Reigning Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle (Greys Inn) came out tops in a thrilling clash of Equus Champions in Saturday's Gr2 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth.

Fresh off an impressive comeback sprint, when third to his top class stable mate Trip To Heaven (Trippi), Legal Eagle was all the rage for Saturday's 1600m feature, and jumped the even money favourite.

Last season's Mike and Carol Bass Champions Cup winner Marinaresco (Silvano), widely considered Legal Eagle's biggest threat drifted out from 18-10 to 7-2, while there was no interest for last season's Triple Crown winner Abashiri (Go Deputy), who was making his Cape debut.
Legal Eagle was always travelling well, while Sail South (Sail From Seattle) went on to make the early running ahead of longshot Helderberg Blue (Jet Master) -a stable mate to Marinaresco. Recent G2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile winner New Predator (New Approach), proved hard to settle early on, while the main fancies settled towards the back the field.

Given a typically competent ride by jockey Anton Marcus, Legal Eagle was asked for his effort 300m out and duly quickened up nicely. Marinaresco, who appeared to let favourite get first run, quicked up and duly laid down a threat to Legal Eagle, but it was the latter who prevailed in what could well be a telling preview for January's Gr1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate.

In the end, Legal Eagle won by 0.4 lengths from Marinaresco, who lost nothing in defeat. The ever reliable Captain America (Captain Al), who won this race a year ago, was back in third -albeit nearly five lengths of the winner, with Captain America's stable mate Sail South filling the minor placing.

Bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, Legal Eagle (winner of the 2016 Gr1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate) stopped the clock in a time of 96.92. One of two graded winners for owners Mayfair Speculators on the day, the Sean Tarry trained gelding has now won 8 of 14 races, with his wins included six at graded level.
 

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