Sean Tarry saddled his fourth R1 250 000 TAB Gr1 SA Derby winner at Turffontein on Saturday when the Lancaster Bomber colt Legend Of Arthur was produced down the outside of the soft track by the rampant Richard Fourie to secure a thrilling victory.
What a finish! Richard Fourie has Legend Of Arthur (outside) in front as Gavin Lerena and Wild Intent chase for second down the inside – Jarryd Penny and Solar Sail (centre) were not disgraced (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
The reigning SA champion, Fourie is unstoppable some days, and booted home his second success in the SA Derby (Aragosta was his first), and his second Gr1 of the big afternoon, after also winning the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery earlier on in the day on Eastern Cape visitor, Golden Palm.
A likely 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July assignment was mentioned as a possible target for Legend Of Arthur by the former multiple SA champion trainer, whose first SA Derby winner Pomodoro followed the same route 13 years ago.
Tarry also saddled champion Legal Eagle (2015) and Al Sahem (2017) to win the 2450m Grade 1, the traditional third leg of the SA Triple Crown.
Fourie rode a peach of a race on Legend Of Arthur, dropping him out early as Solar Sail led the charge, before angling him out – probably further than he would have chosen – as Casus Belli brought the field into the home straight, ahead of Solar Sail and Wild Intent.
Part owner Jo Gardner and Daniel Tarry enjoy the Grade 1 success (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
In a three-way duel to the wire, Gavin Lerena threw the kitchen sink at Wild Intent (6-1) down the inside as Jarryd Penny kept coming back for more on Mark Khan’s Solar Sail (66-1).
But at the line, Fourie held the ace as Legend Of Arthur (4-1) proved a touch better, beating Wild Intent by a quarter length in a time of 159,61 secs.
Solar Sail ran out of his skin in third, just 0,20 lengths back.
The Magner filly Olivia’s Way ran her heart out to seal fourth.
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is by deceased War Front stallion Lancaster Bomber out of the four-time winning Galileo mare, Grail Maiden.
This was Grail Maiden’s second SA Derby success after Hero’s Honour (Await The Dawn) won for Gary Alexander and Mark Khan in 2018.
Legend Of Arthur has now won 3 races with 3 places from 9 starts for stakes of R1 213 125.
