“He arrived a hero will he leave a legend?” Commentator Alistair Cohen got it right but it was oh so close for Abashiri in the Gr1 SA Derby final leg of the Triple Crown at Turffontein yesterday. A nose separated hero from legend and owner Adriaan van Vuuren summed it up. “We expected to win more easily but we had to scratch deep in the barrel.”

And Abashiri did just that, Michael Azzie’s runner drawing on his very last reserves to take the crown and the R2 million bonus. Karl Zechner, eyes closed in relief and crossing himself on the walk back to the paddock, would probably freely admit that the occasion got to him and it was the horse that got him out of jail. Trailing with just two behind him as stable companion Scheme Of Things stretched the field at a solid gallop, Abashiri was out of his ground turning for home and looked gone and forgotten.

“I probably pressed the button too early,” he admitted. “But he’s a tricky horse to ride. You keep niggling but when you ask him he hits the front in an instant.”

So it proved as Abashiri quickened from last to first in a matter of strides at the 600 m mark putting a couple of lengths on the opposition; but then it was an agonising grind to the line. Drawing on his last reserves of stamina and courage, his legs working from memory, Abashiri fought off an equally game and exhausted Rocketball to hold on by the proverbial nostril.

For owners, who four years ago had no connection with the sport, Adriaan and Rika van Vuuren have spent a fortune on horses and victory was fitting reward and achieved in front of a sea of cheering employees decked out in orange and black.

A half-hour later Legal Eagle confirmed his status as the country’s top rated horse with a bloodless victory in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Challenge, crowning another exceptional day for Sean Tarry whose horses bagged three of the four Grade 1’s on offer.

Beaten only once on his favourite course, Anton Marcus gave Legal Eagle a copybook ride, tracking the pace and then pressing for home at just the right moment. The three-year-old Brazuca made a game effort to go with the champion but came up short in the end with French Navy finding some of the form that saw him win the Daily News 2000 last season, rattling home for second to give Tarry the one-two.

The Vodacom Durban July has eluded Markus Jooste, the country’s leading owner for the past number of years, and he may have to look beyond Legal Eagle for a win this year. “This race was our aim. We are not overly keen on the July but I will speak to Derek (Brugman – Jooste’s racing manager),” Tarry confided.

“Maybe the Champions Cup at the end of the season but for now just a good rest.”

Carry On Alice obviously enjoys the last Saturday in April. Two years back she won the Gr1 SA Nursery for Tarry and last year finished second in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. Yesterday she set the record straight as she made short work of the Computaform Sprint field. Tracking the early pace, Khumalo released the brake on the 13-20 favourite two furlongs out and she simply smoked home leaving Talktothestars chasing them – it was as simple and as clinical as that.

More complicated was Cloth Of Cloud as she kept her clean sheet, emulating stable companion Carry On Alice’s victory in the Gr1 SA Nursery. She gave her supporters and her rider a few heart-stopping moments as she dug in her toes before the line.

At her previous start Cloth Of Cloud almost unseated Khumalo just after the line but this time he was wise to her antics. Once past long-time leader Riverine and seemingly headed for victory, Cloth Of Cloud jammed on the brakes forcing Khumalo into an ungainly jig to keep her going.

She is obviously a filly of huge talent but keeping a lid on her temperament may prove more of a challenge for Tarry and Khumalo.

By Andrew Harrison