This was his fifth run since his return but trainer Justin Snaith, winning the Met for the third time in seven seasons, said: “It has been a long road coming back but I knew that it only needed a little hiccup from the favourite and my horse was going to be all over him.”

The favourite was See It Again who hardened to a prohibitive 9/20 once the connections of King’s Plate winner Charles Dickens opted for immediate retirement to stud.

Muscutt, 28-year-old son of Durban trainer Peter Muscutt, rode a waiting race but made ground rapidly in the straight to hit the front half a furlong out and beat 12/1 shot Rascallion by four-10ths of a length.

“My horse found a good rhythm,” reported the winning rider. “I was desperate not to get caught on the fence but in the straight he found the gaps for me.”

Favourite

In marked contrast Piere Strydom had a far from happy time on the favourite who could manage only fourth, saying: “The pace was horrible. In the straight I hit a flat spot and he then just didn’t go on with it.” The winner is out of a mare by the legendary Jet Master and was bred by Patricia Devine who bred and raced the great stallion - “My husband Henry was shouting from heaven!” she exclaimed excitedly.

Double Superlative’s owner Nic Jonsson also owned the favourite and was winning Cape Town’s most famous race for the second year running. He has become one of the most successful owners in South Africa.

Dyce, a five-year-old entire by William Longsword out of a Galileo mare, made the long trip from Johannesburg well worthwhile for trainer Lucky Houdalakis by taking the Cape Flying Championship. Craig Zackey had the 5/2 shot up with the pace throughout and went clear a furlong out.

Sean Tarry’s reigning horse of the year Princess Calla (Flower Alley out of a Captain Al mare) returned to her best under Richard Fourie to justify 15/10 favouritism in the City Of Cape Town Majorca Stakes.

THE Cape Yearling Sale, backed by Tattersalls, saw a welcome surge in prices with the average increasing by 23% to R545,336 (€26,800) and the aggregate soaring by 45% to almost R65 million (€3.19 million).

But the figures take on a much more sober hue when you go back over the years. In 2015 the average was R644,117 and the aggregate over R120 million – and since then South Africa’s high rate of inflation has whittled away purchasing power by some 57%!

Top price this time was R3.2 million (€157,264) paid by Jonathan Snaith for a full-sister to the Horse Chestnut winner Trip Of Fortune (by Trippi). He was acting for Swiss national Rolf Theiler and his South African wife Gloria.

Tony Peter case

postponed

THE Tony Peter case – the trainer is accused of a whole string of licence-threatening charges – did not get very far when it started 10 days ago.

A National Horseracing Authority spokesperson said on Monday: “It hasn’t been finalised and we are not sure when it will be resumed.”