Legal Eagle Soars Over To Win The Queen’s Plate

The 2016 edition of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate promised to be real humdinger with a star studded field, compromised by no less that 10 individual Gr1 winners assembled in this year’s renewal. With all the media attention focused on the 2015 winner Futura and his stable companion Legislate, it was finally the South African Derby winner Legal Eagle who slipped in through the backdoor of South Africa’s premier weight for age event, winning it in a very impressive fashion.

Given a masterful ride by the multiple champion jockey Anton Marcus, the son of Greys Inn who was racing on a distance way too short for his liking, unleashed a powerful turn of foot at the top of the straight and was never caught again. Legislate and Futura had every chance to reduce the deficit on Legal Eagle but Sean Tarry trained 4 year old was indeed the better on the the day. Legislate made some headway under Pierre Strydom but had to settle for second, while the only 3 year old in the race Noah From Goa finished third, giving a strong hint that this year’s sophomore crop in South Africa will be very interesting to follow. Captain America was next to cross the line in fourth with the disappointment of the race, the one paced Futura being next best.

With today’s performance Legal Eagle has just transcended himself as South Africa’s best older horse in training. He made two exceptional horses in Futura and Legislate look average, all the while putting a halt on the winning sequence of the best 3 year old in the land, Noah From Goa. Such resounding success has propelled him as the new favourite of the J&B Met which will contested on 2000m distance track, something he will be even better suited at.

Bred by Avontuur Estate, Legal Eagle was a R425,000 graduate of the Emperors National Yearling Sale. By Greys Inn out of the 6 time winning National Emblem mare Young Sensation, Legal Eagle hails from the family of Gr1 winner Military Song. His second dam Fair Model won the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship and was multiple Gr1 placed. He is also related to Gr2 placed and 12 time winner Young Warrior.