South Africa’s highest rated galloper Legal Eagle takes his next step to securing the Horse Of The Year title when he lines up as a warm order favourite to win the R4 million Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday.
The son of Greys Inn has all the performance credentials and an illustrious cast of individual champions behind him.
Champion Legal Eagle is all set for action
He hails from the rampant Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm in the Western Cape where he first saw the light of day under the care of breeder extraordinaire Pippa Mickleburgh.
Ingrid & Markus Jooste – dominant force in SA racing
He races out of SA champion trainer Sean Tarry’s yard, he is owned by SA champion owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste, and will be ridden by former SA champion jockey Anton Marcus.
Other than the jockey, those illustrious connections will mean sweet nothing though when the gates are sprung at the 2000m marker shortly after 5pm as Legal Eagle takes on 12 quality pponents for the R2,5 million first cheque.
The magnificent thoroughbred already has two of the country’s premier weight for age mile races under his belt this season, winning both the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth in Cape Town and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein.
The latter win secured him his third career Gr 1 victory and the sobering reality for his opposition is that he is to be even more effective as a fitter athlete and over the more testing 2000m. We suggest that considering the brilliance of his SA Derby win over 2450m at the corresponding meeting in 2015.
Tarry has three others in the race.
French Navy is better than his recent showings
Legal Eagle’s stablemate French Navy is also a Gr 1 winner and will provide serious opposition – but he has not been his old sparkling self in recent times This was illustrated by his flat footed third in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes last time. Weichong Marwing rides him for the first time.
Stable jockey S’manga Khumalo rides recent Colorado King Stakes runner up Stonehenge.
Stonehenge is a powerful front-runner
The son of Seventh Rock made all to win that day but was denied in the boardroom after the stipes deemed that he had interfered with Unparalleled. He may lack a length or two at this level.
Sean Tarry
Rounding off the Tarry quartet is Halve The Deficit a 7yo who was beaten 5,90 lengths by Legal Eagle last time.
He gets 2kgs from the star but it won’t be enough to turn the tables.
The best older filly still remaining in the land, the four-time Gr 1-winner Inara, won the Gr 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein against her own sex – and has impressed her connections sufficiently to allow her a chance to have a bash at the big money here.
She is well drawn but has a major task over the 2000m and must have place prospects at best.
Captain America – flat footed last time
Cape star Captain America is a serious miler on his day and got going too late when chasing Legal Eagle home and beaten 3,50 lengths last time. He is a fit galloper and is always thereabouts.
The talented Brazuca is one of only two 3yo’s in the race.
Anthony Delpech – rides Brazuca
He was second best behind Abashiri in the SA Classic but gets 5,5 kgs from the older horses and must have a shout of spoiling the Tarry party.
He ran on stoutly for a late flying second in the Cape Derby and has a massive chance if ridden properly – as he no doubt will be by Anthony Delpech.
The other 3yo is the Azzie trained Trading Profit who was beaten over 15 lengths by Abashiri last time. That won’t be good enough here.
2015 Supreme Cup winner Deputy Jud has drawn wide
Mike Azzie’s other runner is Deputy Jud who has had two quiet outings since his 2015 Supreme Cup victory. He has drawn wide out and looks pressed here.
Tyrone Zackey’s Judicial is always good value for place money but failed to finish off his race in the usual style when 6 lengths off in the Colorado King Stakes.
Mac De Lago is battling to register his third win and always runs on for place money. He has been fancied more often than he has delivered and won’t be in our top four.
Killua Castle – outside chance
Geoff Woodruff’s Killua Castle is not the most consistent horse in training and has lost form.
While capable on his day, could run a drum at best.
The same applies to Afrikaburn who has changed stable and was beaten 6 lengths in the Horse Chestnut Stakes. He has never recaptured his 2yo form.
Legal Eagle stands out on his best form and ability shown.
His last win was a courageous one and he looks to continue his march to further Gr1 success.
Best of the rest will be his stablemate French Navy, while the smart 3yo Brazuca cannot be discounted if things go his way.
