The Sean Tarry trained Greys Inn gelding Legal Eagle swept the boards and was crowned 2015/16 SA Horse Of The Year at the Emperors Palace Casino in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening.
The 5yo son of Greys Inn was bred by Avontuur Stud and races in the silks of SA Champion owners, Ingrid and Markus Jooste of Mayfair Speculators (Pty) Ltd.
Legal Eagle won three Gr1 races during the season, and was runner-up in the Gr1 J&B Met behind the high-class Breeders Cup bound filly, Smart Call. The daughter of Ideal World was the recipient of two awards and was fancied in many quarters for the Horse Of The Year title.
Legal Eagle impressed when winning South Africa’s premier weight-for-age mile, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate during the Cape Summer Of Champions, and then followed that with two scintillating victories in April – the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and then ending his campaign with another facile victory in the Premier’s Champions Challenge.
With Racing Manager Derek Brugman away at the Arqana Sale in France, Markus Jooste was on hand to collect the trophy, together with SA Champion Trainer Sean Tarry, top jockey Anton Marcus and an elated Pippa Mckleburgh, GM of Avontuur Estate.
Legal Eagle also won the Champion Older Male and the Champion Miler Awards.
(Story courtesy of Sporting Post)
