Red Ray looks set to be retired to stud at Klawervlei following his inspired return to form in the Mercury Sprint at Greyville last Saturday.

Owner Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman said yesterday that he is having discussions with the stud’s directors and that he might not know for sure until the end of the week.

But he added: “Red Ray is a brilliant horse and he has achieved everything we set out for him. With his pedigree, winning a Group 1 was all he needed on his CV to make a top stallion.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

“It is a bit late in the season to send him to stud but we can make a plan to make it work for all the breeders who support him.”

The Sean Tarry-trained Legal Eagle, who many thought would go for the Champions Cup after side-stepping the Vodacom Durban July, is to have a rest before having another crack at the top Cape Town races. The four-year-old won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate in January before beating all except Smart Call in the Met.

Brugman explained: “Legal Eagle raced in two different provinces [he also won the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut and the Premier’s Champions Challenge] and, while I would have expected him to win a race of the calibre of the Champions Cup, I didn’t think it was prudent to put that pressure on the horse.

“I discussed it with Sean and we have decided to give him a break and bring him back for the feature season in Cape Town.  He would probably then go back to Jo’burg for the Horse Chestnut and Premier’s Champions Challenge.”

Durban July hero The Conglomerate also misses the Champions Cup and the Joey Ramsden-trained four-year-old is to be aimed at the Sansui Summer Cup that Markus and Ingrid Jooste won with Wagner in 2012. They were also part-owners of the 2013 winner Yorker.

Brugman said: “I know it’s sacrilege to give the Champions Cup a miss when the horse is in such good form but we would like to be able to go for the Summer Cup off his present rating.”

Michael Clower