What the Met jockeys said:
JP van Der Merwe (Smart Call): “I got over quite nicely and sat behind Anton Marcus on Legal Eagle. I pulled her out 300m from home and she showed them what she is made of. It was the biggest thrill of my career.”
Anton Marcus, second on Legal Eagle after appearing to lead briefly 300m out: “Not really – I knew there was something coming – but otherwise everything went right and he ran his heart out.”
Corne Orffer, third on Captain America: “He is a superb miler and everyone knows he is not really a 2 000m horse but he kept on well the whole way to the line.”
Stuart Randolph, fourth on Light The Lights: “Mentally he is still a bit immature but physically he has progressed by leaps and bounds since his gelding and he ran very well.”
Grant van Niekerk, fifth on Paterfamilias: “He ran a cracker and I would have been in the money if I’d had a better draw.”
Piere Strydom, sixth on Legislate: “I had no option but to go on because he takes you and I could have done with a pacemaker. They go faster in the July so you can switch them off easier.”
Ian Sturgeon, seventh on Punta Arenas: “He got a bit tight at the top of the lane and he didn’t enjoy that.”
Bernard Fayd’Herbe, 11th on Futura: “I was a bit far back but I thought I would get past them, and certainly get past Captain America, but he didn’t quicken. He is much better than that.”
By Michael Clower
Picture (Liesl King): JP van der Merve
