed to have his nose in front and the 7-year-old showed tremendous courage under pressure, sticking his neck out stubbornly for a remarkable victory.

Martial Eagle’s victory is bound to go down in Met folklore, considering the circumstances leading up to it. He started off the season as a decent handicapper but has really come on this summer. His fourth place in the Queens Plate was already a huge step up from his previous form, but many felt that the additional 400m would find him out here, especially from a poor draw. Two people who disagreed were jockey Aldo Domeyer, who rode a brilliant race to negate the draw and conjured up something extra from his mount in a frantic finale, and trainer Yogas Govender, who had prepped his stable star to perfection. Both of them had warned before the Queens Plate that Martial Eagle wasn’t running just to make up the numbers, and they maintained an equally bullish view leading up to Met, stating in their pre-race interviews that they were expecting a big run from the son of Silvano. Interestingly, he was supplemented for the race at a late stage, following his Queens Plate heroics.

Govender, who has been the retained trainer to Mrs Sabine Plattner (owner of the 2003 Met winner, Angus) for the past three years, paid tribute to his patron, thanking her for her unstinting support. “I promised her a grade one winner but I didn’t dream it would be the Met!”

The usually soft-spoken conditioner was understandably exuberant after the race and it will not be lost on racing that he is the first trainer of colour to win the Cape’s flagship event. The easy-going Govender will not dwell too much on that, but given the historical context of the victory, it certainly represents a notable landmark.

Hill Fifty Four has to be the most consistent horse in training. He came into the race on the back of two good graded wins, but he still needed to step up a notch in this company, especially as he was also badly drawn. He rose to the occasion in fine style and just happened to bump an extremely tough and determined rival on the day.

Beach Beauty was the only one of the fancied runners to do herself some sort of justice. She would not have been suited by the lack of early pace and could not get much cover early on. In the circumstances, this was a decent effort and her connections can look forward to her making a splash during the winter season in KwaZulu-Natal.

Pomodoro appeared to have every chance but couldn’t kick again after having led for a substantial part of the proceedings, while Jackson was the obvious disappointment of the race, plodding on for fifth without ever threatening the quartet who beat him home. He was well enough placed but couldn’t quicken off a muddling pace and while he is undoubtedly talented, he is clearly not the most straightforward of horses.

7 b g Silvano (GER) – Seeking The Wind by Jallad (USA)
Owner: Mrs S Plattner 
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift
Winning trainer: Yogas Govender