Mark Anthony looks back on a memorable racing weekend and offers kudos to the event organisers.

Circling over Cape Town airport on Friday afternoon, with the big race just over 24 hours away, I am struck by a poignant thought. This year is the 20th anniversary of my namesake`s runaway Met victory, an awe-inspiring seven-length demolition job in a then record time. Of course, injury robbed us of Mark Anthony soon afterwards and it must rank up there with the greatest of all losses to South African racing. I have no doubt that had bad luck not intervened, and his career followed its natural trajectory, we would today be speaking of the giant son of Royal Prerogative in the same breath as a Horse Chestnut, Empress Club or Politician.

Parveen Dalvie of Eddy Cassar Public Relations has been left in charge of media arrangements and my first impression upon landing is a favourable one, with my hotel transfer ready and waiting. As I am to observe throughout the weekend, it seems that all Capetonians in the service industries are encouraged to be ambassadors for their city and there is a lot to like about the friendliness and strong service ethic on display, none more so than the obliging staff at the Cape Sun where the media contingent is being put up.

Friday evening sees the traditional pre-Met party, an exclusive affair combining dinner, fashion and general merriment and socialising. Parveen rounds us all up for the short bus trip to the Waterfront, where the initial speeches are made on the Primi Piatti balcony with its fetching sea view. Prudently, the speechmaking is kept short and sweet, and we are then whisked off to the other end of the mall for dinner at newly-opened restaurant "221".

The official highlight of the evening is an avant-garde fashion show - not the most engaging experience for a racing hack who has come down with his mind firmly focused on the horses, but it would be churlish to complain as it garners a generally enthusiastic reception from the crowd.

221 looks to be a pretty expensive place to dine, but it is an establishment that oozes class with its tasteful decor, immaculately set tables and sensational panoramic view of  Table Mountain. With so many guests descending for a single function, it is not an easy task for the staff to cope, but they rise admirably to the occasion. Some initial confusion around seating is quickly sorted out and restaurant manager Jean impresses with his calm, polite and friendly demeanour, ensuring that any potential sources of frustration are quickly defused and that all attendees are kept happy. There is a lot to be said for old-fashioned courtesy and good manners and in this regard, Jean and co offer the best possible advertisement for 221. I  make a mental note that I shall make a point of dining there the next time I`m in Cape Town and would happily recommend any visitors there to give it a try.

With guests having been fed and watered, it is now time to return to stable and prepare oneself for Saturday.

Getting to Kenilworth is something of a nightmare, understandably so with a crowd of some 50,000 expected, and there is the inevitable crawl in traffic as one gets closer to the racecourse. I travel there with SAHorseracing.COM M.D, Ash Maharaj and having eventually navigated our way to the press area behind the stands, we are greeted by Gill Simpkins who promptly and obligingly sorts out our press accreditation.

The weather is perfect, although some may argue that that is not an appropriate description in baking 34-degree heat. It strikes me that having watched every Met for the past 25 years, I can only remember three occasions when the race was not run in bright sunshine - Mark Anthony, Empress Club and Horse Chestnut all won under cloudy skies. Interesting coincidence, as there is a strong case that they are the three best winners of the race in that period.

Met Day at Kenilworth is much more than a race meeting. It is a social occasion par excellence and I am struck by the number of visitors, particularly the younger brigade, who have little or no interest in the horses, but are thoroughly into the fashions and the general partying on offer. For the ladies in particular, it seems to be a chance to dress up in attire of varying degrees of modesty, but one sees more than one male partner who has made an effort as well. Some uncharitable thoughts arise about people with no racing knowledge or interest taking up space, but I am then reminded of a conversation I had with one of racing`s elder statesmen last year. A day such as this, he said, is not just about the purists who gather to watch and talk horses. The more non-racing fans who attend, the greater the chance that they will, by sheer exposure, be drawn to the sport of kings eventually - and this is certainly not a bad thing for an industry struggling to hold its own in terms of public popularity.

Once the racing itself begins, there is plenty to enthuse over, with Sparkling Jewel an impressive winner of the listed juvenile sprint over 1000m. Granted, she has the benefit of a light weight, which she fully exploits, but there is a lot to like about the way she keeps going after making the early running and we should be hearing a bit more from her.

While the Met itself is the obvious focus of attention, my personal highlight of the day comes in the race before. Always a sucker for a beautiful woman, I fell in love with Dancer`s Daughter the first time I saw her on TV and I fervently hope that the gorgeous grey import will deliver in the Fancourt Majorca Stakes. Positioned on the stand-side rail some 50m from the winning post, I am alarmed when she hits the front a bit too early for my liking, but despite a late charge from the talented but enigmatic Royal Fantasy, she has enough in hand and crosses the line with first prize safely in the bag, yours truly having screamed himself hoarse in the meantime!

Time to dash back to the press box to file an article on the race (where I try to maintain journalistic neutrality, but don`t do a very good job of it) and then it`s off to the parade ring to view the contenders for the Met itself. Of course, all the talk is about Pocket Power and whether he will emulate Politician by completing the Queens Plate-Met double for the second time. The general consensus is that barring bad luck in running, he cannot lose, especially at the weights. I have to agree, but of course, he is odds-on and one has to search for some value from a betting point of view. It`s a pretty forlorn task, though and I can only offer Hunting Tower as an alternative. Looking at the reigning champion in the ring, I can`t see how anything can beat him. He looks at peace with himself and as expected from master conditioner Mike Bass, looks tuned to the minute.

With the excitement and sense of anticipation mounting, I make my way back to the press enclosure on the outside rail, virtually opposite the winning post. The starting stalls open and it`s time to try to decipher the commentary over the roar of the crowd. The sun makes it difficult to make out images on the big screen, but after some feverish discussion with those around me, I decide that Likeithot is setting the pace for the strong Charles Laird contingent.  The noise levels predictably increase as we sight the runners at the top of the straight and although it reaches a crescendo at about the 200m mark, I am able to decipher the commentator`s voice when he hollers the favourite`s name. As Pocket Power eases to the front and completes the final rites, I kneel down to get a better view - and sense - of this brilliant son of Jet Master covering the turf with his huge stride. It`s a thrilling sight and I am aware of only one thought running through my head: "He`s too good. He`s just too good."

It`s been a fantastic achievement by horse and trainer - few people realise just what is required to keep a horse sound over a series of tough races and Mike Bass`s skill becomes the more pronounced when one considers that Pocket Power has experienced problems with his legs in the past. Full credit too to jockey Bernard Fayd`Herbe. As he had proclaimed bullishly before the race, he was on the best horse on the field, but even so, he still had to keep the favourite out of trouble and ensure that everything went to plan, which he did with utmost precision.

This is a truly historic occasion and one feels privileged to have been there to see this hugely talented thoroughbred in the flesh.

Later in the day, conversation will turn to how Pocket Power measures up to Politician. This is, of course, a completely pointless exercise, as it is futile to compare champions from different generations, with no head-to-head or even collateral form to go on. In this case, the debate is even trickier, because of Politician`s iconic status, which means that any discussion is bound to be coloured by emotion and nostalgia, rather than assessing the bare facts. Ultimately, though, the numbers stack up in favour of Politician. He had to concede a lot more weight to his rivals when winning his two Mets and of course he won the July under top weight. Pocket Power came desperately close to achieving the latter, and he can be considered a moral victor in last year`s July, considering he was beaten so narrowly under 58kg. However, Politician won under 57kg with a wider spread of weights in the field and overall, plundered eleven Gr 1 races to Pocket Power`s four (although the latter should add to this tally, such is the form he looks to be in).

This comparison is not to demean Pocket Power and one must emphasise that it does not in any way diminish his magnificent achievement. Ultimately, racing fans should be happy that two such high-calibre horses, racing three decades apart, have drawn the crowds to the racecourse and given us such superb performances to enthuse over. Both should be lauded and thanked for the thrills they have given us and racing is the winner under these circumstances.

The Met has been a highly satisfactory affair as the best horse has stamped his authority and I can`t help thinking that this is usually the case in the Cape showpiece, unlike the July, where the top-rated performer in the race often comes undone, whether through weight or other circumstances.

It`s also a source of great joy to see a son of Jet Master do so well, having so enjoyed the latter`s racing days and having had no inkling at the time that he would turn out to be such a sensation at stud.

There is still a bit of racing to come, though, with the Cape Derby next up. Upon being pressed for a selection, I suggest rank outsider Casey`s Son, as I have long considered him a Derby type and the fact that he is around 40/1 makes him a tempting bet. Alas! it is not to be. The race is run at a crawl and he is caught near the rear, so tough luck for anyone who had the temerity to listen to me. I am suitably impressed by winner Russian Sage, though, a horse I considered to be a doubtful stayer. He not only has a touch of class about him, but loads of courage and he fights on doggedly to deny Tan Can in a tight finish.

There is still one more graded event to come, the J & B Reserve Stayers over 2800m - a race for which I am thankful to the sponsors, as one needs to nurture our staying ranks, however dubious the denizens may be considered to be in terms of class. On sentimental grounds, I hope that the Joey Ramsden pair of Major Bluff and Omaha Beach - in that order - will do well, although logic dictates that between them, the combination of age, injury and weight will surely be too much for them. So it proves - the Major has far too much to do turning for home, while his stablemate, bidding for a treble in this event, runs a very gallant race only to tire late under top weight.

There are howls of anguish from a colleague in the press box as Prince Asad bounds home an impressive winner at 9/1. Prior to the race, he had spoken of backing Geoff Woodruff`s charge, but hadn`t gotten around to placing his bet. I commiserate with him and also reflect upon the pitfalls of becoming emotionally attached to horses. It will always be a source of great sadness to me that Major Bluff, a genuinely heroic performer over the years, has not enjoyed more than the ten victories that he will retire with under his belt and I envy those writers who are able to write dispassionately about racing without getting too personally involved with our equine athletes.

With the racing over and articles filed, the box gradually empties. There is plenty of partying to look forward to under the sponsor`s marquee, but for some of us, it`s preferable to return to the hotel, have a bit of a rest and reflect on what has been a very good day`s racing.

At the last minute, dinner is arranged with Ash and family and a thoroughly enjoyable evening ensues. Ash`s dad has owned several horses in his time and it transpires that we have the same taste in stallions, our soft spots being for Jungle Cove, Royal Prerogative and Dancing Champ.

The wake-up call comes all too soon on Sunday morning - one would happily have taken an extra hour or two in bed - but it`s time to go. Parveen is her usual efficient self, ensuring the various guests are seen off to the airport and I join the final group of the morning. It`s been an enjoyable weekend and considering that journalists are often perceived as being (a) cynical (b) overly critical (c) negative (d) all of the above, it`s nice to be in a position to say thank you and well done to everyone concerned. We`ve certainly been well looked after and one can be forgiven for already looking forward to 2009..........especially if a certain horse should line up for a J & B Met treble!