Legal Eagle on track for Met

TRAINER Sean Tarry suggests racing fans should not be writing off Legal Eagle as being past his best.

The seven-year-old star remains in contention for a fourth attempt at the Sun Met, in which his record shows two seconds and a fourth place and in which he will come into with a merit rating dropped to 121, his lowest since 2016.

Tarry said: “There are people who would have had their enthusiasm dampened by Legal Eagle’s run in the L’ Ormarins Queen’s Plate, but I am not one of them. We fight on, he pulled up well and he is sound and fresh.”

His gave his views on Legal Eagle’s fourth place, beaten four lengths by Do It Again, in Saturday’s Grade 1 spectacle and said: “The last thing I want to do is look for excuses, but I have to say that Legal Eagle was not himself on the day, he was flat. I saw that when saddling him and when he cantered down. When they turned for home he didn’t have much to come, his usual kick was just not there.

“I cannot quantify whether Legal Eagle’s below-par run equates to half a length, or two lengths or more, but this wasn’t his run. But that’s the way it is, and now we look ahead to the Sun Met.

“Lyle Hewitson will be replacing Anton Marcus, who has taken the ride on Rainbow Bridge.

“Anton is not my stable jockey, he is not obligated to ride Legal Eagle and this is a good opportunity for Lyle, who is riding very well.”

Asked about Legal Eagle’s race programme for the rest of the year, Tarry note: “At this stage we have no reason to believe that his customary programme will be changing this year. We will look at the Horse Chestnut Stakes after the Sun Met.”