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

There are some good horses turning out at Greyville today in the eight race polytrack meeting and the PA and Pick 6 will be popular bets.

In the first keg of the PA, a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m, Torrey Pines jumps from draw three and should have too much class here.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 1200m, the first-timer Clique is well drawn and this Oratorio half-brother to Barbosa should make his presence felt. Of the raced runners, there is little between Sapphire Petunia and Laters Baby.

The fourth race is a MR 94 Handicap over 1200m and Buffalo Soldier makes appeal with a 2,5kg claimer up from a good draw over a suitable trip. Mr Roy handles this trip and with Delpech up from a good draw off the same merit rating as his last win he will go close. Donny G has speed aplenty and will appreciate the step down in trip so will be a factor from draw six. The speedy Miss Varlicious showed she can run on from behind too last time so is a big runner from pole position. Waltzed Home could be a factor if overcoming a high draw. The classy Monte Christo can’t be ignored and neither can Over Sure.

In the fifth, a MR 77 Handicap over 1200m, Var Du Bois has dropped to a mark three points lower than his last wining mark and cracks pole position draw, so he should be right there if starting on terms. Peter Piper has dropped to a competitive merit rating and has won over course and distance from this draw before, so has a chance with Delpech up. Yankeedoodledandy has gone close in his last two over 1400m and now gets the blinkers on over a touch shorter from a good draw with a 2,5kg claimer up. Fire The Rocket is in good from and well drawn over a suitable trip. Wynkelder will be running on from a wide draw and Hard To Play could be anything, but won’t have it easy off an 82 merit rating.

In the sixth a MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, La Revere has speed and class and from pole position having her third run after a rest should go close under Anthony Delpech. Old Em is 5,5kg better off with Hashtag Strat for a 3,05 length beating over this trip at the Vaal and is now drawn well. Hashtag Strat has exceptional cruising speed and at her best will be a big runner, but this is her sixth run in just under twelve weeks and her last two runs were below par. She doesn’t have the easiest draw either. The youngster Virga was impressive in her only start over course and distance and although officially 1,5kg under sufferance she is well drawn with a 2,5kg claimer aboard. A Vision To Kill is drawn well, so will do better than on July day when drawn wide. Anime can’t be ignored either.

 

 

In the seventh race, a MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, Vargraves led from start to finish to win her maiden over course and distance and on formlines it would be no surprise to see her following up from a good draw under a 2,5kg claimer. Tweed Valley has a tricky draw but has a strong finishing run and is a threat. Seatops will also be finishing strongly as he did when finishing just behind Tweed Valley on Gold Cup day from a similar draw. Zadora has always possessed a touch of class and should be staying on strongly from a wide draw. Var Agtig has been disappointing but is interesting with first time blinkers on off a reduced merit rating.

The last leg of the Pick 6 is a MR 61 Handicap over 2000m. Racing Socks won easily the last time he ran over course and distance and off a five point higher mark should go close despite a draw of eight. Courageous King was an unlucky second last time over 1900m on the poly. He has been given a four point raise and has to jump from a wide draw, so will likely have to come from the back again. Viking Red is a son of Go Deputy, whose progeny often turn the corner after their fourth birthdays and he could follow suit. He was unplaced the last time he tried this trip, but the form of that race is not bad and he now has a good draw, so if settling well should go close.

Ian Sturgeon remains aboard after finishing strongly on him last time for a narrow second over 1600m, although he has been given a three point raise for that run. Strategic’s Pride won easily over course and distance last March and is now three points lower in the merit ratings. On the evidence of his last 1900m and 2000m poly runs respectively he has a chance from a good draw. The Money Man beat Strategic’s Pride by 1,5 lengths the last time they met over 1900m here and is only 0,5kg worse off, but the reversal in draw fortunes is against him. Lebeoana is a former Kimberley Horse Of The Year and can’t be ignored.

By David Thiselton

Alec Laird has an exciting prospect in the unbeaten Moutonshoek-bred Trippi colt Broadway Trip, who won the BSA Million Colts and Gelding at Scottsville on Sunday and has recouped his purchase price in just two runs.

Robbie Hill was thrilled to win the BSA Million Fillies with bargain buy Fullfillyourdream and her time over the 1400m trip compared favourably with the boys.

Broadway was still green and, after jumping from a draw of 12 in a field of 13, he threw his head up once or twice when approaching the turn. However, once jockey Randall Simons had successfully slotted him in near the back he travelled nice and relaxed and was able to lope along behind a fair pace. In the straight his big stride had carried him to the front by the 150m mark and he then stretched away to win by 2,25 lengths from the Louis Goosen-trained first-timer Zen Arcade and the well regarded debut winner Silva’s Bullet.

In a race in which the weights are set by purchase price, Broadway Trip carried 58kg and was receiving 2kg from the second and third-placed horses. He was backed into 37/10 second favourite following an eye catching debut in which he ran all over the place in a 1450m event at Turffontein yet still managed to just get up in the shadow of the post.

He was bought for R300,000 at the Bloodstock South Africa National Two-Year-Old Sale last year and is owned by Peter White and Chris Gerber. He has plenty of scope and looks to be a fine prospect for the season’s classics.

Fullfillyourdream, an Oldlands Stud-bred daughter of Indigo Magic, came into Sunday’s race with just one fourth place finish over 1000m to her name and she started at odds of 36/1. Sean Veale slotted her in from a draw of six and she was relaxed in the running. She turned for home near the back and ran on resolutely to win by half-a-length from the second favourite Mind Your Business from the Duncan Howells yard. She only had to carry 54kg, but so did the second and third-placed horses, so she looks to have a promising future.

Fullfillyourdream was also bought at the BSA National Two-Year-old sale. Hill said he had really liked her at the sale and despite having no buyer clinched her for a paltry R25,000. He is owned by Gerald Kalil and her time on Sunday was only 0,34 seconds slower than Broadway Trip’s.

By David Thiselton

Anthony Delpech was lyrical about the condition and design of Ascot racecourse after riding for The Rest Of The World team in the Shergar Cup on Saturday.

South Africa’s reigning champion jockey rode the John Best-trained Glenys The Menace to victory in the fifth race over a mile-and-a-half.

He also had a second and a fourth, which saw him finishing fourth in the individual standings, while his team finished second to Great Britain and Ireland.

It was the first time Delpech had ever ridden in England.

He said, “It was unbelievable, it is one of the best tracks I have ever ridden on. The condition of the grass was immaculate, it was like a carpet, and the design of the course with the downhills and uphills, and also the parade ring and grandstand, it was just out of this world.”

Delpech spoke also of the tremendous on course atmosphere and also of the camaraderie between the jockeys riding in the Shergar Cup.

Delpech showed his class in scoring a win as race riding in the U.K. is completely different to race riding in South Africa and takes a while to get used to.

The pace tends to be faster and the horses have to be fitter as the ground is generally more difficult to go through compared to South Africa where ii is generally “on top”.

Reserving enough for the finish is of the essence, so good hands, balance and tactical nous are of high importance.

Delpech showed all three when producing Glenys The Menace, who was one of four fillies in the ten horse field, with a strong late run on the outside to get up and win by half-a-length.

She returned odds of 8/1. Trainer Best had been confident as she had finished a close second just two days earlier when staying on over a mile and two furlongs at Sandown.

Delpech managed to get to Scottsville in time on Sunday to ride the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Silvano colt Silva’s Bullet in the BSA August Million Colts and Geldings over 1400m.

The colt had opened 17/10 and drifted out to 32/10 in the face of strong support for the eventual winner Broadway Trip. Silva’s Bullet showed a good turn of foot in the straight from a handy position and hit the front, but had no answer to the finish of Broadway Trip. Delpech was not unhappy at all with the 3,25 length third and said, “He needs further.” He is a half-brother to the useful Kannemeyer-trained Solid Speed, who won eight races including a Grade 2 over 1900m and a Grade 3 over 2400m, and being by Silvano will continue to improve. He is a horse to watch in the classics this season, especially in the Investec Cape Derby and Daily News 2000.

Delpech also rode for Kannemeyer in the BSA August Million Fillies and his mount Pearl Glow finished fifth.

Delpech’s championship winning season just past was unusual in that he was out with a broken collar bone for over a month in December and January.

His 195 winners ridden at a strike rate of 22,01% was not as good as his return last season when he was runner up with 210 winners at a strike rate of 23,57%.

Nevertheless he won his third South African Jockeys Championships by a comfortable 43 winners from Greg Cheyne.

His winners included four Grade 1 victories, one Grade 2, two Grade 3s, four Listed races and five Non-Black Type events.

He was the leading rider at Greyville during the season with 85 wins from 389 mounts at a strike rate of 21,85%, beating Anton Marcus, who had 78 wins from 312 rides at a strike rate of 25%.

Delpech was second only to Keagan de Melo at Scottsville, riding 45 winners from 196 mounts at a strike rate of 22,96% to the latter’s 48 winners from 263 rides at a strike rate of 18,25%. Marcus had 43 winners at Scottsville ridden at a strike rate of 25,6%.

Delpech rode 30 winners at Turffontein at a strike rate of 17,05%.

His 32 winners at The Vaal were ridden at a high strike rate of 34,04%.

He rode three winners at Kenilworth at a strike rate of 11,11%.

He also had four rides at Fairview but no winners.

Delpech has certainly had an August to remember for besides his Shergar Cup exploits he won the coveted Green Jacket at the Gold Circle Racing Masters golf tournament, which is held annually at The Wild Coast in the week after the Gold Cup meeting.

By David Thiselton