Downing Seven mowed the field down in impressive style today and won comfortably (Pauline Herman Photography)
Greys Inn’s best progeny Legal Eagle was a twice Equus Horse Of The Year who won eight Gr 1s and his half-brother by William Longsword, the Jacques Strydom-trained Ralphs Syndicate-bred Downing Seven, became a four-time winner today on the Fairview poly.
All four of this five-year-old gelding’s wins have been on the Fairview poly.
He started his career with seven consecutive unplaced runs in Cape Town before earning in a Maiden Special weights event carrying 53kg and then earning in three consecutive Open Maidens.
He was then moved to the East Cape.
He won first time out for Juan Nel in a 1600m poly maiden at 18/10 odds.
However, after three more runs, an unplaced outing and fair fifth and fourth efforts over 2000m, he was sold by Mr T Gujadhur on the BSA September Online Auction.
He was snapped up by Jacques Strydom Racing for just R18,000.
He won his second and third starts for Strydom, both over 1900m on the poly, and before today’s win had had a further seven starts for two seconds and a fifth.
Today was the first time he had ever run beyond 2000m. He was held up in last place by Dennis Schwarz in the 2200m handicap and once he was switched out in the straight he never looked like losing. He swept past the field in fluent style to win by 2,25 lengths.
This is interesting because Legal Eagle won the Gr 1 SA Derby and was believed to be a middle distance to staying type before winning the Gr 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate as a four-year-old in what was thought by most to be a prep for the more suitable 2000m Met. He went on to build up a phenomenal mile record. He had won his maiden over a mile and at one stage was ten out of ten over that trip, including six Gr 1s. However, he also won the Gr 1 Champions Challenge over 2000m on top of his 2450m Derby win.
As Greys Inn was a middle distance to staying type, who won the SA Derby and the Durban July, and William Longsword looked to be a miler before being retired after his Gr 1 Cape Guineas and CTS 1600 wins, it is not surprising Downing Seven hasn’t been tried over a trip before.
However, after relishing the 2200m trip, he could have a whole new lease of life.
This augurs well for owners Messrs E R Gertenbach, R J Munien, J V A Strydom, Mrs M O Strydom & Money Talks Syndicate (Nom: Mr J V A Strydom)
Downing Seven is not the only relative of Legal Eagle to do well on the poly.
The Glen Kotzen-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding Countdown has twice won the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup over 1200m, the first of which was on the poly.
He is out of a Philanthropist half-sister to Legal Eagle.
We All Chomies (Philanthropist) and Swiss Walt (Twice Over) have both won on the Fairview poly and are both out of Ooh La Var, a Var half-sister to Legal Eagle.
