Legal Eagle’s win in last year’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate “answered quite a few questions” for trainer Sean Tarry, who “realised he’s as effective over a ‘mile’ as over 2000m”.
Sean Tarry (Liesl King)
If he wins the R1.5-million race on Saturday, his name will be mentioned alongside such great horses as Jet Master, Wolf Power and Sledgehammer, who won the race in consecutive years, as well as Pocket Power, winner of the Queen’s Plate four years running. Tarry, who as normal was cautious in his assessment, said: “He’s doing well and has got quite a bit in his favour.”
The weight-for-age conditions will suit the Greys Inn gelding. He is weighted eight points or four lengths superior to Marinaresco on current merit ratings, he has a good draw at No 3, can perform off any pace, from the front or off them and will be partnered by a jockey who knows him well in Anton Marcus.
“I have a healthy respect for Marinaresco, who is on the up and improving quickly. But I do believe Legal Eagle has room for improvement on his Green Point Stakes run. It’s just a matter of where Marinaresco is in his preparation. It’s hard to draw a comparison.”
Legal Eagle beat Marinaresco by 0.40 lengths in that event, run over the same course and distance as the Queen’s Plate, although Marcus said afterwards, “He was running on empty.”
Tarry says: “Yes, he needed that run but not desperately. He may have hit the front a little soon and any horse is going to empty out if asked too early. But you can’t over analyse every move, you’ll just drive yourself mad.
“To simplify things, that was Legal Eagle’s second run after a rest. He hadn’t been seen out for a long time before his comeback and there’s got to be ongoing improvement.
“There have been no issues with his preparation, it’s gone pretty smoothly.”
Tarry is one person who does not necessarily see the Queen’s Plate as a boat race between Legal Eagle and Marinaresco. “I think people have forgotten about French Navy,” he said, referring to his other runner in the Grade 1 race.
French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)
“He’s as good, if not better, than the other runners (barring the top two) we face and he’ll be finishing strongly. I can never regard any race as a match race – if it was that easy we’d all have millions in the bank.
“French Navy never had a good programme last season, things didn’t go his way. I’m expecting a good run from him.”
Weichong Marwing has ridden French Navy in his last four starts and will ride the Count Dubois gelding again.
Tarry believes Safe Harbour is the better of his two in the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes (Grade 1). “She’s doing well, enjoying Cape Town and she’s got a chance,” he commented.
Safe Harbour, a three-year-old, has drawn at No 2 and comes in off a close-up second in the Cape Fillies Guineas behind Just Sensual.
His other runner is year-older Tahini, who did not do as well in her Cape debut, when sixth in an 1800m Allowance Plate last month.
S’manga Khumalo is booked for Tahini, while Weichong Marwing will ride Safe Harbour.
TABNews
