Legal Eagle, Marinaresco score in Met draw

Favourite Legal Eagle will start from barrier No 9 in the R5-million Sun Met celebrated with Mumm over 2000m at Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday 28 January following yesterday’s draw ceremony when most of the unwanted wide berths were taken by outsiders.

The runner who really benefitted this time is Marinaresco, who drew 2.

Legal Eagle (Anton Marcus) was the first to work alongside French Navy (Weichong Marwing). They were not asked to do all that much – and with the big race only nine days away nor were most of the others – but Marcus expressed himself satisfied with the favourite.

“That was more for the wellbeing of the public but Legal Eagle is in a good place,” said the four-time champion.

Marwing was every bit as pleased with French Navy and said: “French Navy is not the most impressive worker but I was happy with him. He has definitely come on since the Queen’s Plate and he will be better over the Met trip. I think he can finish in the money.”

Heavily backed Whisky Baron worked on his own over 1400m and rider Greg Cheyne said: “All good – I couldn’t be happier with that. He is maintaining his form beautifully.”

Bela-Bela (Anthony Delpech) was the other runner high-up in the betting to go well, working on her own over 1600m.

Final field with draws for the R5-million Sun Met (Grade 1) celebrated with Mumm

1 - 9 LEGAL EAGLE (S G Tarry) A Marcus 60.0 - 123

2 - 14 MAC DE LAGO (W H Marwing) A Domeyer 60.0 - 112 3 - 7 THE CONGLOMERATE (J Ramsden) L Dettori 60.0 - 107

4 - 2 MARINARESCO (C L Bass-Robinson) G van Niekerk 59.5 - 115

5 - 6 IT’S MY TURN (S J Snaith) P Strydom 59.5 - 106

6 - 10 CAPTAIN AMERICA (B Crawford) C Orffer 58.0 116

7-1 FRENCH NAVY (S G Tarry) W Marwing 58.0 - 113

8-8 WHISKY BARON (B Crawford) G Cheyne 57.5 110

9 - 12 BRAZUCA (J A Janse van Vuuren) G Lerena 57.5 109

10 - 3 BARITONE (S J Snaith) A Fortune 57.5 - 105

11 - 15 CAPE SPEED (D Kannemeyer) K de Melo 57.5 - 101

12 - 13 MAMBO MIME (D Kannemeyer) G Behr 57.5 - 99

13 - 11 MACDUFF (J Ramsden) D Dillon 57.5 - 90

14 - 5 BELA-BELA (S J Snaith) A Delpech 57.0 - 109

15 - 4 GOLD STANDARD (G S Kotzen) R Fourie 52.0 - 108

Same Trainer: (1,7) (3,13) (5,10,14) (6,8) (11,12)