Legal Eagle is now only 6-4 for the Sun Met after the impressive way he powered clear to win his second successive L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The leading bookmakers yesterday reassessed their prices for the January 28 highlight and Betting World, in addition to shortening last year’s second from 22-10, clipped Bela-Bela from 15-2 to 6-1. But the big mover was Whisky Baron from 17-2 to 4-1 third favourite.

Marinaresco, previously 18-10 favourite, is now out to 7-2 and was a big disappointment on Saturday. He started second favourite at 2-1 and it all went pear-shaped in the first furlong. Grant van Niekerk repeatedly tried to slot in from his wide draw only to find his path continuously blocked. He turned for home with only Sail South behind him and the last remaining hopes of the jockey, and all those who put their money on him, were wiped out when the horse took two furlongs to get going.

“Hopefully we can redeem ourselves in the Met,” said a disappointed Candice Bass-Robinson. “But I don’t know that we could have beaten the winner here even with a decent draw.”

Second-placed Captain America (unchanged on 25-1) was only a length behind Legal Eagle when third in last year’s Met but stable companion Sail South, who finished faster than anything – the winner included, won’t be supplemented. “There is no point in kidding ourselves – he doesn’t get further than a mile,” said Brett Crawford. “There is nothing else for him in Cape Town so he will probably go to Durban again.”

Abashiri (now 40-1 from 25-1) finished stone last but there were excuses for the Triple Crown winner as he was returned not striding out. Piere Strydom had concerns about The Conglomerate (seventh and unchanged on 14-1)) down at the start but the vet could find nothing wrong and so the horse was allowed to run.

It was a sixth Queen’s Plate for Anton Marcus whose four-timer included a last gasp Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes on Bela-Bela. Tongue firmly in cheek, he said he was hoping to convince the Snaiths to go for the Klawervlei Majorca rather than the Met!

Justin Snaith, much more seriously, said: “I thought it was a bit of a flat run. There is more to come from her – she had only had one previous run this season – and so I still have my work cut out.”

Marcus specifically mentioned Whisky Baron as a threat in the Met and the four-year-old, named after Wayne Kieswetter, won for the fourth consecutive time since being gelded when taking the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap in a time three seconds faster than the Cartier Politician Stakes. Believe it or not, Greg Cheyne’s mount came back with a cut in his chest.

“He is much improved and he has been flawless since being gelded,” said Crawford. “We picked this route – easier than running in the Queen’s Plate – to prove he was capable of taking his place in the Met.”

It’s My Turn, less than half a length behind Milton who was runner-up for the second year running, has been cut from 16-1 to 12-1 and might well have finished even closer had he not lost a front shoe, probably quite early on when he had to be eased off the heels of the horse in front.

Safe Harbour, just touched off by Marcus in the Paddock as well as in the Fillies Guineas, could seek compensation in the Majorca which has long been the aim of third-placed Silver Mountain.  Opinions are divided as to whether she got the 1 800m.

“Grant said she didn’t but I don’t think we can say that. The winner is perhaps the better over this distance,” was the view of the trainer. “Nightingale (fourth) will also run in the Majorca, maybe with a pair of blinkers.”

Horizon will be one of the main contenders for the Investec Cape Derby after comfortably justifying odds of 3-4 under joint top weight in the Politician. “It hasn’t been plain-sailing with him,’ said Mrs Bass-Robinson. “He is heavy, takes a lot of work and haemo-concentrates a bit. But on his breeding he can only improve.”

The once-record priced Dynasty colt (out of a full sister to Silvano) races under the name of Hunkydory Investments but top game breeder Piet du Toit will be the registered owner by the time of the Derby.

Runner-up Newlands will join Table Bay in Joey Ramsden’s bid to win the classic. ”He is a hard horse to win with,” said Ramsden. “His crime in life is that he doesn’t quicken.”

By Michael Clower