Justin Snaith has 40% of the field in Saturday’s J&B Met and he is intent on using his armada to create a slow gallop.

He said: “The tactics will be very important and a slow pace would suit me beautifully. The only reason it didn’t work for us in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate was because Legislate was sick. I’ve got six in the race and the other runners are welcome to chase round mine!”

The champion trainer hopes that his Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate can give him his first Met win but he believes any of the other five are capable of running into a place even though some of them are at huge odds.

He said: “They have their little niggles so they are the type than run on their best days, and any of them could run into the money on Saturday. Jet Explorer (33-1) is doing well and he is cruising into the race. He has less problems this time whereas last year he injured himself in the public gallop.

“We will know on Saturday whether Dynamic (16-1) is up to this class but I already know that when you put him in a Group 1 like the (Investec) Cape Derby he can up his game. Arion (20-1) ran third to Legislate in the Cape Derby and was actually finishing just as fast. Obviously both he and Dynamic are carrying severe injuries but they have hardened up.

“Johnny Rockets (150-1) is a horse with a lot of problems but he can run and the one thing I will say for Astro News (100-1) is that, while he has also had a lot of problems, he has had a hassle-free entry. There have been two upsets in the last two years so why not a third?”

Legislate has drifted further – he was out to 33-10 with Betting World yesterday morning although only 5-2 with Hollywood – but Joey Ramsden is in the enviable position of having the hot favourite in both the Investec Cape Derby and the Klawervlei Majorca.

Betting World yesterday opened Cape Guineas winner Act Of War at 33-100 in the Derby and Cold As Ice at 14-10 for the Majorca. Mike de Kock’s Ertijaal is 4-1 second favourite for the Derby with Ramsden’s The Conglomerate next best at 7-1. You can get 20-1 and more about the rest. Mike Bass’s has the main dangers in the Majorca – at least according to the betting – with Paddock Stakes disappointment Hammie’s Hooker (6-1) surprisingly shorter that stable-mate Inara (7-1) who won the race.