Just two outstanding thoroughbreds have been nominated for the title of Equus Champion Miler for the 2015-2016 racing season.
Both Inara (Trippi) and Legal Eagle (Greys Inn) enjoyed magnificent seasons –and both won 3 Grade One races during the last South African racing season.
Both are worthy champions, but Legal Eagle’s emphatic wins in open company at the highest level may give him the edge here.

INARA: Trippi –Mountains Of Mist
The gallant and gutsy Inara, who retires having won five individual Grade One races, enjoyed a stunning run of success during the last racing season and won Grade One races in three different provinces! Only unplaced once in nine starts this season, the Drakenstein Stud bred and owned Inara won her first two races last season, including the Gr3 Diana Stakes. A good run when second to subsequent Met winner Smart Call (Ideal Call), was followed by Inara claiming her second consecutive win in the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes. Sent to Gauteng, Inara once again showed her class when landing the Gr1 L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes, but was not a factor when unplaced (behind Legal Eagle) in the Gr1 The Premier’s Champion Challenge. Sent to KZN, Inara was fourth in the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes before reversing form the winner, Alexis (Dynasty) in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. No doubt this magnificent bred and oh-so-game racemare will prove a wonderful addition to the Drakenstein Stud broodmare band!

LEGAL EAGLE: Greys Inn – Young Sensation
Never out of the first two this season, Legal Eagle made amends for a surprise defeat first out when romping home to victory in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (among those beaten were Legislate and Futura –both recent Horse Of The Year winners). Not disgraced when second (as favourite) in the 2016 Gr1 J&B Met, Legal Eagle returned home to Gauteng where he won both the Gr1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and Gr1 The Premier’s Champion Challenge, to end his season on a high.
A son of former Vodacom Durban July winner Greys Inn (whose half sister Good Judgement is the dam of Smart Call), Legal Eagle is out of the smart six time winner Young Sensation (National Emblem), who was second in the Listed Scarlet Lady Handicap and third in the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes.