L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Legal Eagle confirmed his status as South Africa’s premier miler when registering his third Gr1 win with a cracking performance in the R1 million HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
Anton Marcus has Legal Eagle well ahead at the finish of the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes (Pic -JC Photos)
What a comeback it was after a nine week break for the smashing Avontuur bred gelded son of Greys Inn, who was registering his sixth win from just eleven starts.
Rested after his sensational Queen’s Plate victory, and an admittedly comprehensive walloping by Smart Call in the Met, Anton Marcus rode a calculated race in the face of some questionable decision-making by a few of his colleagues, who were mostly happy to wait and see what happened.
After Ice Machine had ruined his chances with a tardy jump, Marcus had Legal Eagle reluctantly loping along in front and wasn’t breaking any records as they turned for home.
Freshly back from Hong Kong, Gavin Lerena saw the warning signs and he pressed the launch button on New Predator.
Sean Tarry – dominating the feature race scene
The only 3yo in the race grabbed four lengths and was full of running going into the final 400m as he appeared to have caught his opposition flat-footed.
But Lerena’s gamble came unstuck and Marcus knew what he had under him – at the 200m New Predator was gasping for air as Legal Eagle caught his breath and was in full flight.
It was race over going into the final stages as the outstanding Legal Eagle drew off to win very impressively by 3,50 lengths in a time of 96,90 secs.
Last year’s winner Captain America had no chance with the winner but went past the exhausted New Predator to bank the second cheque.
The rampant Sean Tarry rounded off the quartet with Halve The Deficit.
Winning jockey Anton Marcus complimented his trainer on a great training feat.
Anton Marcus – used his head
“Even though it may have looked a ‘gimme’ on paper, Legal Eagle had been rested and things don’t always pan out as expected. I didn’t want to lead today and thus I went slow – and Gavin probably did the right thing by taking us on early,” he said in his typical sporting style.
Sean Tarry, who was celebrating his fourth win on the big day, said that his horses and their owners made his job a lot easier.
“I appreciate Markus’ support and he doesn’t interfere – training like that makes it a lot easier for us. As for the race, I was flabbergasted when the two gallopers were content to sit behind us and we may have had things differently had Gavin (Lerena) gone a bit later than he did. With Legal Eagle running in three weeks we didn’t want to put him under too much pressure – but it was a great win,” he said.
Pippa Mickleburgh – triumphant breeder
Proud winning breeder Pippa Mickleburgh of Avontuur Stud received the owner’s trophy on behalf of an absent Markus Jooste and said that she was thrilled for the winning connections.
Legal Eagle is by Vodacom Durban July winner Greys Inn out of the six-time winning National Emblem mare Young Sensation, who was also trained by Sean Tarry.
The winner was bought by the reigning SA champion trainer on behalf of top owner Markus Jooste for R425 000 at the 2013 National Yearling Sale.
He has won 6 races with 3 places from 11 starts and took his earnings to R3 422 875.
Legal Eagle will likely line up next in South Africa’s richest Gr1 race, the R4 million President’s Champions Challenge in three weeks’ time over 400m further at the same venue.
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Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes (SAf-Gr1)
Turffontein, South Africa, April 2, R1 million, 1600m, turf, good, 1.36.09
1 – LEGAL EAGLE (SAF), 60.0, b g 4, 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 – Captain America (SAF), 60.0, b g 5, Captain Al (SAF) – Requista (SAF) by Fort Wood (USA)
3 – New Predator (AUS), 57.5, b c 3, New Approach (IRE) – Head Over Heels (AUS) by Fastnet Rock (AUS)
Margins: 3.50, 0.30, 2.10
