Michelle Rix launched her official solo career as a trainer at her Milnerton stables last Thursday, and her first runner, William’s Woman, won the first race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
This was a good omen all round, because she also acquired four two-year-olds at the RCS Sale later that afternoon, and now has a string of 46 horses.
Michelle said: “We have 24 babies in the stable which is great. This will make the stable competitive but keep things manageable. Back in March I had only 18 horses and I was getting worried, but things have turned and we’re excited about the future.”
Alongside the stable stalwarts like Francis Carruthers and Fiona Carmichael, Jonathan Bloch now has shares in 10 horses in the yard, and new owner Gerdi van der Merwe owns William’s Woman, who was his first winner.
In 2019, Michelle partnered with her father, Harold Crawford, who took out his trainer’s licence in 1976 and has now retited. They famously won the Durban July and the Cape Met with Kommetdieding, who is now a stallion. Other notable performers from a consistently small string included the exported Grade 2 Drill Hall Stakes winner Perovskia, Listed and Graded stakes performers Secret Identity, Time For Love, Time For Love and Cala Muretta.
