South Africa's highest-rated horse, Legal Eagle (SAf) gained a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita Nov. 4-5 and pilot Anton Marcus proved the doubters wrong, winning the
G1 L'Ormarins Queens Plate at Kenilworth Racecourse Saturday. There was considerable negative buzz among the critics when Marcus chose the 7-1 shot over South African G1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas winner Act of War (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf) (sixth), both horses representing Ingrid and Markus Jooste, in the nation's premier weight-for-age mile. Given a positive ride by Marcus, Legal Eagle led into the first corner, but was displaced from that position and was content to sit second until asked to kick entering the final 300 meters. He sustained his run to the line, delivering the spoils with market second-choice Legislate (SAf) weaving through traffic to take second over the Mick de Kock-trained 3-year-old Noa From Goa (SAf). The winner, and several of those that finished behind, will press on to the G1 J & B Met in three weeks' time.
“I am elated but I am so sorry at the same time that owner Markus [Jooste] could not be here,” Marcus, who also won the 2013 Queen's Plate with Variety Club (SAf) (Var), told the Sporting Post. “I really did have faith in Legal Eagle, even with a few questions raised after his last run–which was on the inside track. He showed today what he is capable of and we always felt that if he could reproduce his 120 rating, as he does on the outside course at Turffontein, he would be a big runner. I feel that we can put a line through his July run as there were excuses first time at Greyville. Today I followed Bouclette Top and didn't really want to lead–even though I am sure we could have, had the need arisen.”
Added trainer Sean Tarry to the Sporting Post, “Anton rode a great race and I was pleased to see we got the cover. The game plan changed a few times. But, hey, it worked out well. The five month break from racing has done him well. I must thank all my staff who headed up my team here. Thanks to Eric Sands for assisting us. And I'm thrilled to have gotten the open boxes–the Cape guys are missing something by not filling them.”
A winner of the Listed Derby Trial going 2000 meters at Turffontein Apr. 4, Legal Eagle saluted in the G1 S A Derby later that month and made it three in a row shortened to 1800 meters in the G3 Jubilee H. June 14. Only fifth in the G1 Vodacom Durban July behind the reopposing pair of favorite Power King (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) and South African Horse of the Year Futura (SAf) July 4, the Sean Tarry charge was freshened, but only managed second as the 1-4 chalk in an allowance plate at Turffontein Dec. 10.
By G1 Vodacom Durban July hero Greys Inn, himself a half-brother to the dam of Smart Call (SAf) (Ideal World), who landed the G1 Maine Chance Farm Paddock S. one race earlier on the card, Legal Eagle is out of the group placed Young Sensation (SAf) (National Emblem {Saf}). His second dam Fair Model (SAf) (Model Man {SAf}) scored in South Africa's G1 Allan Robertson Bloodline Championship.
Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
L'ORMARINS QUEEN'S PLATE-G1, R1,000,000 (US$61,334), KEN, 1-9, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:39.23, gd.
1–LEGAL EAGLE (SAF), 132, g, 4, by Greys Inn
1st Dam: Young Sensation (Saf) (GSP-SAF),
by National Emblem (SAf)
2nd Dam: Fair Model (SAf), by Model Man (SAf)
3rd Dam: Winged Princess (SAf), by Another Prince
(R425,000 Ylg '13 SADAPR). O-Ingrid & Markus Jooste;
B-Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm (SAF); T-Sean Tarry; J-Anton
Marcus. R625,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-2-0, R2,297,875. Werk
Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Legislate (SAf), 132, h, 5, Dynasty (SAf)–Champers (SAf), by
Restructure (Ire). (R100,000 Ylg '12 SADAPR). O-John T
Freeman, W J C Mitchell & Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A
Rupert); B-Cheveley Stud (SAF); T-Justin Snaith. R200,000.
3–Noah From Goa (SAf), 121, g, 3, Tiger Ridge–Limerick (Saf),
by Fort Wood. (R325,000 2yo '14 BSAAUG). O-Wilgerbosdrift
(Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack), M F de Kock, G M Grant, C S
Haynes, G J Westwater, Mrs N P Malherbe, Dr J McVeigh &
Mrs A J McVeigh; B-Wilgerbosdrift (SAF); T-Mike de Kock.
R100,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 1. Odds: 7.00, 4.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Captain America (SAf), Futura (SAf), Act of War (SAf), Master Sabina (SAf), Gold Onyx (NZ), Heartland (SAf), Ashton Park (SAf), Night Trip (SAf), Bouclette Top (Arg), King of Pain (SAf), Power King (SAf).
Click for the Racing Post result, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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