Legal Eagle has -a little surprisingly perhaps – been installed favourite as short as 18-10 for the Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein on May 5.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

The dual Horse of the Year’s suspected vulnerability over 2 000m was confirmed when he was beaten by 25-1 shot Deo Juvente in last year’s race. He managed only fourth when tried over the distance again in the Sun Met and, although he went off favourite once more, his price was 57-20.

World Sports Betting makes Triple Crown winner Abashiri second favourite at 11-2 for the Grade 1 with last year’s third Nother Russia next on 8-1. Deo Juvente is a 45-1 shot this time while French Navy (fourth last year) is quoted at 35-1.

Glen Kotzen is going to send his Cape Derby third Pack Leader to Durban as well as Eyes Wide Open who won that race.

He said: “Both will go for the Daisy Guineas (May 6) and the Daily News (June 2) but Pack Leader could be the July horse as he is likely to have less weight while Eyes Wide Open could go for the Champions Cup.”

Both horses carry the yellow and blue checked diamond colours of Hugo Hattingh’s Chrigor Stud but Pack Leader’s breeders Bruce and Ann Nicholas are partners in the Philanthropist colt.  Kotzen famously made a clean sweep of the Guineas, Daily News and Vodacom Durban July with Big City Life in 2009.

By Michael Clower