Legal Eagle Lands Top South Africa Honor
Description:
The Ingrid and Markus Jooste-owned Legal Eagle was crowned Horse Of The Year for the 2015-16 South African racing season Aug. 16 in Johannesburg at the country's annual Equus Awards ceremony.
It was a memorable evening for the Joostes, who were named champion owner for a ninth year in a row. The couple's Always In Charge was named champion 2-year-old colt and Markus Jooste is part-owner of undefeated Cloth Of Cloud, who was named champion 2-year-old filly.
A son of the Zabeel sire Greys Inn, Legal Eagle ran first or second in all five of his outings last season and won three group I races: the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, and Premier's Champion Challenge.
The newly turned 5-year-old picked up a total of three Equus Awards on the night; he also was named champion miler and champion older male.
Legal Eagle's trainer Sean Tarry was named champion trainer for a second year in a row, with the Gauteng-based conditioner setting a record for the number of winners (and prize money earned) sent out by a trainer in a South African season.
The full list of award winners follows:
Horse of the Year
Legal Eagle
2-year-old colt
Always In Charge
2-year-old filly
Cloth Of Cloud
3-year-old colt
Marinaresco
3-year-old filly
Bela-Bela
Older filly or mare
Smart Call
Sprinter (1,000-1,200 meters)
Talktothestars
Miler (1,400-1,600 meters)
Legal Eagle
Middle distance (1,800-2,200 meters)
Smart Call
Stayer (2,400 meters)
Enaad
Older male
Legal Eagle
Stallion
Trippi
Champion broodmare
Our Table Mountain
Breeder
Summerhill Stud
Outstanding broodmare
Young Sensation
Exceptional broodmare achievement
Mystic Spring
Breeder
Lammerskraal Stud
Media award, print
Charles Faull
Apprentice jockey
Callan Murray
Jockey
S'manga Khumalo
Trainer
Sean Tarry
Owner
Ingrid & Markus Jooste, Mayfair Speculators Pty Ltd