Hawwaam installed as Sun Met favourite

Cape Town - Hawwaam has been installed as favourite for the R3 million Grade 1 Sun Met to be run at weight-for-age over 2 000m on Saturday, February 1 at Kenilworth racecourse.

The Mike de Kock-trained 4-year-old star has only been beaten twice in his 10 starts, most recently on January 11 at the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, also at Kenilworth, on that occasion over 1 600m.

Leading SA bookmakers Sportingbet are offering 7/4 on the colt to wrap up his South African commitments in the winner's enclosure before jetting off overseas to continue his career.

His biggest danger in the now 13-horse field after Roy Had Enough was scratched on Wednesday appears to be Queen's Plate winner Vardy, who'd be a popular winner for 30-year-old up-and-coming trainer Adam Marcus.

Vardy is quoted at 5/2 at the time of publishing to complete a lucrative Cape 'double'.

Defending champion Rainbow Bridge, out of the Eric Sands yard, will be ridden by superstar jockey Ryan Moore who will, somewhat controversially, only be arriving in the country at the 11th-hour to take the ride - his first experience aboard both the horse and of the racecourse itself.

Rainbow Bridge, who will jump from the No 5 stall, is on offer at 4/1.

Last year's runner-up and the reigning Durban July winner, Do It Again, is quoted at 6/1. Nagging concerns regarding his current form after two indifferent runs this season has seen him drift in the betting, although top trainer Justin Snaith will without question have him in his best shape possible come the 17:10 start.

For the rest, it's a case of who you really fancy as odds jump significantly to 14/1 for Twist Of Fate and 16/1 for One World.

- Compiled by Garrin Lambley

Sun Met field: