Sean Tarry has trained some decent horses in his time but could have the best yet in Legal Eagle.
Legal Eagle wins the Gr1 SA Derby
Among his champions are National Colour, Mythical Flight, Pomodoro, Heavy Metal, Buy And Sell and Alastor, his 2005 J&B Met winner.
But where does Tarry fit Legal Eagle, favourite for Saturday’s J&B Met over 2000m at Kenilworth, into his museum of champions. “I think, firstly, one has to look at my 2000m horses and leave the sprinters out of it,” the champion trainer said yesterday.
“I think a horse like Pomodoro never achieved his true potential. He had a float accident and had to retire early but he was very good. Legal Eagle is definitely better than Heavy Metal and Buy And Sell. Alastor was probably better than we realised and I only got to work him out as he got older.
Sean Tarry – powerful Met hand
“I can’t say right now, though, that Legal Eagle is better than Pomodoro. At this stage of Pomodoro’s career when we left Joburg for Cape Town he had obliterated a top field over a ‘mile’, in the Queen’s Plate he was one of the victims of the false start and because of the quarantine we were not able to train at Milnerton and were stuck at Kenilworth, so he had a botched Met prep.
“But when you talk about potential, Legal Eagle is still going to get better. You’ve got to remember that this time last year he was still a maiden. His lack of strength and immaturity gave me doubts, but he is getting stronger all the time.
“So, to sum it up, if he reaches what I believe is his potential, he could be the best.”
Tarry then laughed. “It’s ironic, when Pomodoro won the Derby he dead-heated with a Greys Inn (Royal Bencher). Greys Inn also won the Derby so what does that say about the strength of Derby winners?”
Add to this the form of Legal Eagle and he must be one of the best bets on the card. He thumped Legislate, Futura, Captain America, Master Sabina, Gold Onyx and King Of Pain in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate over 1600m just three weeks ago and with the exception of the last two mentioned, he is better off at the weights.
Legal Eagle will prefer this additional 400m and on that basis he has the field stone cold. He is well drawn at No 3, has a top-class jockey in Anton Marcus and can be placed anywhere in the field, depending on the pace.
The question is: who will follow him home?
Futura failed in the Queen’s Plate but jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe blamed the slow pace. However, in last year’s race Futura quickened off an equally slow pace to win.
Futura – multiple Gr1 winner
If one dissects the recent form of Futura, although he has won the Grade 1 Champions Cup, he narrowly won the race over 1800m at Greyville, touching off Ice Machine. He raced a fresh second in the Green Point Stakes but lacks the same je ne sais quoi about him as when he was running in last year’s Met.
Nevertheless, it would be a dumb move to write him off. “Futura ran a bit of a flat race when fifth in the Queen’s Plate – he didn’t enjoy the slow pace and is certainly better than that. He will be ready come Saturday,” says trainer Justin Snaith.
Bernard Fayd’herbe – showed value of his cool nerve and balance
Fayd’Herbe rode the son of Dynasty to victory in last year’s race and, having won twice on Pocket Power, will be seeking his fourth Met win. He is not a jockey to be ignored in big races.
And neither, for that matter is Piere Strydom, who rides Legislate. They were 1.50 lengths behind Legal Eagle in the Queen’s Plate and there is little to suggest they will reverse the placing. However, Snaith says: “Legislate seems to be back to the same form as when he won the Cape Derby, the Daily News and the Durban July as a three-year-old.”
With respect to Snaith, Legislate beat Captain America, Rake’s Chestnut and Wylie Hall in those three races. I don’t believe that form is good enough to topple Legal Eagle.
Jack Milner writes on www.tabnews.co.za
