The nine-race meeting at the Vaal today is on the outside track, meaning by trends high draws will be favourable.

The first race is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1200m. Dukes Dime showed good pace second time out over 1160m at Turffontein and should have improved from the run. The form of the race has worked out well and she is now drawn on the right side.  Snowdonia could use her natural pace to overcome her low draw.  Strydom is an eyecatching booking. Shirley-Kay has improved with blinkers and could earn a place in this field although she doesn’t have the easiest of daws. Youcanrockme didn’t find much extra when prominent throughout over 1400m last time so is interesting stepped down in trip. Catwalk Tease’s good pace could help her overcome her low draw and she could earn here.

The second is a Maiden over 1400m. Crimson Magic packs a strong finish from sprints up to this trip and is the one to beat from an ideal draw. Raging Fire, having not been disgraced from tough draws in two good maidens over 1200m at Scottsville, didn’t enjoy much luck from an unfavourable draw over this course and distance in his penultimate start but caught the eye and from a fair draw should earn in this uninspiring field. Vee Man ran on well after being bumped at the start over 1160m on Saturday so if taking his place could earn here if dropped in behind them which could enable him to overcome his low draw. De Lujo is a big galloping type and has a tougher draw than when running third over course and distance last time, but this is a weaker field overall so he could earn again. Count’s Quest could earn dropped back in trip as he did quite well last time over1800m despite over racing.

The third is a Maiden over 1400m. Mississippi Rising made a fair comeback over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside Course on 26 December and should have come on from the run so is the one to beat in this weak field from a good draw over a suitable trip. Scotland has his third run after gelding and could earn from a good draw over a step up in trip which will suit as he moved up well in a race over this course and distance before his gelding but didn’t go through with it. Keep On Flying has a 2,5kg claimer up and if reproducing his best run over course and distance, when run out of it on November 21, he can earn in this weak field. Border Hopper made breathing noises when prominent over1600m in early October before finding no extra and is interesting with first-time blinkers on. Il Duce has shown enough to be able to earn here from a good draw.  Can You Hear Me can earn if overcoming the draw.

The fourth is a Maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m.Mythical Magic is well drawn and the form of his third over this trip at Turffontein in late October is strong. Sweet Chestnut is drawn on the right side and should go well over a suitable trip for Gavin Lerena. Loving Kindeness has the form to go close but has a tough draw. American Story ran on well after losing two lengths over course and distance last time and could earn. Tawhiri should improve but has a tough draw.

The fifth is a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. Cape Marigold charged at them late over course and distance last time and is drawn on the right side off the same merit rating. Alexa was not striding out last time so is better than that and could make amends here from a good draw with Lerena back up. Readyforyourlove was found to be coughing when going close over 1700m here last time and is now well drawn over a suitable trip with Marwing up.

Race 6 is a MR 93 Handicap over 1400m.Machismo is 1kg under sufferance but is drawn on the right side and should go close if settling. Light The Way is a decent sort who is course and distance suited  and has a fair draw. Captain Aldo won well over course and distance last time and is drawn on the right side off six point higher mark with Lerena keeping the ride. Rushmore River is in good form and could earn. Prince Jazeem is 2,5kg better off with Captain Aldo for a 1,25 length beating but has a tough draw.

Race 7 is a MR 75 Handicap over 1400m and the front runner Strong Mind is drawn well over a suitable trip and the 2,5 kg claim will help. Tamarind is only two points higher than his last win over course and distance and Strydom is now up and with a lot of pace in the race he could overcome the low draw. Nation Builder is course and distance suited and the race should set up for him well from a fair draw under Lerena. Demosthenes is interesting stepped down in trip having run on well the last time he tried it and subsequently having twice set the pace over 1700m and 1600m respectively. Woza Mododa is drawn well over a suitable trip off an attractive merit rating.

Race 8 is a MR 88 Handicap over 1000m. Al Azraq is a well regarded sort and is well drawn over a suitable trip. He deserves a change in luck. African Ruler will make a bold bid to continue his winning ways having beaten a good sort last time out. He is off a five point higher mark but Lerena stays aboard. Angel’s Power is right up with African Ruler on 1300m form and is unbeaten in two starts over this trip so is interesting from a good draw.

Race 9 is a MR 68 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m and Shiver ‘N Shake is knocking on the door and could get it right from a good draw over this suitable trip with Lerena up. Silvan Jazz could be dangerous from a good draw over a suitable trip off a significantly lowered merit rating. Qarman returns to the trip of her debut win when ridden by Andrew Fortune and he is reunited with her.

By David Thiselton

National champion trainer Sean Tarry’s feet seldom leave the ground but he was very happy to have added the prestigious Gr 1 weight for age L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate to his trophy cabinet, courtesy of superstar Grey’s Inn colt Legal Eagle and the brilliant jockey Anton Marcus, and went on to describe Saturday’s event at Kenilworth as a “phenomenal raceday.”

Legal Eagle’s chief aim had always been the Gr 1 J&B Met over 2000m and Tarry had not “expected” him to win on Saturday, but added the victory had “not surprised him.”

Marcus said of his decision to switch to Legal Eagle after initially being declared to ride Act Of War, “I just weighed up my options and decided it was the right thing to do.”

Tarry and Marcus had discussed three different plans before the race, but Tarry had ultimately allowed the consummate professional “to do his own thing”. However, he admitted to being surprised at seeing his charge “handy”.

Marcus said Legal Eagle’s jump in his last start over 1800m at Turffontein had been “ordinary”, so pinging the gates on Saturday and going to the front had not been the plan. “I just found myself in front,” he said.

Bouclette Top then came around him, but Marcus said, “It’s always nice to get cover but, if left alone, I would have gone on my own. He’s a very easy horse to ride.”

Marcus was now in second place and formulated a plan “to get away from the milers” in the straight.

He said, “I wasn’t going to hang around, he has plenty of stamina, and I went for home quite early.”

On video evidence he asked the question at about the 400m mark and Legislate, poised behind him, was sent for home at exactly the same moment. Legislate initially made up some leeway to reach Legal Eagle’s hindquarters, but the latter then drew away effortlessly and only a couple of backhanders and showing him the stick were required to see him running out a cosy 1,5 length winner.

The Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm-bred horse had justified his 120 merit rating, the highest in the country.

Marcus has won the Queen’s Plate on some of the greatest, like Empress Club in 1993 and Variety Club three years ago, and his other wins have been on the subsequently phenomenal sire Jet Master in 2000 and Mother Russia in 2011. However, while his riding career is still going he will never be drawn into comparing horses.

Tarry said Legal Eagle had come out of the race well and it is all systems go for the Met.

He said of Gold Onyx’s 5,25 length eighth, “He didn’t disgrace himself, he was three wide and over raced and finished just five lengths back in a weight for age, I will take that as a prep any day.”

Gold Onyx loves Cape Town and S’Manga Khumalo, who rode him to second place in the Gr 2 Premier Trophy over 1800m in his penultimate start, will be back aboard in the Met. Khumalo stayed in Johannesburg on Saturday to ride French Navy in the Gr 3 London News Stakes, which ultimately had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather. Tarry felt programming important feature races to be run on the same day in different centres should be looked into and not repeated.

Speaking of Queen’s Plate day as a whole, Tarry said, “The race attracted one of the best fields seen in the country for the last four or five years. L’Ormarin’s have done wonders for the event and have also brought some big names as co-sponsors. The after party and champagne gardens were great, it’s a very classy day.”

“LQP” is often called the “Royal Ascot” of South African racing, but Tarry disagreed and said, “Royal Ascot is all about top hat and tails, but it’s hectic. The Queen’s Plate is not overly crowded, it’s a chilled out day, and there’s also top class racing.”

Tarry was pleased with Liege’s third place in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m, which gives him a chance of forcing his way into the CTS Million Dollar final field. He dropped outside the top 20 on the final CTS Million Dollar log due to two below par runs in Cape Town, but Tarry’s contention before Saturday’s race that those runs had been due to an ear infection and mucus in the trachea respectively proved correct.

Tarry has taken a chance and sent Lunar Approach and Swift Sarah down to Cape Town already as they were in 12^th and 15^th place on the last Million Dollar log respectively. Machismo also put his hand up by finishing 1,5 lengths behind the narrow Dingaans runner up New Predator last time out over 1200m. He said none of his four nominations would be “prayerless” and regarded Lunar Approach as his chief contender, saying, “He is a top horse and I expected him to give Suyoof a go in the (Listed) Secretariat (over 1400m, where he was a 1,6 length third), but the jockey managed to find trouble with no horses around him.”

Meanwhile, Marcus will be riding the Mike Azzie-trained Rabada in the Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby on January 23 and is, “at the moment”, aboard the Dennis Drier-trained Seventh Plain in the Million Dollar.

Rabada carried topweight of 62kg in the Politician Stakes on Saturday and, jumping from a plum draw of two, finished a 2,25 length sixth to Black Arthur, to whom he gave 5kg. Marcus said, “It was a decent run, a satisfactory race.”

By David Thiselton

Legal Eagle is expected to emerge as a warm favourite for the J & B Met when the market undergoes a major shake-up this morning following his decisive win over a trip widely considered too short for him in Saturday’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

Some bookmakers were yesterday talking about the four-year-old shortening to as low as 2-1 while previous favourite Futura goes for a friendless walk to 5-1 or more  as punters cast major doubts about his ability to repeat last year’s win.

Sean Tarry, speaking immediately after Saturday’s triumph, said: “Legal Eagle has gone from strength to strength and his five months off the racecourse has really done him well. I was very confident in his preparation and in his ability but not of beating the likes of Futura over a mile. It was a fantastic performance.”

Markus Jooste’s Avontuur-bred Greys Inn gelding was a first Queen’s Plate for Tarry but the champion trainer won the 2005 Met with Alastor. He also has last year’s second Gold Onyx  in the January 30 spectacular as well as French Navy who missed his run in Saturday’s London News Stakes when the last four Turffontein races were abandoned. Tarry indicated that the SA Classic winner is now doubtful for the Met unless owner Chris van Niekerk insists.

However Justin Snaith was far from disheartened about the Met prospects of runner-up Legislate and fifth-placed Futura, reasoning: “Legislate hadn’t run this season and he will come on from this as will Futura who had only had one race this term.”

But Noah From Goa (third) is unlikely to take advantage of today’s final supplementary stage or, for that matter, Wednesday’s Investec Cape Derby equivalent. Matthew de Kock said: “We will see how he pulls up and what my Dad says but he is probably limited to a mile.”

Captain America, who ran on take fourth after being squeezed at the start, came back minus his right front shoe, while the course vet reported Act Of War (sixth) coughing and Power King (last) in mild post-race distress.

Light The Lights’ strong run to get up close home under Stuart Randolph in the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap filled Glen Kotzen with Met hope. “This is a different horse since we cut him,” said the Woodhill trainer. “We had to teach him to settle and we sprinted him. Now it has all come together.”

Geoff Woodruff was just as taken with the third of Deo Juvente who chased home long-time leader Milton, saying: “We were never going to beat the winner but it was a super run from a bad draw and the 2 000m of the Met will be that little bit more up his street.”

The Conglomerate, backed from 6-1 to 4-1 favourite, came in with only one behind him and the vet reported him not striding out.

> The legendary Lester Piggott, now 80, was among the crowd which was the biggest for Queen’s Plate day since Gaynor Rupert began her efforts to restore the event to its glory days of old.

By Michael Clower
Picture (Liesl King): Anton Marcus and Legal Eagle

Smart Call will attempt to follow in the successful female footsteps of River Jetez (2010) and Igugu (2012) in the J & B Met but Alec Laird has an even bigger target in mind for Saturday’s winner of the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes.

He said: “Winning this means that we now have a ticket for the Breeders’ Cup and we may well go for that, possibly via Mauritius but hopefully we can get a shorter route by then.”

Laird, who travelled the world with his 1997 Met winner London News, deliberately did not enter the Mauritzfontein homebred for the Klawervlei Majorca on Saturday week and explained: “A mile is a bit sharp for her. The Met will be tough but she is a good filly and I think she will actually get further than 2 000m as she is by Ideal World out of a mare by Horse Chestnut.”

Weichong Marwing, who also rode Horse Chestnut, was fined R1 000 for saluting the crowd before the line while runner-up Inara came back with a mouth injury and fourth-placed Same Jurisdiction had an over-reach wound on her left fore.

Anton Marcus for once failed to get a flyer on the 16-10 favourite but reported: “It wasn’t the draw that beat her – I had a great run. It was the distance and at that pace.”

Duncan Howells added: “I’m not disappointed. All in all I thought it was a fantastic run. With a good draw she would have been second. If she pulls up sound she will run in the Majorca.”

Surprisingly Black Arthur could miss Saturday week’s Investec Cape Derby despite making up 15 lengths when coming from last under Piere Strydom to get up just over 50m out in the Cartier Politician Stakes.

Justin Snaith, who won five of the 12 races, said: “The Politician was the race I earmarked for him for the summer – we have been holding him back because he needed time to mature – and he has a good future. There is a big doubt about the Derby and he won’t go for it unless I think he has a real winning chance.”

Runner-up Marinaresco is among the 28 Derby entries and so is third-placed Liege although Andrew Fortune was urging Sean Tarry to switch to the CTS Million Dollar. Second favourite Mooghamir dropped out disappointingly and the course vet found he was making an abnormal respiratory noise.

By Michael Clower
Picture (Liesl King): Smart Call winning the Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes

What the Queen’s Plate jockeys said:

Anton Marcus, winning the race for the fifth time since 1993: “I followed Bouclette Top. If I’d had the guts I wouldn’t have been scared to lead but it would have been a bit of a gamble and I was thinking of the Met.

“I knew something was there [when Futura and then Legislate tried to challenge] but I had no idea who it was. I was concerned with keeping my horse going. He has a turn of foot over ten furlongs but over a mile I didn’t want it turning into a sprint.”

Piere Strydom (Legislate,2^nd): “He moved up and I was happy with that but I think he is a bit of a bowler – he is better if he is allowed to bowl along.”

Anthony Delpech (Noah From Goa, 3^rd): “He ran a great race – he went through as if he was going to win – but I could have done with a faster pace.”

Corne Orffer (Captain America,4^th): “He stumbled badly coming out of the gates but he then ran an absolute cracker.”

Bernard Fayd’Herbe (Futura, 5^th): “The fractions were too slow. I needed a fast pace because I knew I could never sprint with these horses. Mine is an 1 800-2 000m horse.”

Andrew Fortune (Act Of War, 6^th): “I sat third and, although he quickened a little bit, he ran pretty much the same with Captain America and Futura as he had done last time.”

By Michael Clower
Picture: Anton Marcus and Legal Eagle (Liesl King)