Sean Tarry said imperious miler Legal Eagle would be nominated for the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge, but would be “unlikely” to run, and thus the clash everybody wants to see, Legal Eagle vs Snowdance and Tap O’ Noth, only has an outside chance of materialising.

Tarry said, “Legal Eagle’s program works best when giving Durban a miss, in my opinion.”

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Tarry was so disappointed by Legal Eagle’s luckless run in the Sun Met, he has not been able to bring himself to watch the replays.

However, he said the six-year-old Greys Inn gelding had travelled up to Johannesburg well and, as he had done in the last two years, would go fresh into the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes on April 7. He will be attempting to win that weight-for-age mile for the third year in succession. He won the Grade 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate for the third year in a row early last month. It was a narrow win, unlike his easy wins in previous years.

However, Tarry said, “It was a tactical race and we would have been silly to chase the leader. We fetched the leader in the Green Point and we fetched him in the Queen’s Plate and were supposed to the fetch him in the Met. He had come on from his Queen’s Plate run and I couldn’t have had him any better for the Met. It was a perfect prep. He was sound, was eating up and had done everything we had asked of him. But it all went wrong in the race and he wasn’t given a fair chance.” Legal Eagle was caught wide after going handy from a tough draw, so Anton Marcus had little option but to send him forward and then when the leader wilted early in the straight he was forced to go for home early.

Legal Eagle is unbeaten in eight starts over a mile. However, Snowdance has been ultra-impressive in winning two Grade 1 miles this season and Tap O’Noth won the Grade 1 Cape Guineas with a bit in hand. A clash between the trio would decide the Equus Miler award.

However, Tap O’ Noth will not necessarily go for the Gold Challenge, as the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 is just a week earlier and both trainer Vaughan Marshall and stable jockey MJ Byleveld believe the Captain Al colt will get 2000m. Marshall believes he will stay 2000m “on his head”. He said the colt’s unplaced Cape Derby run was a “mystery” as nothing had been found wrong with him afterwards. He added, “It had nothing to do with him not staying, he was never travelling and was gone 400m after the start.”

Tap O’ Noth’s program for the SA Champions Season has not yet been decided upon. If he does run in the Daily News 2000, one of his rivals will likely be the Tarry-trained Big Bear. This big colt won the R2,5 million Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m in impressive style. However, Tarry named the Daily News 2000 as a likely target, not surprisingly, considering he is by Await The Dawn. Big Bear’s Investec Dingaans seventh place was a disappointment, but Tarry pointed out he had found trouble and been “cleaned up” at one stage. He will come out fresh for the Triple Crown series.

Tarry’s two top speedsters Bull Valley and Trip To Heaven will also be heading for the SA Champions Season.

Matador Man (Candiese Marnewick)

The former won both the Grade 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and Grade 1 weight for age Mercury Sprint last season and will likely go the same route, although he now has a 115 merit rating, six points higher than in the Tsogo Sun last year. Trip To Heaven has finished second in the last two renewals of the Gold Challenge and has been luckless in all three of his Mercury Sprint efforts, finishing unplaced everytime. He is due a change of luck in the latter race over a course and distance (Greyville 1200m) which should suit him due to his exceptional turn of foot. He has always avoided the Tsogo Sun, but off a current merit rating dropped to 114, it could be feasible this year. Time is running out for this six-year-old to win an elusive Grade 1.

Tarry’s Matador Man loves Greyville and will be defending his KZN Breeders Million Mile title and running again in the Grade 1 Champions Cup, where he ran on strongly for third last year. The Gold Challenge is an outside possibility too. His stablemate Africa Rising will give him something to think about in the Million Mile, having shown his well-being last week by downing the like of Mustaaqeem when storming home in a 1200m event at the Vaal. However, Tarry believes Africa Rising’s best trip is probably 1400m, as he proved when winning the Byerley Turk last year.

Tarry mentioned French Navy and Sansui Summer Cup winner Liege as two of his likely Vodacom Durban July nominations, but said it was too early to name others.

Of his Triple Crown prospects he said, “It looks to be a strong crop and we don’t have any of the dominant ones, but we will see what comes out of the Autumn Season.” Big Bear is one of his best contenders. Tarry said he had a number of SA Derby hopefuls too.

Tarry has been National Champion trainer for the last three seasons and set an earnings record last season of R36,109,550, which will likely stand for a long time. However, as usual, he is not thinking about the Championships. He said, “Justin (Snaith) had a phenomenal Cape season and it has put him in a strong position. I will just manage every horse’s program and what will be will be.”

Tarry believes his yard has turned the corner in what has overall been a disappointing season by their high standards, but he was R6,775,050 behind Snaith at time of going to press, so has a mountain to climb.

By David Thiselton

Justin Snaith is considering sending Gimme Six to Turffontein to campaign in the R1 million Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes on 21 April following the four-year-old’s fifth place in the Klawervlei Majorca.

But brother Jonathan, so often the stable’s master strategist, is adamant that she has to be given adequate time to acclimatise to the altitude.

Gimme Six

He said: “Master trainers have been trying to raid Johannesburg from Cape Town for more than a century. It has been done successfully on occasions but basically we can’t reinvent the wheel. So if she goes – and the owners have yet to make a final decision – she will go next week.”

The stable won the 2009 Empress Club with previous season’s Durban July dead-heater Dancer’s Daughter and since then Cape Town trainers have been successful with Thunder Dance (Brett Crawford) and Inara (Mike Bass).

Star Express, second only to Snowdance in the Majorca, goes to Durban and will be aimed at the July with an expected low weight. If she doesn’t make the cut she will have another crack at the Garden Province.

Snowdance and Sun Met heroine Oh Susanna are still enjoying their well-deserved break at Drakenstein while Jonathan and his brother mull over options with the owners.

Jonathan said: “Snowdance could possibly start in the Daisy Fillies Guineas on 6 May. Her main mission is the Garden Province but she will be nominated for both the SA Fillies Sprint (26 May) and the Rising Sun Gold Challenge on 9 June. The owners, Gaynor Rupert and Jack Mitchell, will decide which races she goes for.

“Oh Susanna runs in the Woolavington on 2 June and after that a decision will be made about running her in the Vodacom Durban July.”

–   What A Winter proved to be the big mover at the Horses For Causes stallion nomination auction for the second year running at Kenilworth last Saturday. His published fee for last season was R50 000 but such has been his success that Mark Bass had to go to R 71 000 (the highest price of the day) to secure a service.

In the previous year the stallion’s fee was R20 000 and a service at the Peninsula Room auction made R47 500.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal Inside track stages a low key eight race meeting tomorrow, although there are some good horses appearing and Amsterdam could make the headlines.

Brazuca

This rejuvenated six-year-old galloper by Windrush can score his third win of 2018 over a suitable trip in the MR 104 Handicap over 2000m. His draw of two in the six horse field will suit his handy to front-running style, especially considering the pole position drawn Kitty’s Destiny tends to be dropped out. Furthermore, the field has cut down to just six runners after the scratching of the sold-without-engagement Master Switch and carrying just 52,5kg he can dictate under JP van der Merwe, who rides him for the third time in succession. His resolute finish can then see off the challengers. However, he will not have it easy. Glider Pilot looks to be the main danger. He showed his class by finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 in just his third career start. Interestingly, his second career start was over this course and distance in May last year and he finished a 1,9 length second to Amsterdam at level weights. He was 2,5kg worse off than weight for age with Amsterdam  in that race and is now 4kg worse off than weight for age with him, so on that bit of form Amsterdam should confirm the placings.

However, Glider Pilot is obviously more experience now and it would be no surprise to him winning. The four-year-old A P Arrow gelding is coming off a good second in a Progress Plate. He was well weighted in the latter race, but now has his third run after a layoff. Bankable Teddy will also be a threat. He is distance suited and last time, with the blinkers removed, came from off a slow pace over 1800m to lose by a head to Amesterdam. He is now half-a-kilogram better off and all three of his career wins have been over this 2000m trip. The blinkers remain off and Ryan Munger rides for the third time in succession. Brazuca is the class horse of the race but has to lug 61,5kg and comes off a poor run over 1800m in which he was not striding out. Kitty’s Destiny has always struck a one with ability and this long-striding sort was running on well over 1600m last time. He is 2kg under sufferance , but is drawn in pole and could surprise. Top Shot sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and with Lyle Hewitson up can’t be ignored over a trip in which he has only once finished outside of the first three.

The next race is a MR 82 Handicap over 2000m and The Rocketman might be attempting to book his place in the classics. Last time over 1600m he took a while to get going but won full of running and this three-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Foxwedge will relish the step up in trip. The concern is a wide draw of seven but in the eight horse field he can make up the ground if dropped out to the back. Shenanigans got going late to win over 1600m last time and should also relish the step up in trip. In fact he won his maiden by 4,5 lengths over this trip and this lightly raced Dynasty gelding looks to be going places. It looks to be a boat race and is full of intrigue as both are likely ahead of the handicapper off 83 and 78 merit ratings respectively. Malinga is in good form and has never been out of the first two in four attempts at the course and distance. He is the most likely to pick up the pieces if the top two fluff their lines.

The best bet could be Sailor Girl who runs in the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1700m for fillies and mares. She was a touch unlucky last time with first-time blinkers on when forced outward just before the serious part of the race started. She was doing her best work late and the winner Gottalotofluv looks a decent sort while the second, Tigerlace, has since come out and won. Furthermore, she now has pole position. She can be bankered in all bets against an uninspiring field.

The meeting begins with an uninspiring maiden over 1000m, but two interesting first-timers appear. The Turf King is a R350,000 purchase by the speed influence Var and is a half-sister to the twice Listed-winning speedster, The Merry Widow, so she should have plenty of pace and is tipped to win with Marco van Rensburg up for Geoff Woodruff. Leprechaun’s Love is only a R75,000 purchase but is by Philanthropist and is a half-brother to the rangy, twice-Listed winner speedster Doing It For Dan and Lyle Hewitson is an eye-catching booking. The experienced horse who is most likely to give cheek is Coastal Torrent as he has bumped decent types in every one of his six career starts and as he has shown pace before he will likely appreciate the step down to this trip.

The Value bet is chosen to be Pilou in the seventh over 1400m as he has always struck as a fair sort and drops to 1400m, having held on from the front last time over 1600m with first-time blinkers on. It is a common mistake to believe a horse who only just holds on in the front over 1600m will win next time out over a shorter trip. Over the shorter trip there will be a step up in overall pace and the horse might not even be fast enough to lead. However, the plum draw of one and the suitability to the blinkers is what swings it in his favour.

By David Thiselton

Last Winter is a surprise nomination for the Jet Master Stakes at Kenilworth’s Prawn Festival meeting on Saturday week but Dean Kannemeyer has made it clear that the Met runner-up will not run unless quarantine plans are knocked back.

He said on Saturday: “I am just waiting to hear that we have been given a slot in the quarantine station. I know that there are quite a few horses in there at the moment.”

The Jet Master was switched from its traditional Cape Guineas day slot in a bid to get more runners – there were only seven last season although there were 11 in the previous campaign – but just 12 were entered last Friday. Some trainers have pointed out that many otherwise eligible horses are being rested at the moment.

Milton is top-rated in the likely absence of Last Winter and Billy Prestage is hoping that Gavin Lerena (who bounced back by winning on his first three rides at the Vaal on Saturday) will come down to partner the six-year-old on whom the former champion won the Premier Trophy in December.

Joey Ramsden has won the Vasco Prix Du Cap five times in the past 13 seasons and his pair Just Sensual and Rose In Bloom are the highest-rated of the 14 entries for Saturday week’s 1 400m Grade 3.

Cape Guineas winner Tap O’Noth is reported 100% following his below-par effort in the Cape Derby – when some of the Vaughan Marshall string were suffering from a possible respiratory virus infection – and goes to Durban.

Marshall said: “You always wonder when you have something like that hanging over you but nothing showed up and we could find no sign of it with him. He is fine now and, while it is early days yet, possible targets are the Daisy Guineas (6 May) and the Rising Sun Gold Challenge (9 June).”

By Michael Clower

One was expected, two was a bonus, as Alistair Gordon left Scottsville a contented trainer yesterday.

Gauteng Guineas candidate Monks Hood did everything expected of him and more as he carved up a strong handicap field and while he may have been ignored in the Dingaan’s market he showed yesterday at the win is unlikely to be a flash-in-the-pan.

Anthony Delpech rode a super confident race on the gelding, coming from the tail of the field to mow down a game Redcarpet Captain, the winning margin belying the ease of victory.

Monks Hood (Candiese Marnewick)

Delpech was matter of fact after the race. “If I couldn’t beat these horses then I shouldn’t be going to Jo’burg to run in the Guineas,” he said. “I know there are one or two hard knockers there but we think a lot of this horse. But he had to win the way he won to have a chance in the Guineas.”

Brandon Lerena rode a super race on Redcarpet Captain, reserving his best for late, but his best was just not good enough as Monks Hood proved his superior.

“We know how to ride him now,” said Delpech. “Don’t ride him forward, ride him cold. He has a good turn of foot.”

Nominations for the Guineas close tomorrow and Gordon was holding out for a “good draw and good ground.”

“I don’t think he was quite suited to the soft going in the Dingaans. I think he will be a much better horse on good ground because it will suit his action.

“He’s always looked like a nice horse, but I think he has matured now, and I think he’s getting better. Today’s he wasn’t 100% and he should come on from this run.”

Not expected was sales-bound River Ayre who put a spanner in the works of many an exotic, paying over R17 for a win on the tote.

River Ayre has not been the easiest of customers at the start. “She got left quite badly at her last start, but the starter did a good job today and had a handler up with her.” Jumping on terms yesterday, she added a few extra rands to her sales price. “She’s up for sale on Tuesday. These things often happen,” concluded Gordon.

Robbie Hill has been through a couple of lean months recently but will have been well satisfied with the showing by his filly Everlasting Love. Switched to the turf after two modest efforts on the poly, she showed her rivals a clean pair of heels without Sean Veale needing to give much encouragement. “I think she’s better on the grass,” said Hill. “Her last two on the poly she didn’t settle and gave the jocks a bit of a torrid time.”

Veale was able to settle her in the box seat for much of the race and she extended smartly in the straight to win comfortably.

A late declaration of blinkers did the trick for Vision Of Trust who finally got off the mark for Paul Gadsby in the card opener. “I thought if blinkers and Anton Marcus can’t win then he will never win a race,” said Gadsby after Marcus had unleashed a winning run to snaffle favourite Great Dictator for owner/breeder and former Gold Circle Chairman Robert Mauvis.

Andrew Harrison