The Vaal stages a low key nine race meeting tomorrow on the Inside track but there could nevertheless be one or two opportunities for punters.

The highest rated race is a MR 76 Handicap over 2000m and the under rated Ali Bon Dubai can make it two wins on the trot and his fourth victory in his last six starts. Last time out over this trip he started on terms for the second time in succession, so was able to come from a midfield position. He showed his usual good turn of foot in the straight to make up the leeway. He then became involved in a three-way tussle, but he took care of it quickly, finding another gear and drawing away to win easily by 1,3 lengths. In his previous start he finished a narrow second over 3000m to Dromedaris, who has gone on to win his next two races over staying trips in comfortable fashion.

Bengal Boy

Ali Bon Dubai looks to have more in the tank and can rise above his current lowly merit rating of 70. He has the same draw of six as last time. Scotland is usually a reliable sort and is better than his September run when beaten 7,2 lengths by Ali Bon Dubai over this trip. He is now 4,5kg better off and could earn from a good draw of two. Three-year-old colt Walter Smoothie has always caught the eye as one who could develop into a fair middle distance type and he is 1kg better off with Ali Bon Dubai for a 2,3 length beating last time over this trip. If weight for age is taken into account, he is 2kg better off, but Ali Bon Dubai did win cosily and should confirm the placings.

The best bet on the card could be Ghost Rider in the third race over 1200m, although he will face stiff opposition from the beautifully bred Silver Spine. Last time out Ghost Rider showed zip but was a bit hampered. When seeing fresh air in the closing stages he ran on strongly for a 4,5 length fourth to State Trooper. That was the Captain Al gelding’s first run since his decent debut eight months earlier when an eight length third to the classy Flying Free in a maiden juvenile plate. He should have benefitted from the run and the in form 1,5kg claimer Dennis Schwarz remains aboard. Silver Spine is by Silvano out of the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sparkling Gem. The latter had plenty of speed, so Silver Spine is interesting stepped down to this trip after showing pace over 1400m on debut. In the latter race he was not at all disgraced in finishing a 6,5 length fifth to Mike de Kock’s Australian-bred debutant by Mutrib, a classy looking son of Street Cry. Silver Spine covers a lot of ground and will make a good race of it under Gavin Lerena, although his high draw could be against him on this course.

It is never easy to win first time out of the maidens but two Paul Peter-trained horses have been tipped to do so.

In the sixth race Peter sends out the four-year-old Count Dubois gelding Party Beat with top weight of 60kg, and adding to the difficulty is he has a wide draw of 13. However, this big and rangy chestnut was up with the pace in his second start over 1400m and then stretched clear to win by 4,4 lengths over a trio which was palpably too sharp as he had to be kept to his task throughout. The third-placed horse that day was well behind the second, so it was not bad form for a moderate maiden. He starts off on a 69 merit rating and will relish this step up in trip, although Keagan de Melo will have his work out to find a nice position for him in the running.Volcanic Sunet is a fair sort who could be a threat and Stay With Me has always struck mas one who would improve with age when sent over this sort of trip so is interesting in his first run as a gelding.

In the eighth race over 1200m Peter sends out Ouro, who showed pace third time out over 1000m and extended to win by 4,8 lengths. The Toreador three-year-old filly should handle the step up to 1200m and has a plum draw of two on a course where low draws are usually favourable down the straight. Sean Tarry’s debutant winner Colour Of Light could be anything too, but does have a tough draw. Patchouli Queen makes most appeal of the older horses as a pacey sort who is slightly better drawn than she was last time off her current attractive merit rating.

Corne Spies is an expert in traing two-year-olds and has been tipped to win the first two races on the card with Miss Boomerang and Star Flyer.

By David Thiselton

The gallops have always been a bone of contention for some trainers, especially Justin Snaith who has been a sharp critic in the past.

The gallops were at the discretion of the operators and not a condition of entry as is the case for the Vodacom Durban July.

The operators feel that most of the Met contenders have had runs this month and have proved their fitness so the gallops were not necessary.

The field for the Sun Met will be finalized on Monday, January 15 with a draw function to be held at the V&A Waterfront on Wednesday January 17.

Last Winter, 15-4 clear favourite for the Sun Met with Betting World but only 9-2 joint favourite with Legal Eagle and Marinaresco in the books of World Sports Betting, will do his final piece of serious work at Kenilworth tomorrow week.

Dean Kannemeyer said yesterday: “I will put him over 800m. At home he doesn’t exert himself – he keeps himself fit and does just enough. But he is doing exceptionally well and he is in good shape. We are on track for the race.”

Confidence is also growing in the Marinaresco camp and both Aldo Domeyer and part-owner Marsh Shirtliff stressed yesterday that he was unlucky not to finish closer than fifth (albeit beaten less than a length) in last Saturday’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

Last Winter

Candice Bass-Robinson spelt it out, explaining: “Silicone Valley carried him out quite a bit and close home the winner did the same. Had he been able to keep going and keep his momentum he would have finished even closer. But he has taken his run very well and he looked amazing this morning.”

The in-form Milnerton trainer – she won the first three at Durbanville yesterday – also had encouraging news of Horizon who was reported lame by the racecourse vet after finishing fourth to Eyes Wide Open in the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap.

Mrs Robinson said: “Horizon is fine. In fact he wasn’t lame. He was the same after the race as he was before it.”

Fillies Guineas winner Snowdance, her performance boosted by the Cartier Paddock win of runner-up Oh Susanna, looks like starting one of the shortest-priced favourites in the history of the Klawervlei Majorca.

WSB opened her at 1-2 and even at that price she was backed. She is now 4-10! Just Sensual and Nother Russia are next on 7-1 with 16-1 and upwards the rest.

Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth, predictably, is favourite to follow up in the Investec Cape Derby and 7-2 is the best available. White River is 6-1 and Peninsula Handicap winner Eyes Wide Open on 7-1 even though he is expected to run in the Met instead.

This Saturday’s Diadem will have a big bearing on the Cape Flying Championship with many engaged in both races including Trip To Heaven who is 33-10 favourite for the 27 January Grade 1.

Former West Indian cricket star, and now top commentator, Michael Holding was at Durbanville yesterday to see Domeyer batting home winner after winner as well as some particularly promising performances from Indian Song and Marion Belle.

By Michael Clower

Drageda has been expensive to follow, a beaten favourite in three of his first four starts, before landing the odds at Scottsville last time out.

He makes his handicap debut at Greyville today and now that he has broken the ice he does look capable of following up in the Track & Ball Fixed Odds Handicap.

Anton Marcus, who rode a superb race on Legal Eagle in the l’Ormarins Queen’s Plate on Saturday, has been making the long drive from Umhlanga to Ashburton to put a few of the Duncan Howells horses through their paces in the morning and he wasted no time on Drageda, bouncing the gelding out of the gate and keeping him going to hold Kazaar who he faces again this afternoon.

Kazaar paid tribute to that form, coming home and easy winner of his next outing for Dennis Bosch and under Marcus.

Drageda (Candiese Marnewick)

Marcus has kept faith with Drageda which may prove significant.

Howells, was of the opinion that Drageda would get further, an opinion shared by Marcus, and with a smart draw over the Greyville seven on the poly. He can go in again.

Kazaar and Master Sam will have their supporters but chief threat could come in the form of Air Chief Marshall. He takes a major drop in class and has also dropped significantly in the ratings which should make him a serious threat.

Frank Robinson has been in a rich vein of form of late and if the form comments in the Computaform are to be relied upon then Autumn Rain should be difficult to beat in the Racing. It’s a Rush Maiden. However, he does take a major jump in trip which may be a reason for caution. Anthony Delpech has stuck with the ride and no doubt gave Robinson advice after their close-up second in a 1200m sprint so one needs to show some faith.

Lord Of Glencoe on the other hand is a lightly raced four-year-old who is bred to go two miles and made good improvement when Belinda Impey sent him out in blinkers for the first time. Along with Barking Irons and Itdawnedonme, he could upset.

A more optimistic trainer you will never meet than Tony Nassif and when he makes his way into town from his Turffontein base you had better take note.

He saddles Queenie in the tabGOLD Information App Handicap and along with Madame Excess could make for a good boxed exacta. Queenie has put in two smart efforts since shedding her maiden and with apprentice Ashton Arries claiming his 1.5kg Queenie could prove difficult to peg back.

Howells has declared Madame Excess in blinkers for the first time and her best form is on the poly. Joint bottom weight and a good draw should make her a serious contender.

The Track & Ball Gaming Handicap has a wide open look about it but as the old saying goes, “when in doubt, back the top weight”.

Hidden Thought shed her maiden last time out but that was only her fifth visit to the track. She has improved with each outing and with Marcus in the saddle for good measure, she must warrant serious consideration. Lady Lisha comes from an in-form yard and although only a narrow winner in a qualified maiden she is showing signs of improvement. Eina, Salsa Queen and Summer In The City are others to consider in a tricky handicap.

Trainers are slowly cottoning on to the fact that barrier trials, far from leaking information, are a valuable opportunity to get in a solid gallop before a race. Ideal Winter won her barrier trial but considering that 1000m is far from her optimum trip, the blinkers she wore for the first time did seem to sharpen her up. She has a tricky draw over the mile in the Gold Circle Facebook Handicap but first-time blinkers may be the key.

She will however, have to be sharp as the Louis Goosen / Gunter Wrogemann combination is proving lethal at present and they team up with Shifting Gears who was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. With a better draw than her rival and possibly more at home over this trip, she will be a major threat.

By Andrew Harrison

Jonno Snaith said yesterday: “At this stage she [Oh Susanna] is an intended runner but ante-post punters should be cautious. We would suggest they do not back her until she has been confirmed a definite runner. Drakenstein has still to make a final decision and this will be based on an assessment of the weights.

“But she has come out of Saturday’s race amazingly well. She was on the beach this morning and she looked superb. We are very happy with her.”

Justin Snaith added that the filly’s draw, which will not be known until Thursday of next week, could also have a significant bearing on the decision.

Oh Susanna (Liesl King)

Mike de Kock has supplemented the Irish-bred filly Cascapedia whose win in the London News Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday was her fifth in six starts. But Mike Azzie has scratched Hat Puntano and Abashiri. Edict Of Nantes has also been officially removed from the lists.

Betting World has installed Oh Susanna at 8-1 and Cascapedia at 9-1 but it’s Last Winter who is the market mover. Dean Kannemeyer’s hope is now clear favourite at 15-4 with Legal Eagle out to 4-1, the same price as Marinaresco.

Eyes Wide Open, slashed from 80-1 to 16-1, after bouncing back to form in the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap at Kenilworth on Saturday, could be even better than his performance suggested.

Glen Kotzen explained: “There is a respiratory bug going around and he wouldn’t stop coughing. We had to back off and it was touch and go whether we would get him to the race.”

Ante-post favourite Horizon, who finished fourth, came back lame on his near fore while Black Arthur (last) suffered an epistaxis and has been suspended for 60 days. The pace-setting Milton was found to be not striding out on his right front after dropping out in the closing stages.

Heineken Chairman’s Cup handicap winner Our Emperor will step up to a conditions event in the Western Cape Stayers on Met day even though a strong performance could prejudice his chances of a decent weight in the eLan Gold Cup at the end of the season.

Brett Crawford reasoned: “They have dropped the Gold Cup to a Grade 3 so the Met day race could be a better option.”

However Snaith is deliberately nursing the handicap mark of the improving Strathdon who has won his last four (including the Cape Summer Stayers) and he has put the four-year-old away until the Durban season.

Candice Bass-Robinson, who won last year’s $500 000 CTS 1200 with 8-1 chance Live Life, has the probable favourite this time in Magical Wonderland who won last Friday’s Cartier Sceptre Stakes with scarcely believable ease.

By Michael Clower

The four-year-old Marion Belle is a Ridgemont Australian-bred and they tend to be good. She was certainly backed as if she was when she made a belated debut at Kenilworth two months ago. Starting favourite at 15-10, she raced green and she shifted sharply away from the whip when asked to race in earnest but the performance was rather better than her six length-seventh would suggest.

Brett Crawford (Liesl King)

Her trainer has given her plenty of time and she looks the one. World Sports Betting thought they were taking no chances when they opened her at 16-10 on Sunday but the money has come and she was 9-10 yesterday.

Second favourite at 22-10 and the obvious danger is Pumeza whose form is in the book even though she totally failed to fire when returning from a five-month absence last time. Another with a chance but at a much bigger price (10-1) is Jeovana who was totally unfancied when second to shock 100-1 winner Passion Peach.

Some of those who you might otherwise fancy are drawn wide in the Play Soccer Handicap and that is surely the kiss of death over 1 000m on this course, despite last year’s improvements.

Therefore the vote goes to Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount Over Again at 5-1. She ran well last time and her rider can be relied upon to make the most of her number two draw. The consistent Lily Theresa (reported blowing hard here on New Year’s Day) and outside-drawn Swift Dancer share favouritism at 33-10.

The 23 December form of Apollo Star and Para Handy was given a significant boost when Doublemint, who beat them, won again on Saturday. Apollo Star (5-1 here)  finished a length and a quarter in front of Para Handy (9-1) and he should confirm the placings in the Supabets Handicap as he is a kilo better.

Riding arrangements point to the Crawford newcomers Gimmie A Cohiba and Due Volte in the first but this is a difficult course for unraced horses and What A Summer is given the vote in preference to fellow 28-10 joint favourite L’Histoire.

The in-form Candice Bass Robinson-Aldo Domeyer combination’s newcomer Indian Song is 15-10 favourite for race two but preference is for 9-2 chance Negma whose inexperience cost her dear on debut nine days before Christmas. She lost a lot of ground at the start and then raced green.

The commendably-busy Lyle Hewitson is back again and he should more than cover the expenses by winning race three on Parisian Gold.

By Michael Clower

Paul Peter regards his unbeaten three-year-old colt Majestic Mambo as probably the best horse he has ever trained and is still “mind-boggled” that he secured him for a mere R40,000 at the CTS Ready to Run Sale presented by Lanzerac.

Mike de Kock also looks to have a top filly on his hands in the Irish-bred Cascapedia.

On Sunday Majestic Mambo made it three from three when winning the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m on Turffontein Standside by a comfortable 2,35 lengths under Anthony Delpech.

Paul Peter ( JC Photographics)

He sat near the back before showing a fine turn of foot and putting the race to bed some way out beating two well regarded Mike de Kock-trained horses in Royal Crusade and Alshibaa at level weights

Peter said the beauty about this horse was his magnificent acceleration as he could be dropped out to the back and was always going to make up the ground.

He will now go straight into the Gauteng Triple Crown classics without have any more preparation outings.

The first of these races is the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas on March 3.

His wins to date have all been over 1800m.

On debut he was ridden by French jockey Thierry Thulliez in one of the International Jockeys Challenge races on Turffontein Inside. After losing two lengths at the start he showed an effortless turn of foot in the straight to win by 5,5 lengths, despite having been ignored in the market and starting at odds of 11/1.

Second time out in a Novice Handicap in a night race on the Standside track, he was dropped out and came wide into the straight, although he did have cover. He then showed exceptional acceleration again to win by four lengths.

Peter, asked whether he would find the 1600m Guineas trip to sharp said, “We initially thought it would be but Anthony Delpech said it would not be a problem as he has such good acceleration.”

On Saturday Delpech apparently deliberately sent him for home too early to test his suitability to the mile and he responded instantly.

Peter added, “He is a very easy horse to train as he shows so much ability. He takes a lot of work, but has a good appetite and eats up well and he has been nice and sound.”

Regarding his temperament, Peter said, “He is massive and knows his strength, so he does bully us a little bit … but he is entitled to!”

Anthony Delpech (Liesl King)

The Moutonshoek-bred Mambo In Seattle colt went through the ring unsold at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale and a “buyer’s levy” was not paid against him, so he does not qualify for the lucrative US$500,000 CTS Mile on Sun Met day.

However, this could be a blessing in disguise for Peter, who did not want to mess the horse around at this stage by travelling him down to Cape Town.

Peter does all the selecting and buying for his chief client, the Hyperpaint Syndicate.

His method is to attempt to look at every single horse on a sale and make comments, and only then does he check the pedigrees.

Majestic Mambo made a big impression on him at the Ready To Run breeze ups.

He said, “I loved his action and the way he moved and he was such a nice looking, big and imposing individual.”

Peter will likely be able to keep Delpech aboard as Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud, who retain him, look unlikely to have a horse running in the male Johannesburg classics this season.

Peter also goes into the Triple Tiara with a fine chance of success as he trains the crack Tiger Ridge filly Folk Dance.

He was impressed by her “athletic” looks at the National Yearling Sale and also has a high regard for her breeders, Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Studs.

He secured her for R100,000.

Mike de Kock

Peter is loath to put her ahead of his classy five-year-old mare, Fort Ember, just yet. The latter ended last season by winning the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m at Greyville and in her last run finished a fine second in Johannesburg’s biggest race, the Sansui Summer Cup over 2000m. She also won the Grade 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m at Greyville last season. Fort Ember will be targeted at the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Challenge.

Folk Dance, like Majestic Mambo, has a fine action and tremendous acceleration. She has won four out of six starts, including the Grade 3 Fillies Mile on Summer Cup day. Interestingly, she beat Aurelia Cotta at level weights by three lengths in the latter race which compares to Majestic Mambo’s 3,15 length defeat of this same horse on Saturday on weight for age terms.

Folk Dance will also go straight into the Triple Tiara without another preparation outing. She will be hard to beat in the first leg, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. The furthest she has been to date is a mile, but as she is out of a half-sister to the dam of Summer Cup winner Dancewiththedevil and might stay further.

Peter has 100 horses in his yard at the moment and is enjoying his best season to date. He is lying in sixth place on the National Trainers log and has already had 47 wins at a strike rate of 16,91%.

Mike de Kock is the only trainer who has a higher strike rate than Peter out of the top ten trainers on the log.

De Kock has been turning out well-bred horses in conveyor belt-like fashion this season.

On Sunday his Irish-bred daughter of High Chaparral slammed the boys in the Grade 3 London News Stakes over 1800m on Turffontein Standside. She is six months younger than her four-year-old contemporaries, being Northern Hemisphere-bred, yet beat the Triple Crown hero by 1,4 lengths under Delpech on Sunday despite only receiving 3kg. She has won five from six starts to date and is improving all the time, so has a promising career ahead of her. Form Bloodstock secured her for  ‎£191,165 at the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale of 2015 on behalf of Mauritzfontein Stud. Her dam Janoubi is an unraced horse by Dansili and is a half-sister to Radevore (Generous), who won a Group 2 and a Group 3 in France.

By David Thiselton

Durbanville Tuesday Tips and Race Previews by Warren Lenferna

Race 1
Preview: WHAT A SUMMER (1) is seldom far off the action and can get it right today. THE SILVA FOX (2) is better than his last run and can get into the action. L’HISTOIRE (8) has run fourth in both starts and can get a lot closer now – big runner. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-8)

Race 2
Preview: POLLY AGAIN (4) bumps a weak field and if reproducing and improving on the run where she finished fourth behind Double Black – she could go close to winning this. ARCTIC SIREN (1) is improving and is the horse to beat. NEGMA (9) can improve on her debut to run a place. (Warren Lenferna 4-1-9)

Race 3
Preview: FLOATING ON WATER (3) went close at long odds last time and if confirming and improving on that run can win. He is drawn well. MIDDLEMARCH (2) has placed in his last two and should do so again – strong each way chance. PARISIAN GOLD (11) showed good improvement in his second run and should get into the action. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-11)

Race 4
Preview: REBEL’S BURST (7) is taking time to win but is consistent and should win soon. MARION BELLE (8) ran a fair race on debut and has tons of scope to improve – she should be very competitive here from a top draw. JEOVANA (4) placed last time at long odds – quartet chance. (Warren Lenferna 7-8-4)

Race 5
Preview: LILY THERESA (5) is running very well and brings consistent form into the race – she is drawn a bit wide but looks ready to win again. OVER AGAIN (2) jumps from a good draw and has the form to warrant serious respect. SWIFT DANCER (4) disappointed last time but can bounce right back to best. (Warren Lenferna 5-2-4)

Race 6
Preview: CAPTAIN COURTEOUS (4) is way better than his last run – his Durbanville form is good and he is the confident first choice here from a neat draw. PEROVSKIA (5) is running well and showing some ability – expect a big run. NEVER SETTLE (1) can go close at best. (Warren Lenferna 4-5-1)

Race 7
Preview: EVELINA (3) is holding form since winning her maiden and looks ready to win again. ROMANTIC CRUSADE (5) is another holding form since her maiden win and must be respected – she is drawn well. KNOW THE ROPES (1) is much better than her last run shows and it would be silly to ignore her winning chances here. (Warren Lenferna 3-5-1)

Race 8
Preview: PACHANGA (1) made a fair debut and should come on a lot from that and looks tough to beat. BENDY BULLET (2) is coming back to best earlier form and can go close again to winning. AMAROSA (7) from the best draw has a bright chance and must be included in most bets. (Warren Lenferna 1-2-7)

The Sean Tarry-trained six-year-old gelding Legal Eagle confirmed himself one of the great milers in South African history on Saturday when prevailing in one of the most thrilling finishes the prestigious Grade 1 weight-for-age L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate had ever witnessed under jockey great Anton Marcus.

In last place was a horse called It Is Written and the footnotes will not mention the massive impact he had on the race.

It was theatre from start to finish and will have racing purists debating, while the socialites who had previously misunderstood the latter community’s passion for the sport might now tip their hats in appreciation.

Sean Tarry

Trainer Justin Snaith said before the race that It Is Written had been entered to make up the numbers and give the owners some fun, but his trademark impish smile was a giveaway. He had something up his sleeve and from the off it became clear that It Is Written had been put in to ensure a good pace. It very nearly proved a master stroke. On the other hand It Is Written might now be regarded as a swear word in the Brett Crawford yard as his  presence possibly cost their gallant warrior Captain America the race.

Captain America’s regular pilot Corné Orffer made his intentions clear as he made a bee-line for the front from his wide draw of nine. However, Brandon May, jumping from draw six on It Is Written, had been issued with a similar plan. The consequence was the big horse Captain America had to use a bit more fuel than the connections would have liked in order to reach the first turn in front.

Meanwhile, Legal Eagle had jumped beautifully from draw two and Marcus would have been delighted to see what was happening ahead. It Is Written had ranged up to Captain America’s flank on the turn. Orffer looked around, probably with considerable irritation. A racehorse’s natural inclination when alongside another horse is to race and in racing parlance this occurrence, if happening too early in the running, is known as “cutting each other’s throats”. Orffer’s snap decision was to give Captain America a bit more rein to stay out in front. More precious fuel used up.

Marcus could afford to gear Legal Eagle down into the cruising speed at which he is most comfortable.

Captain America opened up a two length lead on It Is Written. Legal Eagle was a further three lengths back.

Snaith’s stable elect, Winter Triple Crown hero African Night Sky, was sitting behind Legal Eagle, but unfortunately for him his rank outsider stablemate Fifty Cents had pinched the rail on his inside. African Night Sky thus had to race one wide without cover the whole way.

Vodacom  Durban July winner Marinaresco was provided with cover behind African Night Sky, but jockey Aldo Domeyer preferred to leave a two length gap, an indication of how strong the pace was. However, this led to Silicone Valley switching outward from the rail halfway around the turn to get into African Night Sky’s slipstream. In the Queen’s Plate no quarter is given, but this manoeuvre will probably have landed jockey Donavan Dillon in hot water as he was not the required distance ahead of Marinaresco and hampered him.

African Night Sky (Liesl King)

Further back in the running were Captain America’s fellow Grade 1-winning stablemate Sail South, the unheralded Snaith-trained Copper Force, one of last year’s best three-year-olds Gold Standard and two Grade 1-winning raiders from the Highveld, Hat Puntano and the slow-starting Deo Juvente.

Orffer had no option but to go for home at the top of the straight. It Is Written began crying enough, his role on the centre stage completed. By the 400m mark Captain America was at least five lengths clear of Legal Eagle, who had skipped two lengths clear of the rest. However, Marcus, ever the consummate professional, stuck to his game plan. He began driving as they passed the 400m pole, but only drew the sword 150 metres later. He gave the odds-on favourite his first crack of the whip passing the 200 metre pole and at exactly the same instant Captain America, still five lengths clear, began tiring. Marcus stuck to his familiar waving-the-whip-and-driving style, with a crack given occasionally in rhythm. Legal Eagle began closing the gap and by the 100m mark it became clear he was going to get there. However, a new threat was emerging as Marinaresco, Sail South and Copper Force were all flying out of the chasing pack.

Legal Eagle held on by 0,4 lengths from the low-flying Copper Force, with Captain America, Sail South and Marinaresco narrowly beaten in third fourth and fifth respectively.

Jockey Marcus was overcome with emotion in the post-race interviews as he spared a thought for his former racing boss, Markus Jooste, who has had a downturn in fortunes since resigning from the listed company Steinhoff.

Jooste’s Mayfair Speculators were forced to sell Legal Eagle in the build up to the Queen’s Plate.

Legal Eagle’s chief owner is now the deserving Braam van Huysteen, who had lived a modest life while building his multi-million dollar Tekkie Town business on a solid foundation. However, this decade the dividends have been reaped. He maintained his down-to-earth demeanour while buying horses for a range of trainers and had never before won a Grade 1 race.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Van Huysteen revelled in the moment together with new part-owners Hedley McGrath and Van Huysteen’s Brisbane-based racing advisor Billy Henderson.

Among the debateable points will be how costly both Silcone Valley’s and Legal Eagle’s outward shifts in the closing stages would have been to fifth-placed Marinaresco, and that is not to mention Silicone Valley’s earlier indiscretion. However, under the latest rules, there was no thought of an objection.

Next year Legal Eagle, an Avontuur Stud-bred son of Greys Inn, will attempt to equal the immortal Pocket Power’s record of four successive Queen’s Plate wins.

Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud will always be celebrated as the lady who has revived the Queen’s Plate as a social occasion as well as a great race. In its current two-day format, the meeting can justifiably be compared to England’s Glorious Goodwood festival.

Fittingly, Glorious Goodwood are now sponsors of the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap on the Queen’s Plate card. This race was won by the Glen Kotzen-trained three-year-old Eyes Wide Open.

Later, the Snaith-trained three-year-old filly Oh Susanna won the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m and is on her way to becoming South African’s version of her legendary paternal half-sister Zenyatta, America’s most celebrated female racer this century. Their father Street Cry passed on a massive stride and it was the stuff of fairytales when Oh Susanna passed the line 1,5 lengths clear with a celebrating Grant van Niekerk standing in the irons adorned in Drakenstein blue-and-white racing silks.

By David Thiselton

“This is what racing is all about,” declared Anton Marcus after landing a seventh L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The four-time champion was talking more about all Gaynor Rupert and her team have done to make the day a memorable occasion but for all those watching, not just on course but on TV around the world, this race was the sort of inspiring stuff that lifts the sport to its very heights.

A carefully, and skilfully, thought-out plan to beat the unbeatable was played out to the full and it so nearly came off. With a furlong to run the long-striding Captain America was still over three lengths clear with Legal Eagle under pressure and making ground but not fast enough, or so it seemed.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

It was only well inside the last 50m, when the leader was visibly tiring and several others were bearing down on him like the hounds of hell closing in on a kill, that Legal Eagle looked sure to win the race for the third successive year, justify odds of 7-10 and stretch his unbeaten mile run to eight.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Captain America but it’s a fine line,” said Marcus. “You can’t challenge him too early but if you let him slip you are not going to get to him. I wasn’t sure [that I was going to] but I have a lot of faith in my horse and I was hoping.”

In the end it was 50-1 shot Copper Force who snatched second but Corne Orffer, who had ridden such a bold and imaginative race, reckoned he might well have won had he been allowed to dictate the way he had planned.

“It Is Written came up to me early and as a result I had to conserve my horse’s energy a bit longer than I wanted,” he explained. “If he had left me alone I might just have done it.”

Sean Tarry, confirming that a third tilt at the Sun Met is next for the winner, paid tribute to both horses, saying: “Captain America did everything right and it was a massive effort by Legal Eagle to come and fetch him.”

The Avontuur-bred six-year-old is by the 2004 Durban July winner Greys Inn and new owner Braam van Huyssteen was understandably thrilled (“What a privilege to be here to win my first Group 1”) as was part-owner Billy Henderson who had flown from Australia for the race.

The bookmakers reacted yesterday with Betting World pushing out Legal Eagle from 3-1 to 15-4 joint favourite with Last Winter for the Sun Met. Marinaresco’s price has more than halved to 4-1, Sail South has been cut from 33-1 to 16-1, Peninsula winner Eyes Wide Open from 80-1 to 16-1 and Copper Force from 66-1 to 25-1. Drifters include African Night Sky (6-1 to 17-2), Gold Standard (15-2 to 10-1) and Nother Russia (12-1 to 16-1).

Legal Eagle carried the colours of Markus Jooste when second in the last two Mets and Brett Crawford, who beat him with Whisky Baron 12 months ago, is already planning how to do it again.

He said: “We tried to steal the race on Saturday and it ended up costing us second place but I thought it was the only way we could be beat Legal Eagle over a mile. We already know that he is vulnerable over ten furlongs and on 27 January we won’t have to ride Captain America like we did this time.”

Crawford, incidentally, confirmed that the Hong Kong-bound Edict Of Nantes has already left his stables and will be scratched from the Met.

By Michael Clower