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South Africa’s newly-crowned champion trainer Sean Tarry is looking forward to the Cape Summer Of Champions season with the help of former top jockey and renowned horseman Felix Coetzee.

Coetzee is well versed in the methods of the legendary “horse whisperer” Monty Roberts and also prepares some of Tarry’s youngsters in Cape Town.

Tarry’s string usually only arrives in Cape Town from his northern base in December but he is planning to move them earlier this season.

Seven of his three-year-olds earned 50% of the yard’s record-breaking stakes earnings of R25,924,950 last season which puts him in a strong position to retain the championship considering the filly Tamaanee is the only one among them to have been retired.

Tarry won the training champion based on prizemoney from Mike De Kock and Justin Sanith. He finished R6,308,688 ahead of De Kock with a further R3,381,274 back to Snaith in third place.

Tarry received the Equus Champion Trainer award at the annual ceremony to honour South African racing’s champions at the Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg where hHe thanked his hard working team members as well as his loyal chief owner Chris van Niekerk and the yard’s other supporters.

His dual G1-winning colt French Navy walked away with the Champion Three-Year-Old Male award but he was disappointed to see Siren’s Call, who went close to landing the Triple Tiara, not even making it on to the nomination list for the Champion 3YO Filly award.

He also pointed out that the 120 merit-rated Legal Eagle’s only blemish was in the Vodacom Durban July, where he was hampered in the straight.

“If he is as good as his merit rating suggests, it is a surprise that he comes way from the awards empty handed,” Tarry comented.

Tarry said he would send either Legal Eagle or French Navy to Cape Town, the choice depending on which horse was doing best at the time and discussions with their owners.

Carry On Alice would be a definite as she will be suited by the course and distance of the G1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship, especially as

her biggest sprinting rivals from last season Captain Of All and Alboran Sea have both been retired to stud.

Siren’s Call’s owner Peter de Beyer is Cape Town-based, so it’s obvious he would want to see his star filly racing at Kenilworth.

If she did go then Trophy Wife would likely stay in Johannesburg but any change in the former’s plans would see her likely to travel instead.

Zambezi River appeared to love it in Cape Town last season and he would also likely be on the float.