Abashiri Lands SA Classic at Turffontein

Brilliant 3-year-old gelding Abashiri took his next step toward potential Triple Crown glory when he won the SA Classic (SAf-I), April 2 at Turffontein.

 

The Go Deputy gelding, an impressive winner of the group II Betting World Gauteng Guineas in his previous start, was all the rage to land Saturday's 2 million rand contest and eventually started as the 6-10 favorite.

 

Le Clos, stablemate to Abashiri, made the early running and led from the likes of Samurai Blade and Rocketball. Abashiri, raced midfield, with approximately 15 lengths covering first to last in the 14-horse field.

 

Le Clos was quickly swallowed up turning for home, when both Brazuca and Abashiri began their respective challenges. It was the latter, despite hanging out badly, who dominated the finish, putting 3 3/4 lengths between himself and his Australian-bred runner-up Brazuca. Australian-bred sophomores filled three of the first four places, with fellow Aussie Samurai Blade, narrowly beating a fast-finishing Suyoof for the third.

 

Abashiri, who stopped the clock in a time of 1:48.94 for the 1,800 meters (about 1 1/8 miles), provided jockey Karl Zechner with a first group I success. 

 

A Former Zimbabwean champion, Zechner was overcome with the win, and described his mount as the cherry on the top of his career. 

 

Bred by Lammerskraal Stud, Abashiri was a 400,000 rand purchase from the 2014 Emperors Palace national yearling sale. The first group I winner sired by 2006 Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (gr. IT) winner Go Deputy (a Deputy Minister half brother to Cigar's Pacific Classic [gr. I] conqueror Dare and Go), Abashiri is out of the now-deceased Azalea Handicap (SAf-III) winner Donya, an Elliodor half sister to former Horse of the Year and five-time group I winner Yard-Arm.

 

The Classic's impressive winner, who triumphed in the Classic despite missing a critical eight days of work prior to Saturday's win, will bid to win South Africa's Triple Crown (last won by Louis the King in 2014) by winning the SA Derby (SAf-I), over 2,450 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) April 30 at Turffontein.

 

The Mike Azzie-trained Abashiri is the first group I winner for his owners, Adriaan and Rika Van Vuuren, and Saturday's win (plus a Bloodstock South Africa value added bonus of 152,500 rand) pushed the gelding's earnings to over 2.34 million rand. He has now won five of seven outings and been placed on his other two appearances.

 

Saturday saw three other group I features at Turffontein, with Juxtapose (by Kingmambo's A.P. Indy half brother Judpot) causing a 50-1 shock in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, while 5-10 favorite Legal Eagle showed his class when romping to his third top-level success in the H. F. Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

 

A son of former SA Classic winner Greys Inn, Legal Eagle (who also has group I wins in the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate and SA Derby) was one of five winners on the 10-race card for reigning champion trainer Sean Tarry.