It was a day to remember at Kenilworth Racecourse as See It Again and jockey Andrew Fortune delivered a stunning victory in the 164th Cape Town Met. The Grade 1 contest, one of South Africa’s most prestigious summer races, combined top-class racing with a story of resilience and triumph, making it a truly memorable edition of the historic event.
Staged before a packed and expectant crowd, the 164th running of the Cape Town Met unfolded as a story of renewal and resolve. For Fortune, it marked a return to the sport’s highest stage after years of personal struggle. For See It Again, it was confirmation of his class under the brightest of lights. For trainer Justin Snaith and owner Nick Jonsson, it represented a remarkable fourth consecutive success in the race, achieved with four different horses — a sequence that speaks to sustained excellence rather than coincidence.
Fortune’s emotions were evident in the aftermath. “I’ve come back from a place where very few believed I would,” he said. “To stand here again, on the biggest stage, sharing this moment with a horse who has his own comeback story — it’s something I’ll never forget.”
The Grade 1 contest brought together an elite field of 11 runners over 2000 metres, a distance that has tested generations of champions since the race’s origins in 1883. Despite historical trends favouring inside draws, See It Again defied convention from a wide starting position, settling smoothly before unleashing a decisive turn of foot in the closing stages.
Fortune timed his challenge to perfection, allowing his mount to travel comfortably before asking for an effort entering the final stretch. The response was immediate and authoritative. See It Again lengthened clear inside the final furlong, asserting control and sealing victory with confidence.
Trainer Justin Snaith was quick to underline the human story behind the performance. “If anyone is at their lowest point thinking there’s no way back, Andrew proves otherwise,” he said. “He’s been here every week, putting in the work. This was the right horse, the right moment, and the right person.”
While the race itself formed the day’s centrepiece, the wider occasion carried its own sense of theatre. Under the 2026 theme Symphony of Style, fashion, performance and social culture blended seamlessly with elite racing, creating an atmosphere that matched the stature of the event without overshadowing the sport.
Off the track, the Best Dressed competitions drew strong interest, with Nina van Dina earning top honours for her interpretation of the theme. Beaia Kgokong was named Style Icon, Sheara Murphy received the Designers’ Choice award, and Kevin Ellis and Tracey Maltman claimed Best Dressed Crew, revisiting a title they last won in 2007.
Live performances and dance displays added colour to the afternoon, while the racing itself remained firmly at the heart of proceedings — a balance the Cape Town Met has increasingly mastered in recent years.
From its beginnings as the Metropolitan Mile at Green Point Racecourse to its modern incarnation as a premier Grade 1 contest, the Cape Town Met has always been about more than speed and stamina. It has been a race that reflects eras, personalities and turning points.
The Cape Town race results 31 January 2026 will endure not merely for the name at the top of the card, but for the story that accompanied it — a reminder that the sport’s most powerful moments are often those shaped by patience, perseverance and perfectly timed opportunity.
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