South African Classic: Horseracing fans turns up on racing day.
Abashiri wins second leg of Triple Crown.
IT was a classic run and win by champion horse, Abashiri, when he captured the second leg of the South African Triple Crown on Saturday, April 2 at Turffontein Racecourse.
He stormed home from midfield with jockey Zarl Zechener to win by a 3.75-length victory over Brazuca, with 50-1 shot Samurai Blade another 0.75-lengths back in third. Zechener made his move with only 400m to go and went out clear to avoid any problems winning comfortably.
He now needs to make it three in a row to become the third horse in history to win the SA Triple Crown and by doing that claim a whopping R2-million bonus. He is trained by Mike Azzie and owned by Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren, who run their horses in orange colours with black crossed sashes. These were the same colours used by late businessman Tony Factor.
“I think he just loves the crowd,” said an elated Zechner of his first Grade 1 winner.
“Years ago in Durban Mr Azzie replaced me on a horse in a feature but he promised that one day he would have a good horse and I would get the ride. I’ve ridden some good horses since arriving in Joburg but Abashiri is the cherry on the cake.”
What makes the win more spectacular is the fact that he stepped on his own foot three weeks ago and it looked as if he would have to be pulled out of the race. “He was stuck in his box for eight days while we did everything to try and remedy the situation,” said Azzie.
“Fortunately he was a very fit horse already and I didn’t think he would lose that fitness so quickly. But, who knows, that may have worked in his favour. Maybe somebody upstairs was sending us a message.”
He will now be aimed at the SA Derby over 2 450m and it is hard to see any of the horses who ran behind him in the Classic turning it around in the Derby.
The Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic produced a major upset as Juxtapose ran on strongly down the outside of the track to get up close home in front of favourite Negroamaro by 0.40 lengths with She’s A Dragon the same distance back in third.
The Intercontinental race day which will incorporate the final leg of the Triple Crown will be held on Saturday, April 30.
