by Liesl King
Legal Eagle (SAf) (Greys Inn) and Anton Marcus successfully defended their crown in the R1.5 million G1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (WFA) over 1600m at Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday. The Sean Tarry-trained gelding will now aim to conquer the Cape's premier race, the R5-million G1 Sun Met over 2000m on the Jan. 28.
Midnight Zone (SAf) (Trippi) broke well from barrier nine and jockey M J Byleveld brought the gelding around the field to take up the lead on the rail, with Captain America (SAf) (Captain Al {SAf}) and Corne Orffer also making up early ground before slotting in just behind the leader. Anton Marcus had Legal Eagle well positioned on the rail in third, giving him plenty of cover from the gusting wind. Marinaresco (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}), as expected, had been dropped out, racing one from last, with Sail South (SAf) (Sail From Seattle) the back marker.
The order remained unchanged until the leaders entered the 600m home straight. Orffer, deciding he had played follow my leader long enough, moved Captain America up next to Midnight Zone, challenging for the lead. Marcus however, was not going to be fooled into starting his move too soon, especially with the strong headwind and waited patiently until the 200m mark before unleashing Legal Eagle. Once given the signal though, it was race over in a matter of strides, as Legal Eagle powered clear with consummate ease, putting daylight between himself and the chasing pack. Approaching the line, Marcus eased the bay gelding down, to win by 2 1/4 lengths with Captain America in second. Sail South, who had flown up late under Richard Fourie, finished in third a further 3/4 of a length back. The winning time was 1:37.73.
Marcus was understandably full of praise for the classy Legal Eagle, the reigning South African Horse of the Year.
“The good horses make us look good. He's five-for-five over the mile and there are certainly no stamina doubts,” the jockey commented. “He's very unassuming, but he's such an easy horse to ride and he makes my job simple.”
Derek Brugman, racing manager for Markus Jooste's Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd, was equally delighted with the victory.
“It is so special to win a Queen's Plate and we do our outmost every year to try and win this race for Markus.”
The L'Ormarins Queen's Plate is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” race and Brugman confirmed that they would desperately like to give Legal Eagle the chance to be in the line up come November. There are currently plans afoot to ship a consignment of horses out to the States at the end of March, but Brugman cautioned that they would need more horses to sign up in order to make the trip viable.
The fillies' equivalent, the R1 million G1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock S. over 1800m provided a well-deserved double for Marcus with victory aboard the Justin Snaith trained Bela-Bela (SAf) (Dynasty {SAf}).
Sean Veale on the long striding Sail (SAf) (Philanthropist) led from the jump, with the sponsors' Silver Mountain (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) and Grant van Niekerk settling midfield. Marcus deftly stalked Silver Mountain, placing Bela-Bela in the perfect pouncing position, right on her foe's tail. With 300m left to go, Marcus pulled Bela-Bela out and headed for home up the standside rail. Silver Mountain continued with her run down the middle of the track, while Safe Harbour (SAf) (Elusive Fort {SAf}), under a driving ride by Weichong Marwing, was flying home on the far side rail.
With meters to go, Safe Harbour stuck her head in front and it looked as if it was race over. Marcus however, is known for his ability to time races to absolute perfection and he kept Bela-Bela to her task, with the gutsy grey filly getting up on the line to win by a long neck from Safe Harbour. Silver Mountain finished in third a further length back, with Nightingale (SAf) (Silvano {Ger}) in fourth. The winning time was 1:51.51.
Bela-Bela recorded her second Grade 1 victory and sixth victory from nine starts for owners Varsfontein Stud (Pty) Ltd. Although the Paddock S. is also a Breeders' Cup “Win and You're In” race, it seems as if the 4-year-old filly will be staying at home for now.
Both Legal Eagle and Bela-Bela are entitled to fees-paid berths in their respective Breeders' Cup races and also a $40,000 travel allowance for participants based outside the United States.
Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
L'ORMARINS QUEEN'S PLATE-G1, R1,500,000, Kenilworth, 1-7, 3yo/up, 1600mT, 1:37.73, gd.
1–LEGAL EAGLE (SAF), 132, g, 5, 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 EMPNAT). O-Mayfair Speculators (Pty) (Nom: D Brugman); B-Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm; T-Sean Tarry; J-Anton Marcus. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year & Ch. Miler-SAf, 15-9-3-1. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Captain America (SAf), 132, g, 6, Captain Al (SAf)–Requista (SAf), by Fort Wood. O-Mesdames Adam Gurney, D Nagle & D J Sherell; B-Varsfontein Stud; T-Brett Crawford.
3–Sail South (SAf), 132, g, 6, Sail From Seattle–Southern Pride (SAf), by Northfields. O-Mrs G J Dempsey & Mr & Mrs G N Pott; B-Mr & Mrs G N Pott; T-Brett Crawford.
Margins: 2 1/4, 3/4, NK. Odds: 13-20, 28-1, 66-1.
Also Ran: Marinaresco (SAf), Silicone Valley (SAf), Midnite Zone (SAf), The Conglomerate (SAf), French Navy (SAf), Bold Rex (SAf), Abashiri (SAf).
Click for the formgrids.com chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Kenilworth, South Africa
MAINE CHANCE FARMS PADDOCK S.-G1, R1,000,000, Kenilworth, 1-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1800mT, 1:51.11, gd.
1–BELA-BELA (SAF), 132, f, 4, by Dynasty (SAf)
1st Dam: Mystic Spring (Ire), by Royal Academy
2nd Dam: Secret Sunday, by Secreto
3rd Dam: Caracciola (Fr), by Zeddaan (GB)
(R1,400,000 2yo '14 EMP2YO). O-Varsfontein Stud (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr J S Kalmanson); B-Cheveley Stud; T-Justin Snaith; J-Anton Marcus. Lifetime Record: 9-6-0-1. *1/2 to Rabiya (SAf) (Jallad), Ch. 3yo Colt-SAf, MG1SW-SAf, $190,641; Secret of Victoria (SAf) (Goldkeeper), MGSW & G1SP-SAf; Spring Lilac (SAf) (Joshua Dancer), GSW-SAf; Rafiya (SAf) (Jallad), SW-SAf; and Touch the Sky (SAf) (Jet Master {SAf}), MSW & G1SP-SAf. Werk Nick Rating: F. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Safe Harbour (SAf), 121, f, 3, Elusive Fort (SAf)–Saint Isadore (SAf), by Rakeen. (R100,000 Ylg '15 CTSMAR; R180,000 2yo '15 CTSRTR). O-Messrs C H van Niekerk & Wehann Smith; B-Dr R J Antrobus; T-Sean Tarry.
3–Silver Mountain (SAf), 132, f, 4, Silvano (Ger)–Our Table Mountain, by Fusaichi Pegasus. (R1,300,000 Ylg '14 CTSPRE). O-Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Dr W A & Mrs N Jacobs; B-Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd; T-C L Bass-Robinson.
Margins: LNK, 1, 3/4. Odds: 9-10, 9-2, 6-1.
Also Ran: Nightingale (SAf), Star Express (SAf), Final Judgement (SAf), Sail (SAf), Goodtime Gal (SAf), Icy Fire (SAf), Whose That Girl (SAf), Chevauchee (Aus), Tahini (SAf).
Click for the formgrids.com chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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