French Navy, 15-1 for the J & B Met, looks most unlikely to be included when the final field is announced today despite powering home under top weight in the London News Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.

Sean Tarry said: “It’s doubtful. There is a R4 million race (President’s Champions Challenge) in Johannesburg in April and that will be his target. He may have a race or two before that.”

The champion trainer added that Legal Eagle has come out of his Queen’s Plate win very well. The four-year-old is 11-10 favourite for Saturday week’s highlight, having touched evens during last week.

Bouclette Top, No Worries, Forest Indigo and Marmalade Tycoon have all been scratched and Vodacom Durban July winner Power King will join their number after being retired.

Dean Kannemeyer said yesterday: “We have decided to call it a day. He has not been easy to train but he is such a courageous little horse, done everything we have asked and given us a tremendous amount of pleasure. Lady Christine Laidlaw has the most wonderful stables on the slopes of the mountain and he will spend the rest of his days there with his old mate Cape Royal.”

Captain America, 16-1 to give Brett Crawford his second successive win and his third in all, has pulled up well from his Queen’s Plate fourth.

Crawford said: “He will run in the Met and he will definitely get the trip. He is much more relaxed these days.”

Last year’s Cape Guineas winner Act Of War, who weakened into sixth in the closing stages of the Queen’s Plate, has been supplemented for the Betting World Cape Flying Championship on the same card. However Joey Ramsden said a definite decision on running him has still to be taken. Stable companion Brutal Force is high on the 23-strong initial entry list.

The Secret Is Out, so impressive on debut last Wednesday, could be doubtful for the Summer Juvenile Stakes.

Vaughan Marshall said: “She pulled up a bit shinny. I will wait until later in the week before deciding but we may give it a miss. I would have taken my chances otherwise.”

By Michael Clower

Photo (JC Photo): French Navy