Lammerskraal Stud’s owner Pieter Graaff made a fair comment earlier this week. He asked when last a stallion stood on the brink of siring two individual Triple Crown winners in the same country in the same season. The revitalised Go Deputy is the big guy in question – and it looks well nigh impossible to halt his son Abashiri’s march to glory at Turffontein on Saturday.
Graaff was chatting to the Sporting Post about the exciting acquisition of former Summerhill sire Visionaire when he referred to longtime Lammerskraal resident Go Deputy.
Abashiri – top 3yo
While Abashiri is the talking horse – the one with the non talking trainer these days – Gogetthesheriff is another Go Deputy on a titanic triple.
The East Cape 2015 Polytrack horse of the year has one leg to go of the Polytrack Challenge – that is in a fortnight from now on Friday 13 May.
Another happy day ahead for the big team
But for now it is all about the magnificent Abashiri – a horse who has changed the lives of everybody involved with him.
The highest-rated three-year-old in the country, is one of 12 runners in Saturday’s R2-million Gr1 SA Derby – and he stands out a mile – even without the sunshine orange of the Van Vuuren racing flag.
The race forms the third and final leg of the SA Triple Crown and Abashiri is on target to follow in the footsteps of past Triple Crown winners Horse Chestnut and Louis The King after impressive victories in the first two legs – the Betting World Gauteng Guineas and the SA Classic.
Sean Tarry – expects Samurai Blade to enjoy the extra
The Mike Azzie-trained Abashiri is now rated 117 – 9 points more than trainer Sean Tarry’s charge Samurai Blade, the second top-rated runner and an Australian bred that finished a decent third behind Abashiri in the 1800m SA Classic at Turffontein last time.
Trainer Sean Tarry is a major force in the features and is on record suggesting that his charge will be better suited to the longer distance of Saturday’s race.
The only thing likely to stop Abashiri is his not seeing out the trip – but his class and blood suggests that his connections have little to worry about.
His sire gets them to stay and his Elliodor dam has got them to win up to 2400m – even if she only won at the max of a mile herself.
His regular jockey Karl Zechner is riding at the peak of confidence after a slow start to his career and the shouts of ‘Galiek Yo Baby!’ will be ringing around Turffontein when the orange and black hits the front.
The rather subdued these days and word efficient Azzman has two others in the race.
Mike Azzie – has done a fine job with the top 3yo
Penteliko is also a Lammerskraal bred Go Deputy like Abashiri and is on the improve, having won his last two over 2400m. He definitely stays every inch of the race!
Scheme Of Things is the third of the Azzie trio – he looks to have it all to do.
On 100, Gavin Van Zyl’s Rocketball is the third highest rated runner in the field.
He has been comprehensively beaten at his last three by Abashiri and while he should enjoy the stamina test, he cannot beat the big horse.
On 92, the next best-weighted horse will be the classy looking Jubilee Line from the Mike de Kock stable.
This one-time winner was well beaten by Bankable Teddy in the Derby Trial at his penultimate jump.
His next run was better when staying on in a MR 92 Handicap with improved fitness obvious when 4,75 lengths behind Master Switch.
Anthony Delpech rides stablemate Kinaan, a winner over 2400m and a well bred sort who looks likely to improve as he matures.
Derby Trial winner Bankable Teddy is next best off an 89 and was impressive winner beating Stebbins there.
Bankable Teddy will enjoy the extra
He was backed to win that and will be very effective over the extra here.
The beautifully bred Stebbins ran on nicely behind Bankable Teddy in the Derby Trial and is another who will enjoy the stamina test.
His stablemate Premier Chance has only won once so far and was beaten ten lengths in the Derby Trial.
Milla’s World is the second of the Tarry runners and enjoys the services of Cape jock Richard Fourie.
The son of Ideal World has won twice from six starts but is unexposed in feature company.
