It was a day of high drama at Turffontein on Saturday, which illustrated the up and down nature of the Sport Of Kings.
The first highlight was provided by the imperious Legal Eagle, who stamped his status as one of the greatest milers in South African history by winning his sixth weight for age Grade 1 mile. In January he won South Africa’s most prestigious weight for age mile race, the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate for the third time in succession and on Saturday made it three HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes in a row. He is now unbeaten in nine starts over the mile trip. In the Queen’s Plate he displayed his courage as he was out on his feet after chasing runaway leader Captain America and still had to fend off challenges from a number of horses flying from behind. On Saturday the margin of victory was less, only 0,25 lengths, but it was a less taxing race as Anton Marcus had timed his front-running performance perfectly and the line always looked likely to arrive before the gallant filly Nother Russia could overtake him. Marcus has been associated with a number of great milers whose records over that distance Legal Eagle has now surpassed. Both Variety Club and Empress Club won five Grade 1 miles, while Jet Master won four. Legal Eagle has won seven Grade 1s in all now for earnings of R11,523,375.
Legal Eagle (Liesl King)
Then came the day’s low point. The Tote favourite in the R2 million Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m, the Paul Peter-trained Majestic Mamba had winner written all over him as he moved up from last place in the straight. He had been unbeaten in three previous starts over this distance. In his fourth career start in the Gauteng Guineas his exceptional turn of foot had never materialised. Maybe he had not liked the fast going that day. But on Saturday it was there in spades and it was perhaps what caused the incident that had the country’s horseracing fans horrified and then fraught with anxiety. Anthony Delpech had opted to make his run on the inside of the first horse he overtook, Hero’s Honour. He had no doubt eyed Greek Fire moving well up ahead and the latter was at least two lengths clear of Noble Secret to his outside. However, Greek Fire’s run began petering out just as Majestic Mambo was hitting top gear and suddenly there was nowhere to go. Majestic Mambo clipped heels as Delpech attempted to angle him sideways and faltered badly. The reigning SA Champion jockey was thrown out of the saddle and had no option but to fall feet first to the ground, a bad angle at that speed. He lay motionless and was reportedly in great pain when attended to, but was lucid and conscious. He was taken to Milpark Hospital for observation and CT scans revealed nothing serious at all. However, besides concussion, he complained of excruciatingly sore hands so was advised to stay overnight.
That was not only the drama in the SA Classic. The race produced one of the most unusual winners of all time in Lobo’s Legend. After punters had recovered from the shock of his victory they doffed their caps to Joe Soma, whose yard’s numbers had dwindled after the dispersal of a number of Mayfair Speculator horses. Lobo’s Legend had never run beyond 1200m in his five previous starts, had never gone around the turn before and had never run in a black type event before. To cap it all he had won only one of those five races and had finished lame in his last start. He did win his maiden by 8,5 lengths though, which was the reason for him having the eighth highest merit rating in the field of 97. New owners Larry Nestadt, Mark Currie, J Shill and JR van der Linden had faith in Soma but must have pursed their lips for a moment when they saw the speedster fighting for his head in the first few strides of the race. However, Muzi Yeni then settled him well and in the straight his speed coupled with his long stride saw him hitting the front at the 350m mark. His sire Trippi imparts speed but can also get them to stay and his dam, the Western Winter mare Gone Wild, won three times over 1800m. Lobo’s Legend was thus able to keep up a relentless gallop. The luckless Surcharge chased in vain, but the energy he had exerted to overcome yet another bad draw had taken its toll and it was clear he was never going to reach Lobo’s Legend.
However, the best story was still to come. Callan Murray switched the Triple Tiara-chasing Takingthepeace to the outside from last place in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and the rangy Visionaire filly then produced a repeat of her Gauteng Fillies Guineas finish. She got up on the line. Mike de Kock’s son and assistant trainer Mathew had made it his mission to get young owners into the sport and Takingthepeace’s success is not only the stuff of dreams for himself, Murray Makepeace and Mike Shea but also for the sport as a whole. Takingthepeace is now heading for the R1 million SA Oaks and an unlikely Triple Tiara, which brings with it a R1 million bonus. It is a fairytale story which will build up to a crescendo on May 5 with three passionate and popular young racing enthusiasts on centre stage.
By David Thiselton
