The Piet Steyn-trained Gem King won the second leg of the WSB Winter Series, the Grade 3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth today, easier than the first despite carrying a 1kg penalty.

 

Richard Fourie rode a confident race, sitting at the back as the horse had done in the Grade 3 WSB Variety Club Mile, and the smart Marsh Shirtliff-owned Master Of My Fate gelding cut through the field like a hot knife through butter to win easing up by 0,75 lengths from Winchester Mansion with the Variety Club Mile runner up Future Prince in third place.

 

Steyn landed the Winter Series Triple Crown with Katak, who ran in Shirtliff’s colours, two years ago.

 

The first horse to do it, the Mike Bass-trained Pocket Power (Jet Master), also ran in Shirtliff’s colours.

 

Earlier, the Justin Snaith-trained Maria Querol (Querari) won the second leg of the WSB Winter Series Triple Taira, the Listed WSB Stormsvlei Stakes over 1800m, under Craig Zackey.

 

Maria Querol set a sedate pace and kept on going after being switched to the outside.

 

Her stablemate Peut Etre Moi was caught one wide just behind the leader and was carried out in the first part of the straight by the winner.

 

She did well to stay on for a 0,40 length third as Maria Querol just managed to fend off Fleeting by a head.

 

Maria Querol is owned by Greg Bortz and AJ van Huysteen.

 

Picture: Gem King cruises to victory today at Kenilworth (Wayne Marks).