Punters were treated to a great day of racing, especially in the four Grade 1 races. LEGAL EAGLE confirmed his class when he won the R4 million Premier's Champions Challenge in excellent style. The result was never in doubt as he won by over a length. This win pushed his his earnings to just below R6 000 000. Whether he will run in the Vodacom Durban July remains to be seen, but he will more than likely have to carry top weight, which will not be easy. According to Sean Tarry in the post race interview he may only run in the Premiers Stakes on the last day of the season. The decision will be made within a couple of weeks. He could take a long deserved rest.
AFRIKABURN took an age to get down to the start prior to the race and took almost as long to get home after the start! The start was a good one except for JUDICIAL and KILLUA CASTLE, who may, as a result, have lost any chances of running in the top four. STONEHENGE, stable companion to LEGAL EAGLE, set the pace best suited to LEGAL EAGLE. He was tailed by DEPUTY JUD, CAPTAIN AMERICA and FRENCH NAVY. The filly, INARA found herself midfield. The pace was relentless with FRENCH NAVY and LEGAL EAGLE moving up at the top of the straight. As STONEHENGE moved back so LEGAL EAGLE moved forward. BRAZUCA was also quick to hone in on the leading group but with 400m to go it was left to LEGAL EAGLE and BRAZUCA to fight it out for top honours. At no stage did it look as though BRAZUCA was going to get to LEGAL EAGLE. The effort took its toll as FRENCH NAVY sunk BRAZUCA for second on the line. MAC DE LAGO, who never showed during the race, ran on late for fourth. INARA did not see out the distance and her run is best ignored.
LEGAL EAGLE 4bG Greys Inn (USA) - Young Sensation by National Emblem.
BRED BY: Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm.
OWNED BY: Mrs I Jooste and Mr M J Jooste.
TN1008 - Race 9 - R4M - THE PREMIER'S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1)
Conditions Race - 2000m |
| Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Al/Bl |
kg |
Dr |
Fin |
Dist |
Time |
OP-SP |
Prev |
| 1 LEGAL EAGLE |
Anton Marcus |
S G Tarry |
A |
60.0 |
4 |
1 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
11/20-11/20F |
TN899 |
| 3 FRENCH NAVY |
Weichong Marwing |
S G Tarry |
A |
60.0 |
11 |
2 |
2.10 |
0.00 |
8/1-10/1 |
TN875 |
| 12 BRAZUCA (AUS) |
Anthony Delpech |
J A Janse van Vuuren |
A |
54.5 |
7 |
3 |
2.20 |
0.00 |
10/1-11/2 |
TN902 |
| 10 MAC DE LAGO (AUS) |
Richard Fourie |
W H Marwing |
A |
58.0 |
3 |
4 |
3.90 |
0.00 |
20/1-20/1 |
TN875 |
| 5 JUDICIAL |
Brandon Lerena |
T Zackey |
A B |
59.0 |
5 |
5 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
25/1-50/1 |
TN875 |
| 2 CAPTAIN AMERICA |
Corne Orffer |
B Crawford |
A |
60.0 |
8 |
6 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
8/1-10/1 |
TN899 |
| 8 HALVE THE DEFICIT |
Muzi Yeni |
S G Tarry |
A |
58.0 |
10 |
7 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
40/1-55/1 |
TN899 |
| 7 KILLUA CASTLE (AUS) |
Chase Maujean |
G V Woodruff |
A B |
58.0 |
9 |
8 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
40/1-75/1 |
TN875 |
| 13 TRADING PROFIT |
Karl Zechner |
M G Azzie |
A |
54.5 |
6 |
9 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
33/1-100/1 |
TN902 |
| 9 AFRIKABURN |
Lyle Hewitson *2.5 |
G H Van Zyl |
A |
58.0 |
1 |
10 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
33/1-75/1 |
TN899 |
| 6 STONEHENGE |
S'Manga Khumalo |
S G Tarry |
A |
58.0 |
13 |
11 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
25/1-33/1 |
TN875 |
| 11 INARA |
Grant Van Niekerk |
M W Bass |
A |
57.5 |
2 |
12 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
15/2-9/1 |
TN953 |
| 4 DEPUTY JUD |
Juan Paul V'D Merwe |
M G Azzie |
A |
59.0 |
12 |
13 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
25/1-50/1 |
TN955 |
|
