ABASHIRI became only the third Triple Crown winner in the country’s racing history when he landed the South African Derby at Turffontein last Saturday but he only scrambled home by a frighteningly narrow margin.

This was widely billed as Abashiri’s day and the gelding’s computer magnate owner Adriaan van Vuuren kitted out his workers, and hundreds more, with special shirts in his bright orange colours.

Those brave enough (or foolish enough) to take the 1/6 on offer were already vowing never again when the hotpot turned for home with only one behind him and a good 12 lengths off the leaders. Even his jockey was having doubts. “When I put him to bed behind the field, I said to myself ‘Did I do the right move there?’” Karl Zechner related afterwards. “After that things weren’t going well for me so I pressed the button quite early.”

Halfway up the straight he was in front - but only just and he was beginning to struggle. This time his rider feared the worst. “He was looking for something to challenge and I thought he would tread water and not quite get there. Fortunately, though, he fought the other horse off.”

STORMED HOME

That was Rocketball, a 40/1 shot by the ex-Henry Cecil trained Judpot, but the close proximity of the third, Samurai Blade, showed that this was not the Abashiri who stormed home in the SA Classic four weeks earlier. Samurai Blade was third that day too but four and a half lengths adrift.

Trainer Mike Azzie promptly confirmed his intention to go for the Durban July with his son of American Grade 1 winner Go Deputy but the bookmakers replaced him at the head of the market with Legal Eagle who won the Premier’s Champion on the same card but is far from certain to run in the big July 2 handicap.

IRISH VIEWPOINT

There were four Group 1 races on last Saturday’s card and from an Irish point of view Cloth Of Cloud in the SA Nursery (a conditions race not a handicap) was perhaps the most interesting.

The quirky Captain Al filly took on the colts rather than go for the less valuable SA Fillies Nursery which is only a Group 2.

She really responded when S’Manga Khumalo got serious with her and made up three lengths in the last half furlong to extend her unbeaten run to three. As last time, she began pulling herself up as she reached the post much to the concern of her rider.

“For a filly to win a Group 1 at this stage is massive and this is mission accomplished,” said trainer Sean Tarry. “She has now vindicated what I thought about her all along.”

Markus Jooste, South Africa’s leading owner, has a share in this R2.2 million (roughly €137,500) purchase and said: “It is very special to have Paul Shanahan and David Nagle as our partners in this horse. They came to the yearling sales in Cape Town and supported our country.”

He was referring to the Cape Premier Yearling Sale run by Cape Thoroughbred Sales in which he has an interest. This progressive outfit has taken over from the TBA’s Bloodstock South Africa as the country’s top sales company.

The TBA left an opening big enough to drive a bus through by refusing to pay vendors until it received the money from purchasers and CTS (which pays within 30 days) has taken full advantage.

The TBA has been decrying a sharp fall at last month’s National Yearling Sale –the average was down 9% and the aggregate 16% while 15% of the 424 yearlings were led out unsold – and cited “a lack of a strong presence in the upper end of the market” but in reality the strong presence was the opposition’s Select Yearling Sale a fortnight earlier.

This took 200 of the top yearlings which in days gone by would always have gone to the National, and prices at this sale were good almost throughout.

Chevauchee impresses

CHEVAUCHEE, an Australian-bred daughter of High Chaparral, impressed when returning from a five-month absence to take second at Kenilworth last Saturday and is to step up to listed company in the Olympic Duel Stakes.

The 2014 Durban July winner Legislate, who had his first run of the Durban campaign at Greyville last night, will have his last race before being retired to stud in next month’s Gold Challenge.