Abashiri

That sole victory came at Kempton Park in November 2025, and it remains the defining moment of Abashiri's story so far. Before it crossed the line a winner, it had finished fifth on its debut — a result that, with hindsight, looks like a learning run. The step forward from fifth to first in the space of two races is exactly the kind of progression Appleby's yard tends to produce.

Speaking of that yard — 121 winners in a single season is a staggering number, and it tells you something important about the environment Abashiri is operating in. This is one of the most prolific training operations in British racing, and horses that come through it tend to be well-prepared and well-placed. Racing for a yard firing on that kind of form is an advantage in itself.

Abashiri is still very much a work in progress, having only raced twice, but with a win already banked and a team behind it that clearly knows how to find the right opportunities, there is every reason to keep watching.