National Champion Trainer Sean Tarry has warned that in his opinion Legal Eagle was unlikely to line up for the Vodacom Durban July.
However, the final decision on whether he participates is yet to be discussed with the connections.
Owner Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman said in initial discussions with Tarry he had to agree the July would probably not be the ideal race for the horse, as he would have to carry 60kg.
2016 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner, Legal Eagle
However, he added there was still two months to go so it was still not known which of Jooste’s horses would line up and which wouldn’t. He said it was too early to start officially declaring horses as “doubtful.”
Tarry had another halcyon day at Turffontein’s Champions Day on Saturday, landing three Gr1’s and a Gr2 as well as a Gr1 second, a Gr1 third and a Gr2 second.
Legal Eagle wins Premier’s Champions Challenge
Among the Gr1 victories was a brilliant performance by Legal Eagle to win the R4 million Premier’s Champions Challenge under Anton Marcus.
The four-year-old Greys Inn gelding has put himself in line to be named Equus Horse Of The Year as that was his third Gr1 victory of the year.
Sean Tarry – another Gr1 winner for SA champion
Two of those Gr1’s were weight for age miles and Saturday’s victory over 2000m was at weight for age with Gr1 and Gr2 penalties.
The other of Legal Eagle’s four career Gr1 wins was in the SA Derby last season over 2450m.
Not surprisingly Tarry now regards him as among the best he has ever trained.
He said, “National Colour and Mythical Flight were freaks, but Legal Eagle is probably the best classic horse I have ever trained.”
