Riding sensation Callan Murray, having ridden three Grade 1 winners on Turffontein’s Champions Day alone, now has his sights set on going close in the championship.

“I want to ride as many winners as I can this season and finish very close to the top,” he says. “The latter is a goal at the back of my mind but I am not going to let it drag me back. For the moment I just want to keep consistent.”

Two of those three Champions Day Grade 1s were for Mike de Kock as was Heavenly Blue’s SA Classic win and the association will be every bit as strong this term: “There is nothing on paper but every day I’m not racing I ride work there. They give me a lot of rides and, while I don’t ride some of the horses, they are very loyal to me.

“I am also riding for Tara Laing in Port Elizabeth. In addition Mr and Mrs Jooste, and Derek Brugman, are giving me a lot of support, and not just in P.E.”

Riding for Justin Snaith at the mid-week Cape Town meetings is something new. “Obviously there are going to be some meetings that clash but I want to race at Kenilworth as much as possible because it will be good experience for the big races there later on in the season.”

Murray’s workaholic schedule allows little time for hobbies. Fortunately he doesn’t have any! “I don’t do anything other than racing so I don’t need time on my hands.”

Murray, who celebrates his 21^st birthday tomorrow week, is tall for a jockey but wafer slim with light bones. “I ride comfortably at 54kg but I can do 52kg if I am given a good bit of notice.”

Champion apprentice two seasons ago, he broadened his education with a successful stint in Hong Kong Kong last season and was suitably impressed by the jockeyship he came up against. “Magic Moreira is obviously very good – he gets a lot of good rides but obviously you’ve got to perform on them and he does that very well.

“There are heaps of other good jockeys there too, though. It’s just that they are not under the same spotlight and riding against them was great experience. What I learned was amazing.”

But this season the concentration will remain firmly on South Africa. “Hong Kong might ask me to go there for a meeting or so but now is the time for me to learn more here, and I am going to stay put for a season or two. Only after that am I hoping to go back.”

By Michael Clower

The Sean Tarry-trained Greys Inn gelding Legal Eagle was crowned Equus Horse Of The Year for the second year in succession at the Emperor’s Palace on Tuesday night.

The awards panellists had to make the usual number of decisions, which were going to be contentious no matter which horse they chose. However, there were also the usual number of recipients who received rousing applause for being thoroughly deserving.

The panellists stuck rigidly to the criteria, which stated, “The awards are based on graded races and in particular Grade 1 races”. There was an exception made to this rule for the Stayer’s Award which stated, “As regards the stayer category, the winning horse will be at the discretion of the voting panel. This decision was taken as the only Grade 1 race in SA is the SA Derby, which would mean that this should be the obvious winner based on a single run. This would also have excluded fillies and mares.”

The Champion Three-Year-Old Male award, won by the Brett Crawford-trained Edict Of Nantes, was likely decided on number of Grade 1 victories alone as many had expected William Longsword to win it. Edict Of Nantes was the only dual Grade 1 victor in this category, winning the Investec Cape Derby and the Daily News 2000, and was good enough to justify champion status. However, the question remains whether he was as good as William Longsword and Gold Standard, whose dominance out in front in the Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas was one of the outstanding memories of the season. Gold Standard defeated Edict Of Nantes in both of their meetings and went on to finish an outstanding fourth in an ultra strong Grade 1 Sun Met. However, he was not even a nomination for the category due to his lack of a Grade 1 win. William Longsword opted for the big money route on Met and Cape Derby day and won the US$500,000 CTS Mile. He was then retired to stud, while Gold Standard was laid off for the rest of the season. The three-year-old male award possibly highlights the need for the big sales races and the Grade 1 classics to have separate calendar slots.

The Tarry-trained Carry On Alice finally broke her Equus duck in her fourth season and nobody would have begrudged this thoroughly deserving individual from walking away with both the Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Female awards. The panellists had tough tasks in both categories as they included the respective nominations Bull Valley and Bela-Bela, who, like Carry On Alice, had both won two Grade 1s each. The panellists might have viewed the Grade 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1000m, won by Carry On Alice, as the strongest of the relevant Grade 1s and on paper it certainly was. Some would have pointed to Rafeef having beaten Carry On Alice in their only meeting in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint, but that was his only Grade 1 victory of the season. He was then retired to stud.

The unluckiest non-winners were Bela-Bela and Bull Valley. However, Bela-Bela at least received consolation in that her dam Mystic Spring finally won the Broodmare Of The Year award, in which she had been so unlucky in the past. Mystic Spring’s other top offspring include the champion Rabiya as well as stakes winners, Rafiya, Spring Lilac, Touch The Sky and Secret Of Victoria, and the latter has become a matriarch herself.

Legal Eagle once again proved himself invincible over a mile. He remained unbeaten over this trip and defended his crowns in both the weight for age (wfa) Grade 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and the wfa Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. He was giving Whisky Baron 2,5kg when defeated by 1,5 lengths in the Grade 1 Sun Met and was giving Deo Juvente 1kg when defeated a neck in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge, both over 2000m. He also won the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes. As well as the Horse Of The Year award, he also won the Champion Miler award and the Champion Older Male award.

The Brett Crawford-trained Met winner Whisky Baron was undefeated in five starts in the season, including a Grade 2, and deservedly won the Champion Middle Distance Award.

The Weiho Marwing-trained Hermoso Mundo became the first horse to do the “Gold” stayers treble, winning the Gold Bowl over 3200m, the Gold Vase over 3000m and the Gold Cup over 3200m, and he deservedly won the Stayer’s Award, ousting Grade 1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem.

The Champion three-year-old Filly and Champion two-year-old Male awards were expectedly won by the Joey Ramsden-trained Just Sensual and the brilliant Mike de Kock-trained Mustaaqeem respectively.

The Dennis Drier-trained Lady In Black won the two-year-old filly award. Lady In Black’s Grade 1 victory was narrow, while Brave Mary was a runaway winner in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson, but, on the other hand, Lady In Black was undefeated in three starts, while Brave Mary was defeated three times.

The other awards were: Silvano, Stallion Of The Year; Dynasty received an Outstanding Stallion Award; Klawervlei Stud were Breeders Of The Year; Varsfontein Stud won an Outstanding Breeder Award; Anthony Delpech was Champion Jockey; Lyle Hewitson was Champion Apprentice; Mayfair Speculators were Champion Owners; Mike de Kock received an Inustry Merit Award.

By David Thiselton

There were two top division Sprint Handicaps on the Greyville poly yesterday for punters to enjoy and both were won by 2,5kg apprentice claimers.

In a MR 94 Handicap over 1200m, the Mark Dixon-trained Scent Of The Tiger started 9/2 favourite and turned for home in front under Ashton Arries. The field could only chase in vain and the four-year-old Tiger Ridge gelding ran out a 0,75 length winner from Great Value and Mr Roy.

Later, the speedy Hashtag Strat was caught close to home by a flying Paul Gadsby-trained Vision To Kill in a MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m. The four-year-old Kildonan filly’s topweight of 62kg was relieved by the claim of Serino Moodley and she converted odds of 21/2 for her fourth win in just ten starts.

In the first, a Maiden over 1200m, the Michael Roberts-trained four-year-old Dan De Lago gelding Lupo is an impressive specimen and won at odds of 21/2 under 2,5kg claimer Ashton Arries. He jumped from a draw of 12 out of 12 and did well to kick on and win by a comfortable 1,5 lengths, especially considering Arries had brought him around the field from near the back before they had reached the straight. Lupo looks capable of winning more races.

In the second, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Torrey Pines started 12/10 favourite and the first-timer Rapid Roxy was backed in from 20/1 to second favourite before drifting out to 5/1. There was also money for the Paddy Lunn-trained Antonius Pius filly Fair Antonia, who had made a moderate debut over 1000m. She shortened from 20/1 to 10/1 and, jumping from a wide draw, tugged Stuart Randolph to the front. She stayed on well in the straight and Torrey Pines, coming from near the back, failed by a neck to catch her.

In the third, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m, the Charles Laird-trained four-year-old Great Britain filly Sapphire Petunia impressed in the parade ring and led from start to finish under Tristan Gooden to convert 26/10 favouritism.

Randolph made it a double in the fifth, a MR 77 Handicap over 1200m, when coming from near the back on the Wendy Whitehead-trained 5/1 shot Hard To Play. The three-year-old Curved Ball colt is now unbeaten in two starts.

There was an upset in the seventh, a MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, when the Greg and Karen Anthony-trained five-year-old Lion Tamer mare Class Act stayed on strongly from a handy position under Alec Forbes, having overcome a draw of ten. The favourite Tweed Valley failed by 1,25 lengths to reach the 17-1 chance.

In the last race, a MR 61 Handicap over 2000m, punters watched in disbelief as the jockeys who were in a position to do anything about it just allowed the James Goodman-trained eight-year-old Silvano gelding Priceless Gem to escape in front after jockey Doctor Lembethe had decided the pace was far too slow. Not surprisingly, Lembethe kept going on the 55/1 shot and the fancied Viking Red, who was caught on the rail behind the slow pace, could only chase in vain.

By David Thiselton

Legal Eagle was voted Equus Horse of the Year for the second year running at a glittering function held at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg last night.

Legal Eagle, owned by Mayfair Speculators, who were once again the country’s leading owners, and bred by Avontuur Stud, faced some stern opposition from the likes of Sun Met winner Whisky Baron, Vodacom Durban July winner Marinaresco and the mare Carry On Alice.

However, Legal Eagle’s victories in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate and Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, plus runner-up berths in the Gr1 Sun Met and Gr1 Premier’s Champion’s Challenge carried the day. Legal Eagle was also voted Champion Miler and Champion Older Male, which further enhanced his credentials.

Carry On Alice, a winner of a Grade 1 in every season she races, finally got just rewards being voted Champion Sprinter and Champion Older Female.

The voting panel comprised of Andrew Harrison, Matthew Lips, Jason Dedekind, Roger Smith, Michael Clower and RA chairman Larry Wainstein as non-voting chairperson. There were a couple of dead-heats in the voting and Wainstein had a casting vote.

The main racing awards were:

Champion Two-year-old Colt – distance immaterial: Mustaaqeem.

Champion Two-year-old Filly – distance immaterial: Lady In Black

Champion Three-year-old Colt – distance immaterial: Edict Of Nantes.

Champion Three-year-old Filly – distance immaterial: Just Sensual.

Champion Older Male –
distance immaterial: Legal Eagle.

Champion Older Filly/Mare – distance immaterial: Carry On Alice.

Champion Sprinter – (1000 – 1200m; age/gender immaterial): Carry On Alice.

Champion Miler – (1400 – 1600; age/gender immaterial): Legal Eagle.

Champion Middle Distance – (1800 – 2200; age/gender immaterial): Legal Eagle, Marinaresco, Whisky Baron

Champion Stayer – (2400 and up; age/gender immaterial): Al Sahem, Hermoso Mundo

Voting Criteria
The awards are based on graded races and in particular Gr 1 races.

Champion Apprentice: Lyle Hewtiston

Champion Jockey: Anthony Delpech

Champion Owner (based on stakes earned): Mayfair Speculators

Champion Trainer (based on stakes earned): Sean Tarry

Horse of the Year Award: Legal Eagle

The Vaal stages a low key meeting on the Inside track tomorrow and low draws are favourable by trends.

Varsity Princess could be a banker in the first leg of the Pick 6 as she has good speed and is still unexposed so should be improving. She has a plum draw and Weichong Marwing is an eyecatching booking. Surfer’s Paradise could be the biggest threat as an improving sort who ran well first time out the maidens

The second leg of the Pick 6 has an interesting topweight in Marmook as he looks to be progressive. It is never easy for a three-year-old to carry topweight first time out the maidens at this time of the year, but he might be classy enough to still win. The backup is Cannes, who is course and distance suited and has a fair draw under Piere Strydom, and Roman Evening, although the latter is admittedly quite frustrating to follow as he appears better than his form suggests and the fact he never wears alumites is a concern. Cold Front and Minnesota make the most appeal of the rest.

Duzi Moon is an interesting runner in the next leg of the Pick 6 over 1700m. He won his last start at Turffontein Inside and in his previous start over this course and distance flew up and just failed against the decent sort Wild Brier. He now has the identical draw. Silver Peg ran on over shorter last time so should enjoy the trip. Elusive Flyer was not far behind Duzi Moon in the Wild Briar run, so is interesting dropped back to this trip after below par efforts over much further in his last two starts.

In the sixth over 1400m, Tokyo Drift has everything in his favour including a plum draw over a suitable trip and off a reduced merit rating, so can defy top weight. Hideway has dropped to a competitive merit rating and this is his ideal trip but there is not much between him and Lauren Of Rochelle on formlines. Crazy Vision has the form to go close if able to overcome a high draw and William Grace has always struck as one with some ability and can’t be ignored off his current lowly merit rating, despite a high draw.

In the seventh race over 1400m Captain Chips is well drawn over an ideal course and distance and is bang in form so should be right there. However, an interesting runner here is Just A Gigolo, who has always struck as one with plenty of ability, but he used to over race in his early days. He now did well over 1600m last time with blinkers on so with the equipment back on over this probably more suitable 1400m he should be right there from a fair draw.

In the last race Juba could surprise and is chosen as the value horse of the day. He was dropped to this trip last time and the blinkers were fitted. However, he raced quite strongly and then found no extra, but was still quite close up at the line, so this trip without the blinkers might be what the doctor ordered and he also has a plum draw. Main Roll has dropped to a competitive mark and Legend Seeker has a good draw coming off an easy win in the maidens. Shine Bright has ability but is enigmatic and All Done could be anything.

By David Thiselton