Legal Eagle has been promoted to 5-2 favouritism for the Vodacom Durban July even though Sean Tarry hinted after Saturday’s Premiers Champions Challenge win that the four-year-old was unlikely to run.

Legal Eagle (Liesl King)

Tarry, asked about future plans at the presentation ceremony, said: “I don’t think we are over-keen about the July but Derek (Brugman) and I will talk through the weeks to come -possibly the Champions Cup at the end of the season, maybe just a rest.”

Legal Eagle was previously second favourite – 33-10 with Betting World and 7-2 with World Sports Betting – but Triple Crown hero Abashiri has been marked out from 28-10 to 7-2 with Betting World and remains on 33-10 with WSB.

Samurai Blade, beaten less than a length when third in the SA Derby, is the big mover. Tarry’s colt has been slashed from 40-1 to half that price with WSB and to 25-1 with BW. Inara, who finished with only one behind her in the Premier’s Champion, has gone out from 25-1 to as big as 50-1.

Betting World: 5-2 Legal Eagle, 7-2 Abashiri, 14-1 French Navy, 20-1 Silver Mountain, Rabada, Deo Juvente,Brazuca, New Predator, Black Arthur, 25-1 and upwards others.

World Sports Betting: 5-2 Legal Eagle, 33-10 Abashiri, 14-1 French Navy, 16-1 Silver Mountain, Rabada,Brazuca, 18-1 Black Arthur, 20-1 Deo Juvente, New Predator, Mac De Lago, Samurai Blade, 25-1 and upwards others.

By Michael Clower