The Tarry-trained Greys Inn gelding Legal Eagle was only carrying 52kg in the Listed Derby Trial over 2000m, but the manner of his comfortable 2,25 length victory under S’Manga Khumalo and the overall suspect form of the male three-year-old crop this season suggests that this relatively unexposed sort could be big runner in the Gr 1 SA Derby. Khumalo had him in midfield and the horse made up the ground quickly on the inside of runners in the straight. Khumalo was looking behind for dangers from 150m out and was easing his mount at the line.
It was Legal Eagle’s fifth career outing and it was the style of the victory that spoke loudest and the form was nothing to write home about. His stablemate Stonehenge finished runner up and this fairly exposed sort was running off a mere 74 merit rating. On the other hand Stonehenge was trying the 2000m for the first time and enjoyed it despite being by the speedy sire Seventh Rock. The race strengthened the argument that this year’s three-year-old male crop is a relatively weak one and Legal Eagle is the only one who can be taken out of it as a potential feature event contender.
Legal Eagle is out of the six-time-winning National Emblem mare Young Sensation, who was also trained by Tarry, and he was bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm. He was purchased for R425,000 at the National yearling Sale and is owned by Markus and Ingrid Jooste.
The Listed Oaks Trial was run in a time 0,28 seconds quicker than the Derby Trial and the Tarry-trained 20-1 shot Epsom Downs produced a strong finish from last place under MJ Byleveld to catch the Gavin van Zyl-trained Withbatedbreath on the line. Epsom Downs was carrying only 52kg and was receiving 4kg from the runner up. However, this was only her fourth career start and she could continue to improve, so will be a runner in the Gr 1 SA Oaks over a 2450m trip that she should enjoy. She is the latest horse to prove that her ill-fated Wilgerbosdrift-based sire Tiger Ridge was not only about speed.
Van Zyl-trained charges, Rosalie and Kileigh, also filled the third and fourth places and the Tarry-trained 12-10 favourite Love Token could only manage fifth. Kileigh was carrying 7,5kg more than the winner and lost by four lengths. Being by Go Deputy she should be improving all the time and on pedigree should enjoy the Oaks trip, so she could be one of the horse to take out of Saturday’s race. Epsom Downs was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and is a daughter the twice winning Shaamit mare Derby Strike. She was purchased for R325 000 off the National Yearling Sale and is owned by Chris van Niekerk.
Later, the Barend Botes-trained five-year-old Doowaley mare Tzigane gained black type for the first time when producing a strong finish under Piere Strydom to win the Gr 3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m and she could be a contender for the Gr 2 Camellia Stakes on April 25 if similar tactics are employed. The Maine Chance Farms-bred horse was a mere R10,000 purchase at the Cape Vintage yearling Sale and has now won six races and earned R695,525. She is owned by SJD Mynhardt.
Picture: Legal Eagle running out an easy winner of the Derby Trial at Turffontein (JC Photos)
