Snaith Barometer: 191
Target: 222
From Here To Hong Kong: Brett Crawford
Brett Crawford named the winning of the Hollywoodbets Durban July with Winchester Mansion in 2023 as his proudest moment in racing as it was the first Gr 1 for himself and son James as partners and James played a big part in the victory. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Sarah Whitelaw
Trainer Brett Crawford, a longstanding fixture on the South African turf for decades, recently announced he was moving to Hong Kong.
Born in Zimbabwe, the fify-three-year-old Brett has saddled nearly 1500 winners with his charges having won 38 Grade One races between them.
His grandfather was an avid racegoer at Borrowdale Park, but it was his family’s relationship with Zimbabwe’s celebrated Muscutt family that provided his first foray into the racing industry. Crawford’s older brothers were friends with Peter and Paul Muscutt, which sparked his interest in horses.
From the age of 12, he mucked out stables and rode work for Brian Muscutt – father of Peter and Paul – before also gaining experience with Neil Bruss and Shane Rankin.
In 1989, he joined the Mike de Kock stable, before moving to Cape Town where Brett became assistant trainer to Peter Muscutt.
Brett then joined Eric Sands, and was privileged to be involved with the mighty Flobayou. The latter was a true champion whose 18 career wins included two runnings of the G1 Cape Flying Championship and three runnings of both the G1 Mercury Sprint and G2 Merchants Stakes.
Following his time with the Sands stable, Brett spent four and a half years in Durban when working with Dennis Drier.
In 2001, Brett Crawford became Sabine Plattner’s private trainer, with that partnership last eight years. During that stint, he sent out numerous stakes winners and scored a memorable win in the 2003 G1 J&B Met with Angus.
Among Brett’s many accomplishments are winning the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (Winchester Mansion, Oriental Charm) in back to back years, and he also has a trio of Met triumphs to his name, courtesy of Angus, Futura and Whisky Baron.
The long list of top-class thoroughbreds to pass through his yard include such high-class G1 winners as Captain America, Futura, Jackson, Make It Snappy, Run Fox Run, Thunder Dance, and the aforementioned Whisky Baron.
I recently spoke to Brett about Hong Kong and highlights of his career thus far:
SW: How did your move to Hong Kong come about?
BC: I had a client there a few years ago and it was always something I was keen to achieve. I got into the final stages of being accepted in Hong Kong a few years ago, but was just pipped to the position. I did not subsequently reapply, but my CV was left on record. Last year, the Hong Kong Jockey Club approached me and asked if I would be interested in taking up a position.
SW: What is your proudest moment in racing?
BC: Winning the 2023 G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July with Winchester Mansion. It was a first Grade One for myself and (son) James as partners, with James having played a big role in the horse’s preparation.
SW:Who is the best horse you have trained or been associated with?
BC: That is a difficult question, but I would say it is between Captain America, Jackson and Futura.
SW: Do you have a favourite horse that you trained?
BC: Taking Whisky Baron overseas was a hugely important step for me. Travelling overseas gave me great exposure and I learnt a great deal.
SW: Who has been your inspiration in the sport?
BC: I have always aspired to train on the world stage. Mike de Kock was a great pioneer for South Africa, and I have a lot of respect for Mike.
SW: What goals do you have for Hong Kong?
BC: Winning group races remains the key goal.
Crawford’s appointment comes soon after the blistering Sha Tin victory of South African import Mid Winter Wind – one of the first gallopers to enjoy the smoother passage to Hong Kong created by a recent change in quarantine protocols.
His son James, a rising star in the training ranks, will take over Crawford Racing, and Brett has no doubt that James will ensure that it is business as usual.
While Brett will be missed by many in South Africa, he looks set to join the growing list of Southern Africans who have made their mark in Hong Kong.
Eight On Eighteen Makes History At Hollywoodbets Kenilworth
Eight On Eighteen became the first horse since the Syd Garrett-trained Feltos in 1945/1946 to win both the Met and the Cape Derby in the same season. (Picture: Wayne Marks).
Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)
Predictably, the warm order favourite Eight On Eighteen (11/20) followed up on his sensational WSB Cape Town Met (Gr1) victory over 2000m four weeks ago by taking out the R1,5-million Grade 1 SplashOut Cape Derby over the same track trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. But whereas Eight On Eighteen’s “Met” success was hugely impressive, it is probably fair to suggest that his Derby victory over the weekend was “workmanlike” rather than eye-popping, but the 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber got the job done as Champions do.
In his post-race interview, Justin Snaith expressed the view that Eight On Eighteen is still very much on the immature side and a long way from being the finished article. On that basis owners Nick Jonsson and Johan Rupert have lots to look forward to but in the meantime, they can bask in the glory of a second Grade 1 success in the space of a month. On a day when times were generally faster than average, Eight On Eighteen stopped the clock at 126,01 seconds, exactly two seconds slower than standard, and well outside the 123,68 seconds he put up when winning the “Met”.
Now the Handicappers face the unenviable task of trying to make sense of the result, but perhaps they will conservatively accept that Eight On Eighteen ran nowhere close to his official rating of 127 and show some leniency to the placed horses Sail The Seas (103), Garrix (97) and Native Ruler (91). Eight On Eighteen, bred by the Drakenstein Stud, has now won four of his eight starts to date with career earnings of R4,7-million and has been partnered to all his victories by Champion jockey Richard Fourie.
Gimme A Prince was all the rage to win the Grade 2 R600 000 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m and he duly delivered under Craig Zackey in the colours of the race sponsor for trainer Dean Kannemeyer. Gimme A Prince tracked the slower than expected pace set by Royal Aussie and Seeking The Stars but the 6yo son of Gimmethegreenlight quickened smartly when called for his effort and was never really in danger of defeat, although the winning margin fell way short of his spectacular victory in the Cape Flying Championship (Gr1) a month ago. Café Culture stayed on strongly to grab the runner-up berth with Questioning completing the Trifecta.
Earlier in the day, Gimme A Prince’s full brother, The Real Prince, showed a clean pair of heels to his rivals in the R275 000 City Of Cape Town Jet Master Stakes (Listed) over 1600m. See It Again drifted ominously from 5/10 to start at 2/1 as the money came in buckets for The Real Prince who eventually went off as the tote favourite. Disappointingly, See It Again was a spent force approaching the final 300m and The Real Prince accelerated smartly from the back half of the field to win unextended by five lengths. This was his first attempt at 1600m, and the manner of victory suggests that the team of Lady Laidlaw, Craig Zackey and Dean Kannemeyer have plenty more to look forward to with The Real Prince.
Zackey and Kannemeyer also took out the R250 000 Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic (Listed) over 1800m with the progressive Give Me Everything (9/2) for Owner/Breeder Varsfontein Stud. Give Me Everything has now won three on the bounce and she leaves the impression that the further she goes, the better she will be.
The R250 000 SplashOut Prix Du Cape (Gr3) over 1400m produced a thrilling finish with less than a length covering the first four home at the line. Siddeley, yet another Stakes winner for the ill-fated Lancaster Bomber, was given a perfect ride by Gavin Lerena and the Lammerskraal owned and bred 4yo filly stayed on strongly to deny Princess Izzy, Mon Petite Cherie and Mia Moo in a driving finish. The odds-on favourite Roccapina had no luck in running when travelling strongly and searching for a way through down the inside, but for which she would almost certainly have gone close to winning.
The race meeting opened with a super impressive performance by the Gqeberha based 2yo daughter of Canford Cliffs, Direct Hit, who ran her local rivals ragged to land the R1-million SplashOut Cape Of Good Hope Nursery (Gr3) over 1200m in the very quick time of 69,47 seconds – faster than Gimme A Prince recorded when winning the Diadem. Trained by Alan Greeff and ridden by Richard Fourie, Direct Hit was never headed and had nearly three lengths to spare over Winter Snap at the winning post. Direct Hit was bred at Ridgemont who race the filly in partnership with Hollywood’s Devin Heffer.
Craig Zackey completed his four-timer in the final event when steering home the Adam Marcus-trained My Only Weakness to a narrow but cosy victory in this Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m. Sporting blinkers for the first time, the consistent My Only Weakness showed improved resolution to hold off Miraculous by less than half-a-length.
Handicappers Likely To Go Easy On Cape Derby Placed Horses
Gimmethegreenlight Dominated Splashout Cape Derby Meeting
The Dean Kennemyer-trained Khaya Stables-homebred Gimme A Prince stamped himself as the best sprinter in the land by appropriately winning the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m, despite giving weight to the rest of the field. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Cape Breeders
Varsfontein Stud’s outstanding stallion Gimmethegreenlight dominated feature race action at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
However, Vercingetorix still holds a healthy lead of just over R4.7 million over Gimmthegreenlight in the national Sires championship.
Not only did Gimmethegreenlight fillies Give Me Everything, Kinda Wonderful and Goodnessgraciousme run 1-2-3 in Saturday’s Listed Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic, but the Gimmethegreenlight full-brothers The Real Prince and Gimme A Prince won Saturday’s Listed City Of Cape Town Jet Master Stakes and G2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes respectively.
Both The Real Prince and Gimme A Prince were ridden to victory by Craig Zackey for trainer Dean Kannemeyer and owner-breeder Khaya Stables.
Progressive four-year-old The Real Prince became Gimmethegreenlight’s 74th stakes winner when he won Saturday’s Listed City Of Cape Town Jet Master Stakes over 1600m.
The Gimmethegreenlight gelding made a big impression as he stormed home to down a high-class field by five lengths.
Amongst those beaten by The Real Prince on Saturday were G1 winners Al Muthana and See It Again, Guineas winner Zapatillas, and G3 winner Billy Bowlegs.
Out of the Trippi mare Real Princess, The Real Prince has won four of eight starts.
His outstanding full-brother Gimme A Prince picked up his fifth graded victory when he ran out a comfortable winner of Saturday’s G2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m.
Six-year-old Gimme A Prince stamped himself as arguably the best sprinter currently in South Africa when he stormed home to land the Diadem Stakes by three parts of a length.
A two-time winner of the G1 Cape Flying Championship, the brilliant Gimme A Prince has won eight of 17 starts.
Gimmethegreenlight had four winners at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, with his son Green Garnet victorious in the second race on the card.
The champion also dominated proceedings at Saturday’s Cape Breeders’ Awards ceremony. Not only was Gimmethegreenlight crowned Stallion Of The Year, but his offspring Proceed (2 Year Old Colt), VJ’s Angel (2 Year Old Filly), Green With Envy (3 Year Old Colt) and Gimme A Nother (3 Year Old Filly) all picked up awards.
South Africa’s Champion Sire, Leading Sire of 2YOs and Leading Sire of 3YOs last season has 26 yearlings on offer at the Premier Yearling Sale.
Isivunguvungu Puts Up Fine Prep For Dubai World Cup Night
Isivunguvungu (nearest) was a close up third in Saturday’s Turf Dash.
Isivunguvungu put up a fine preparation run for the Gr 1 Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night when staying on for a close up third in the US$117,500 Turf Dash over five furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.
The Graham Motion-trained Narrow Creek Stud-bred What A Winter gelding won the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs on debut in the USA last September and then ran a most unlucky seventh in the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint in early November, before being given a month’s break as he fell ill after the latter race.
So he would have needed Saturday’s run and carried joint second topweight of 120 pounds from the widest draw of all in the nine horse field.
He was in midfield on the outer before the turn and then started making up ground under a hands drive from Samuel Marin.
He started making inroads in the straight after being given a couple of slaps by Marin, but that he needed it was shown in that he didn’t find extra after reaching Horsepower, who was in second place.
The winner Rouki, who was prominent throughout after getting a good break was tiring, but still doing enough on their inside.
Rouki beat Horsepower by half-a-length and there was then a neck back to Isivunguvungu.
It was the perfect run for the five-year-old Isivunguvungu as it should put him in just the right place for his continued preparation towards his April 5 engagement in Dubai.
Meanwhile, the world’s richest race, the US$20 Million Saudi Cup over 1800m on dirt produced possibly the race of the millennium between Forever Young (Real Steel) of Japan and Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) of Hong Kong on Saturday night at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse,.
From an inside draw Romantic Warrior was switched wide for the final turn from a prominent position and after sweeping around he hit the front in the straight ahead of the always prominent Forever Young.
It looked race over as he opened a gap but the imposing Forever Young switched to the outer and his giant stride started eating into the leeway.
The rest of the field were a mile back as they drove to the line with Forever Young prevailing by neck.
It was the seven-year-old Romantic Warrior’s first ever race on dirt, which is the regular surface for four-year-old Forever Young.
In Hong on Sunday the horse regarded as the world’s best sprinter, Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress), stepped up to 1400m for the HK$13 million Gr 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and with Zac Purton out injured Karis Teetan rode him for the second time. Ka Ying Rising found extra from the front to win the weight for age event by 1,50 lengths to record his tenth successive victory and his eleventh overall.
Jockey Punished For Providing Info In Prohibited Circumstance
Sean Veale won the second race on 15th February at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the impressive first-timer Dreamworld (One World), but was later punished for a prohibited practice relating to information given out about the horse for betting purposes. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
NHA Press Release
PROHIBITED PRACTICE
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that it has concluded an investigation into a Jockey providing information to an Owner in relation to having a bet on Race 2 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday, 15 February 2025, which would benefit both parties.
It was established that recorded communication was sent to a registered Owner, by Jockey Sean Veale and that there were at least two similar communications involving betting, that had taken place previously.
Mr Sean Veale and the Owner were charged and elected to sign Admission of Guilts for the contraventions of the Rules as set out below.
21.2 No JOCKEY shall bet on a RACE whether directly or indirectly, either personally or through any other party, nor shall any PERSON or individual place a bet on behalf of any JOCKEY on a RACE. For the purpose of this Rule, “RACE” shall include any race held under the auspices of any FOREIGN RACING AUTHORITY.
71.4 Any PERSON who assists any other PERSON or individual to commit an offence or is a party to or incites or allows the commission of an offence, whether directly or indirectly and whether before or after its commission, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to the same penalties as are competent for a contravention of the CONSTITUTION or the RULE itself.
The specifics of the charges are that Mr Veale bet on a race indirectly, on three separate occasions, including most recently on Race 2 on 15 February 2025.
Mr Veale signed an Admission of Guilt for this offence and was fined the sum of R80 000, R50 000 of which is suspended for a period of two years on condition that he is not found guilty of a contravention of Rule 21.2 or any other Rule pertaining to betting or any corrupt, dishonest, or illegal practice during this period.
The Owner signed an Admission of Guilt for his involvement in the matter in terms of the provisions of Rule 71.4. He was fined the sum of R20 000, of which R10 000 is suspended for a period of two years on condition that he is not found guilty of contravening this Rule or any other Rule pertaining to any corrupt, dishonest or illegal actions during this period.
The matter illustrates the importance of information being made available to all stake holders, which includes the largest stakeholder group, the betting public and not only to a select few, who wish to prosper from inside information.
The NHA encourages all stake holders to advise if they receive any advances from licensed Riders involving betting on races. For this reason, and to illustrate that all information will be kept confidential, the name of the Owner involved has been retained for the internal records of the NHA.
Please see the contact details of the Anonymous Reporting Line as set out below.
Free Call telephone number: 0800 220 777
E-mail: NHA@tip-offs.com
Website: www.tip-offs.com
BSA Cape Yearling Sale Attracted Buyers En Masse
This Syrilla Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt went for the top price of the Sale, R900,000 and was signed for by A G Racing. (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)
BSA press release
The Bloodstock South Africa 2025 Cape Yearling Sale has always been touted as a value sale with something for everyone’s budget and this year delivered just that for vendors and buyers alike.
With only 109 lots catalogued this year, 99 lots were sold through the ring with a phenomenal clearance rate of 98%!
The aggregate sold totalled R22,250,000 with an average of R227,000 which was up 11% and the median of R180,000 remaining flat year-on-year.
Special thanks to all the vendors for their support at this sale with the top vendor being Wilgerbosdrift followed by Varsfontein and Hemel ‘n Aarde.
For a sale of this size, a whopping 53 individual buyers signed for the 99 lots sold by the 17 vendors.
“What was most encouraging, was the diverse buyer bench that arrived en masse from Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, or via the online platform. It was fantastic to see so many attendees at the sale in person at SARDA, the new home of the BSA Cape Yearling Sale” said Michael Holmes, CEO of BSA.
Click here to view the Sale results in detail
Thanks must also go to 4Racing who introduced a horse transport incentive for this sale that enabled owners to subsidize the trip back to Gqeberha and Johannesburg. Many trainers and owners were encouraged by this initiative which has led to the start of boosting the horse population in these regions.
The next Bloodstock SA sale will be the prestigious National Yearling Sale held at the TBA Complex in Germiston, Johannesburg on the 10th and 11th of April 2025.
For more information on the Bloodstock SA National Yearling please contact Ashley de Klerk at ashley@bsa.co.za
Yeni Four-timer, Zackey/Tarry Treble, Moodley Treble
Yeni prevailed by the narrowest of margins in the last race over 2400m on Polar Park (Last Winter) to make it a four-timer for himself and a double for Robbie Sage. (JC Photos)
Muzi Yeni rode a four-timer at Turffontein Standside on Monday, ttwo of them for Robbie Sagem while Craig Zackey rode a treble for Sean Tarry and down at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Serino Moodley rode a trenble, two of them for for MJ Odendaal.
Zackey has opened up a ten win lead in the national championship as he is now on 156 wins to Gavin Lerena’s 146, while Richard Fourie is on 138.
Zackey has achieved it at a strike rate of 18.84%.
Yeni, who was sidelined for a couple of months, is in fourth place on 88 wins at 13.75%.
Moodley is on 43 wins at 11.59%.
Tarry is on 41 wins at 12.69%.
Sage is on 11 wins at 15.71%.
Odendaal is on ten wins at 7.63%.
Today's Question
Which great of the jumps racing saddle became a best-selling writer of thrillers.
The picture gives a clue to the answer.
FIELDS, Tuesday, 25 February
Vaal Classic
Today’s Question Answer
Picture: Dick Francis’ riding career is unfortunately best remembered for the sudden belly flop of the King’s horse Devon Loch in the Grand National with victory in his grasp. (Image: The Guardian)
Dick Francis was one of the greats of the saddle, riding for the Royal Family and becoming champion in the 1953-54 season. He found lasting fame as the best-selling writer of thrillers – often set in the racing world.
The below article was entitled: Dick Francis: How a sporting calamity jump-started a great writing career:
