Legal Eagle books his Durban ticket with a superb Jubilee win (JC Photos)
The Sean Tarry trained Legal Eagle took another giant step towards emulating his sire Greys Inn’s historic 2004 Vodacom Durban July victory when he swept aside his older rivals under topweight for a dazzling victory in the R250 000 Gr3 Jubilee Handicap run over the Turffontein standside 1800m on Sunday.
This was a breathtaking July prep.
Sean Tarry had acknowledged in the build-up that he would be happy for Legal Eagle to be running on. After all, he had won the Derby Trial over 200m further in soft underfoot conditions carrying bottomweight – and the 1800m on Sunday seemed a touch on the sharp side.
But that concern was unfounded as Anton Marcus produced the 3yo from some lengths off the pace set by the lightly-weighted Rushmore River.
The 2-1 favourite Legal Eagle lengthened his stride and powered up the outside – making light of his weight load as he went right away from his field to beat Tyrone Zackey’s fast finishing Judicial by 4,30 lengths in a time of 108,78 secs.
Anton Marcus – easy ride on a top youngster
Judicial came from some way off, but whether he has done enough to impress the panel and sneak into the July backdoor remains to be seen. We can guess what Tyrone Zackey’s feelings are on the matter – and let’s not forget the Smanjemanje near hit.
Geoff Woodruff’s Killua Castle looked dangerous and found some spark of old to plod into third.
While Legal Eagle ran a cracker, the jury will be out on Sean Tarry’s other two.
The 2013 July winner Heavy Metal stayed on to run a modest fourth and six lengths behind. He looks to be riding on his reputation at this stage. The lightly raced Cagiva never got going, despite being perfectly placed by Strydom and fell away to run last and 13,60 lengths behind.
Without these two, Tarry still has five potential July candidates.
The Avontuur-bred Legal Eagle is something of a chip off the old block. He showed that by winning the SA Derby at his last start beating Deputy Jud and subsequent Daily News 2000 winner French Navy.
Greys Inn won the SA Derby eleven years ago in the hands of Weichong Marwing, beating Saddlewood narrowly, before going on to wear that historic ’10’ saddlecloth in the July under Anthony Delpech.
South Africa celebrated 10 years of democracy that year and to mark the milestone all horses wearing the 10 saddlecloth in any race staged by Gold Circle for the entire year, carried a South African flag on their saddlecloth.
Legal Eagle has won 4 races with 1 place from 6 starts for stakes of R1 568 125.
Sean Tarry – looks good for another big July bid
A tribute to Tarry’s professional approach was his indication immediately after the SA Derby that Legal Eagle was not quite ready for the Daily News – but would be brought on for a possible July bid from home.
It’s worked a charm and without any penalty, for this win, he is set to carry 54kgs on 4 July, with Futura lumping topweight of 60kgs.
The Avontuur bred Legal Eagle is out of the six-time winning National Emblem mare Young Sensation, who was also trained by Sean Tarry.
That tap on Sean Tarry’s shoulder by leading owner Markus Jooste at the 2013 National Yearling Sale, as he eyed the handsome son of a talented mare that he trained to six victories, is looking more and more like one of those very fortuitous horseracing moments of fate for the high-riding Tarry.
Legal Eagle was secured for R425 000.
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Gr3 Jubilee Handicap (SAf-Gr3)
Turffontein, South Africa, June 14, R250k, 1800m, turf, good, 1.48.78
1 – LEGAL EAGLE (SAF), 60.5, b g 3, Greys Inn (USA) – Young Sensation (SAF) by National Emblem (SAF). Owner Mrs I Jooste & Mr M J Jooste; Breeder Avontuur Farm; trainer SG Tarry; jockey A Marcus
2 – Judicial (SAF), 57.0, b g 4, Miesque’s Approval (USA) – Lady Advocate (SAF) by Dolpour (IRE)
3 – Killua Castle (AUS), 59.5, b g 5, Churchill Downs (AUS) – Prayers’n’promises (AUS) by Encosta De Lago (AUS)
Margins: 4.30, 0.80, 0.90
