Reigning National champion trainer Sean Tarry might have won the R1 million L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate on Saturday with Legal Eagle but Justin Snaith had by the end of the day increased his lead on the current National Trainer’s log, due to five wins, as well as, among other stakes cheques, claiming second and fifth in the Queen’s Plate with Legislate and Futura respectively, and third in the Gr 1 R1 million Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes with Bela-Bela.

Snaith always takes a big team to both of Cape Town’s biggest meetings, the Queen’s Plate and the J&B Met, and has on two occasion had five winners at the J&B Met, so the five winners on Saturday was another milestone moment.

At this time last year Tarry had already taken the lead in his successful title bid, but looks to have a tougher task this season, although the firepower he has for the lucrative Johannesburg Autumn Season will make it exceedingly tough for Snaith to stay ahead.

Snaith currently has stakes earnings of R9,301,950 and Tarry is on R8,209,587, while Mike de Kock, whose focus these days is on his overseas campaigns, in in third on R7,424,225.

Snaith made it to a century of winners for the season on New Year’s Day at Fairview and has had 110 to date, while Tarry has had 75 and De Kock 61.

The win strikes rates are Snaith 18,12%, Tarry 12,5% and De Kock 15,25%.

By David Thiselton