March 2025 News

Brett Crawford – Treble at Durbanville

 

It has been well documented that Crawford Racing has had a lean start to horses entering the winner’s enclosure in the first two months of 2025. However, in the second half of February, the stable were showing definite signs of life, with a steady, albeit slow, flow of winners as well as horses that were placing in Graded races.

March, however, was very different. Winners were plentiful from the stable not only in Cape Town (Kenilworth and Durbanville racecourses) but also in Gauteng (Turffontein and the Vaal). The month started with a bang with the stable bagging a treble at the first meeting of the month at Durbanville.

The treble was backed up with Chasingtherainbow coming from the clouds to storm home at Durbanville a couple of days later, coupled to Captain West prevailing in a thrilling finish at month end both brilliantly ridden by Louis Mxothwa. Sandwiched in-between those winners was a double at Kenilworth with Umfula following up his impressive Maiden win with another win in Handicap company and North Point breaking his Maiden against a strong field on the same day.

 

 

On Wednesday, the 5th of March 2025, Crawford Racing started the month in scintillating fashion by saddling a treble as racing switched back to Durbanville after the Summer Season had concluded at Kenilworth racecourse. Yes, all three winners were having their first win, but all maidens must start by breaking their duck and the three winners at the beginning of March were no different. Hoerikwaggo, Dubbelosix, and Strawberry Thief were equally impressive on the day.

Hoerikwaggo, a daughter of Canford Cliffs, running in the silks of owners Ridgemont and Mr Devin Heffer, powered to a good win under the strong urgings of Richard Fourie. She sat just off the leaders as the field spun into the stretch coming forward strongly over the last 200M to collar the leaders just short of the line to win going away.

Hoerikwaggo wins her Maiden readily under the Richard Fourie drive

 

 

Next up was the sone of Vercingetorix, Dubbelosix. Since stepping up in distance, he had been knocking the door down to try and break his Maiden, and back to one of his favoured tracks and dropping down a furlong from his last run and with Louis Mxothwa in the saddle, he looked primed.

He did not let his supporters down stalking the pace about five lengths off the leaders as the field turned into the stretch. He quickened well taking the lead as the field surged past the 200M, maintaining a strong gallop all the way to the line to give the stable the double on the day.

Dubbelosix completes the double under the strong urgings of Louis

 

 

Richard Fourie was at his brilliant best to bring home the treble for the stable in the following race. Strawberry Thief had been very unlucky in her penultimate start, coming with a strong late run before running onto the horses in front of her forcing Richard to snatch her up short of the post and losing all her momentum.

On this Wednesday afternoon at Durbanville there were no traffic problems as she came storming down the centre of the track to collar the leaders in the show of the post and win going away. A brilliant win for a what seems like a very progressive filly.

Strawberry Thief storms home under the Richard drive for a brilliant win

The win of Strawberry Thief completed a brilliant treble for a very professional and well run stable. Yes, the first two months of 2025 were lean when compared to the overall strike rate of the stable, but the 05^th of March could well have marked a significant turning point for the stable.

 

 

 

James Crawford – Double at Turffontein, a Grade One & More

 

 

The stable of James Crawford has not had many carded runners in March as he has been readying himself to move his horses to Cape Town at the end of this season when Brett moves across to the international waters of Hong Kong.

However, despite the relatively small number of runners being carded, the winners continued through the month at a steady pace, with James saddling five winners across the Vaal and Turffontein racecourses.

Devilishygorgeous started the month in good fashion, winning in a canter under a very good front running ride from Siyabonga Mkhumbuzi, coming home just under five lengths clear of the field.

 

Devilishygorgeous wins a canter with Groom Siyabonga Mkhumbuzi in the saddle

 

 

Next up was on the 15^{th of} March, with James saddling a double, with title chasing Gavin Lerena bringing home Apache Chief and Pomodora’s Jet for the stable. Apache Chief was the first winner, at the prohibitive odds of 3/10 but never giving his supporters any anxious moments.

The son of Lancaster Bomber, previously racing in Cape Town for the Eric Sands stable, tracked the pacemaker as the field took the turn into the stretch. As they entered the top of the stretch, Gavin angled him to the outside and after a couple of backhanders, the favourite extended beautifully to win under the hands.

Apache Chief wins in a canter under the hands  

 

 

Probably one of the most improved horses in the stable, Pomodoro’s Jet, completed a double for the stable over 1400M on the Turffontein Standside track. Pomodoro’s Jet broke well, and Gavin just allowed him to slide onto the rail, tracking the pacemaker around the turn.

As the field entered the straight, Gavin pushed the button, but the acceleration was not instantaneous as he hit a flat spot as Gimmeanotherchance was cruising in the centre of the course. However, the Khaya Stables owned gelding dug deep as Gavin changed his stick at the 200M, drawing level with the second horse and eventually drawing away in the shadow of the post.

Pomodoro’s Jet wins in a stirring duel under strong ride from Gavin

 

 

The stable ended a brilliant month, with Kindred Heart winning in the week leading up to Champions Day, under a strong and clever ride from Ryan Munger.

Kindred Heart wins well under a strong ride from Ryan Munger

The stable ended the month in scintillating fashion with a Grade One victory on Champions Day on the 29th of March. Once again, Gavin Lerena was on duty to bring home Fatal Flaw to win the Grade One TAB Empress Club Stakes with a flawless display of front running tactics.

A wonderful month for the stable culminating in a Grade One win for one of the most consistent fillies racing in South Africa. Owners Assm Racing Syndicate (Nom: Mr A Chadha) daughter of New Predator is showing that those seconds to superstar filly Quid Pro Quo was no fluke.

 

 

Louis, Richard, the Captain & the Strawberry Thief

 

CAPTAIN WEST

Age:       3 (at last run)

Sex:       g

M/Rating:            97 (at last run)

Owner:                Mr P M Murugasa

Breeder:              Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud

Trainer:                B/J Crawford

Breeding:            One World – Weston by Philanthropist (USA)

Colours:             Green, black epaulettes, blue sleeves and collar, green cap

Captain’s West is a lightly raced son of One World, having had only six runs, but the formlines have been very strong. When breaking his Maiden, Captain’s West beat On My Honour by almost five lengths, with the Glen Kotzen trained son of Gimmethegreenlight subsequently won three races in Gqeberha.

In his next run he ran third to Radiccio, who has since reeled off a hat trick of wins in Gauteng. His next two runs were in a Grade 3 and Grade 2 races, the Grade 2 being the Punter’s Cup where he ran fourth to King’s Plate winner One Stripe.

 

 

In his next two races he finished midfield on both occasions but in the process his merit rating dropping from a 103 to a 97. His last run saw him back to his best. Over1400M at Durbanville he started a very generous 3/1 in the betting for the Jason Murugasa owned three-year-old son of One World.

From a wide draw on a gloomy day, Louis Mxothwa jumped well and placed Captain West just behind the pacemaker World of Pleasure. As the spun into the straight, Louis started asking Captain West to overhaul the frontrunner and in a sterling duel which stretched the entire length of the straight, Louis was at his brilliant best to collar the Marshall inmate on the line.

Louis and assistant trainer Rob Barrett were both of the opinion that the Captain did not get up in time, but the horse’s will to win coupled to Louis’s strength and brilliance in the saddle was enough to see Captain West do enough to snare the pacemaker on the line. 

Captain West shows courage and determination to win under the Louis drive

STRAWBERRY THIEF

Age:       3 (at last run)

Sex:       f

M/Rating:            76 (at last run)

Owner: Ridgemont (Nom: Mr Craig Kieswetter) & Mr Devin Heffer

Breeder:              Ridgemont Highlands

Trainer: B/J Crawford

Breeding:            Canford Cliffs (IRE) – Crimson Blossom (IRE) by Danehill Dancer (IRE)

Colours:             Dark green, blue sleeves, white cap

In the post-race interview Richard Fourie said everything that could go wrong went wrong regarding this filly’s win today. She was drawn at eleven over 1800M at Durbanville which is a negative for any horse. The track was running like lightning, and it was a widely held view that if you were not on speed coming around the turn, you would struggle to place never mind win.

 

 

So, what did Richard do; he decided to let her come out of the gate at her own pace, allowed her to drop to last and at the 400M was still idling at the back of the field. However, Richard is not the champion jockey of South Africa for no reason.

As the field passed the 400M he pulled the filly to the centre of the track, balanced her and started asking for her effort. She responded readily, and with Richard at his brilliant best she powered to the front just inside the last 50M to win going away.

Strawberry Thief had been very unlucky in her penultimate start, coming with a strong late run before running onto the horses in front of her forcing Richard to snatch her up short of the post and losing all her momentum.

On this Wednesday afternoon at Durbanville there were no traffic problems as she came storming down the centre of the track to collar the leaders in the show of the post and win going away. A brilliant win for a what seems like a very progressive filly.

Strawberry Thief comes from last at the 400M to break her Maiden in scintillating fashion

Horse of the Month – Fatal Flaw wins the G1 TAB Empress Club

FATAL FLAW

Age:       3 (at last run)

Sex:       f

M/Rating:            115 (at last run)

Owner: ASSM Racing Syndicate (Nom: Mr A Chadha)

Breeder:              Mr L M F Wernars

Trainer: B/J Crawford

Breeding:            New Predator (AUS) – Alinga (AUS) by Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE)

Colours:             Grey, dark blue epaulettes and sleeves, dark blue cap, grey stars

Fatal Flaw has run eleven times, only running out of the top four twice in her career. A R210 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Fatal Flaw took her earnings to R1 978 688 with her fourth win and five places from her eleven starts with two of those second places being behind the soon to be globetrotting equine superstar filly, Quid Pro Quo.

 

 

Fatal Flaw has been in James’s care for her entire career and has provided him with a Grade Two and Two Grade One victories, an incredible feat for a trainer still in the fledgling stages of his training career.  James was in high school when Brett won the stables first TAB Gr1 Empress Club Stakes with Thunder Dance. Fast forward to Saturday, and James had the pleasure of saddling the family’s next winner in this prestigious race, with Fatal Flaw leading from start to finish to claim victory in 2025.

Back in April 2013, Hong Kong’s current star Karis Teetan rode the Klawervlei-bred Thunder Dance to victory for the Crawford yard under the lights on a memorable Friday evening at Turffontein Racecourse. The Grade One TAB Empress Club on Champions Day though belonged to Fatal Flaw and Gavin Lerena.

She jumped beautifully showing good gate speed and coming across from the wide draw as Gavin eased her across allowing her to take up the running and allowing Gavin to dictate the fractions. He gave her a breather as the field spun into the stretch. She continued to gallop relentlessly down the lane, pulling out a two-length lead as the field went through the 400M.

Fatal Flaw wins her second Grade One on Champions Day

 

 

Although second placed Spumante Dolce tried to reel her in inside the last 200M, she continued to gallop strongly all the way to line under a driving ride from Gavin, and she hit the line just over a length clear of the second horse.

James admitted he would have preferred one prep run, but Fatal Flaw was having none of that, powering home under the expert guidance of Gavin. Bred by Laurence Wernars, the winner, who races for ASSM Racing Syndicate (nominee Mr A Chadha) will now sit down with Crawford Racing and plot the way forward for their brilliant filly.