August 2026 Round Up

James Crawford – SA – Tiptoeing into the 2026/27 Season

The first month of the 2026/27 Horseracing Season was one where, in the main across all the race meetings scheduled for the month, we did not see many horses being nominated for race meetings. Crawford Racing was no exception, where a combination of soft conditions in Cape Town, AHS inoculations and an influx of young, seemingly progressive two-year-olds into the stable enabled James to throttle back on nominations for the month.

In addition, the horses in the stable were inoculated for African Horse Sickness (AHS) and all horses recover over different periods, so patience is a virtue when stepping them out to contest races. With Hong Kong Racing taking a break for the month of August (please see below for a Q&A insert with Brett, Gwen and the stable). James and his SA stable therefore tiptoed into the new season with a limited number of nominations and in this insert we will expand on the winners the stable produced for the Month… writes Hadley Lakay.

FROM THE GET GO

Age: 4 (at last run)

Sex: c

M/Rating: 68 (at last run)

Owner: Mrs D J Sherrell & Mr L Sherrell

Breeder: Varsfontein Stud

Trainer: James Crawford

Breeding: Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Imperious Bride by Dynasty

Colours: Black, white sleeves, black armbands and cap, white peak

A patchy start to the racing career of From The Get Go brought a rethink from James and the owners Mrs D J Sherrell & Mr L Sherrell, which saw him being moved to Gauteng. It is said that a break is as good as a holiday, and when you couple that with the change of scenery, the son of Gimmethegreenlight stepped out at Turffontein for his first run in the new centre.

Ridden by Callan Murray but jumping from a relatively wide draw of six in a small field, he was out a step slow from the gates. Callan did not rush him and settled him behind midfield as the field swung into the stretch. Callan continued to hold him together, asking him to stretch and overhaul the leaders as the field went through the 400M.

From The Get Go did just that and at the 200M he was at the leaders’ quarters, and despite being green momentum was with him, and he rallied strongly down the centre of the track to hit the line strongly, breaking his Maiden in good fashion for the Sherrell’s. In the post-race interview Callan believed there was more improvement to come as he continues to mature.

From The Get Go runs on strongly to win well under a good ride from Callan

BOOZY SUSIE

Age: 4 (at last run)

Sex: f

M/Rating: 79 (at last run)

Owner: Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech)

Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

Trainer: James Crawford

Breeding: Danon Platina (JPN) – Elle Va by Var (USA)

Colours: Yellow, purple stars, yellow cap, purple star

Boozie Susie’s breeding suggests she is at her optimum over 1400M/1600M, and that has been borne out in her races as well. She won her third start over 1400M, then two seconds followed over 1400M and 1600M. She then had some mixed runs before regaining her form in her last two runs and in her latest run recording her second victory for owners Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech).

Jumping from a good draw of 3, she settled quickly under race jockey Sean Veale, allowing her to settle into a nice rhythm just behind the leaders. As the field spun into the stretch Sean made his run down the inside of the track asking her for her effort, which she readily did, drawing three to four lengths clear of the field as they raced through the 200M.

She continued to race well clear of the field but in the last 100M her stride did shorten and the horses running on from the back did eat into her lead, but she continued to gallop resolutely all the way to the line to still have a length in hand at the post. Another good win for the daughter of Danon Platina, who showed loads of courage and determination in recording her second win for the sponsors of Crawford Racing and owners of the winner, Hollywood Racing.

Boozy Susie skips at the top of the straight to record her second win under an enterprising ride from Sean 

Winning Interview – Boozy Susie

James and his stable has tiptoed into the new season with a small number of nominations per race meeting, and there were a couple of meetings where no horses were nominated. However, the stable continues to win races, and as the Winter ends and Spring begins, those NHA vaccinated horses will step forward on to the racetrack.

Then preparations will begin for the highlight of the Cape Season, the lead up to the Cape Summer Season, culmination in Graded Races. Progressive horses will be stepped out in preparation to contest those Graded Races and ultimately be prepared for the pinnacle of the Cape season, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Days, where superstars will strut their stuff, and future champions will be unearthed.

Brett Crawford HK – Highlights for the Season 2025/26

Brett Crawford’s inaugural campaign in Hong Kong was a resounding success, with the seasoned trainer finishing a highly impressive 14th overall on the Hong Kong Trainers’ Premiership log for the 2025/26 season. Operating out of his Sha Tin base, he successfully established himself on the global stage by saddling 28 winners, a 7.8% win strike rate and amassed a significant HK$40,487,654 in stakes earnings.

A Quick Catch-up with Brett, Gwen and the Stable Ahead of the New Hong Kong Season

With the start of the new Hong Kong racing season just around the corner, I caught up with Brett at his Sha Tin base. Fresh off a successful debut season, Brett shared his thoughts, goals, and a few trade secrets on how the stable plans to build on last year’s success.

Q: Congratulations again on a successful debut season in Hong Kong! What are your primary goals for this second year, and how will they differ from your targets last season?

Brett: Thank you! Last year was all about finding our feet, settling into the Olympic stables, and learning how the local system works. This season, the goal is to raise the bar. We want to build on that solid foundation and actively try to be competitive in more Group races. It is incredibly tough at the top tier here, but we want to make sure the Crawford name is a regular feature in those big Sunday feature races.

Q: Looking at your current yard, which of your horses do you believe have the most room to improve this season?

Brett: The exciting part is that we have a young string of horses in the yard right now. Because they are still so young, there is still quite a bit we do not know about them yet, which keeps things interesting! My job, and my primary focus, is to get the absolute best out of every single horse that walks through our stable gates. We do not believe in running horses just for the sake of it; we send them out to win, or at the very least, to show clear improvement with every single run.

Q: Are you planning any adjustments to your training routines, facilities, or stable technology to help unlock that extra improvement?

Brett: In a racing environment as competitive as Hong Kong, you can never afford to stand still. We are constantly monitoring every aspect of our daily routine to see where we can make minor adjustments. Two areas we are focusing on heavily are equine nutrition and sports technology. We use these tools continuously to monitor the fitness and health of our string, always looking for that extra percentage point of improvement to help us gain a competitive edge over our rivals.

Q: How will your race selection strategy look this season with the younger horses—will you be aiming for specific distances, classes, or meetings?

Brett: When you have a younger string that you are still learning about, you cannot be too rigid with your planning. Their schedules and race selections will depend entirely on how they progress through their morning work and barrier trials. We let the horses tell us when they are ready to step up, and we will plan their campaigns around their natural development rather than forcing them into a preset mould.

Q: Are you targeting any specific types of purchases or bloodstock partnerships in the off-season to complement the horses already in your yard?

Brett: Acquiring new talent is always a bit of a balancing act because it depends entirely on the import permits our owners hold, as well as their individual budgets. That said, we have noticed a really encouraging rise in interest in the South African market lately. South African horses have a great reputation for their durability and value, so we are optimistic about doing some good business back home this season to help strengthen our local string.

Q: When you are assessing whether a horse is progressing the way you want, what are the main metrics you look at?

Brett: It is a mix of science and horsemanship. On the technical side, we look closely at their heart rates and recovery times after fast work, which tells us a lot about their cardiovascular fitness. On the practical side, we watch their actual trackwork performance, their general behavior, and how they physically progress from week to week. If a horse is recovering quickly and showing a willingness to work, we know we are on the right track.

Q: Looking further down the road, which horses do you see as your potential stable leaders, and what kind of timeline do you have in mind for them?

Brett: Right now, the standouts showing the potential to lead the yard are Galaxy Patch, Mr Incredible, and PI Legend. They have all shown glimpses of real quality, but we are not going to rush them. The timeline is entirely up to the horses themselves. We want to see how they progress, how they handle the mental pressure of their races, and how they pull up after each competitive run before we make any long-term plans.

Mr Incredible reels off three from four in scintillating fashion

A massive thank you to Brett, Gwen and the stable for indulging me and answering my questions with the forthright honesty that we always expect from the Global Arm of Crawford Racing. We wish all of you only the best for the forthcoming Horse Racing Season in Hong Kong.

EQUUS Awards – Star Major wins Top 3YO Colt of the Year

The 2026 Equus Awards, hosted by 4Racing at The Galleria in Kramerville on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, brought together the best of South Africa’s racing, breeding, and media communities. It was a night of immense celebration, honouring the achievements and standout performers of the 2025/26 racing season.

The headline moment of the night for our team came when Star Major was officially crowned the Equus Champion Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding. Seeing him recognized as the absolute best of his generation was an incredibly proud moment for all his owners, Neville Isdell, Mr J I Bloch, Mrs Prakashni Pillay & Kalinga Holdings (Pty) Ltd. This award represents much more than just a single season of track success; it reflects a hugely talented horse and a resolute team working tirelessly behind the scenes.

Star Major’s championship season was built on a series of top-class performances in some of the country’s most competitive races. Bred by Maine Chance Farms, the son of Querari won three graded stakes during the 2025/26 campaign. His winning run was highlighted by an outstanding double in KwaZulu-Natal, where he captured both the Gr2 WSB Guineas and the prestigious Gr1 Daily News 2000. He also secured the Gr3 Politician Stakes and ran a highly creditable fourth in the Gr1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby.

Star Major and Mickaelle Michel Storm to victory in the Gr2 WSB Guineas

Star Major scores an emphatic victory for his owners in the Gr1 Daily News 2000

For James, who stepped into the spotlight as the sole trainer at the helm of the South African operation this season, this award is a massive milestone. Preparing a horse of Star Major’s calibre to win at the highest level in his very first year is a remarkable display of horsemanship. This victory has firmly established James and Crawford Racing in the training ranks in his own right.

An award like this is only possible with the trust and support of the loyal and enthusiastic owners who believe in the stable’s vision. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Neville Isdell, Mr J I Bloch, Mrs Prakashni Pillay, and Kalinga for allowing us to be part of Star Major’s remarkable story. Their unwavering support and patience throughout the season gave James and his team the perfect platform to guide this special horse to the pinnacle of his division.

Behind every great athlete is a team that works in the shadows, and this championship belongs to every single member of the Crawford Racing staff. From the grooms who feed and care for him daily to the work riders who keep him fit at dawn, their dedication is the foundation of the stable’s success. It takes a massive, collaborative effort to keep a horse happy, healthy, and peaking for major race days, and the team delivered that effort in spades this season.

Watching the son of Querari unleash a devastating turn of foot to beat some of the best three-year-olds in the country in the Graded Races was a proud moment for the whole team. It confirmed that James has not only stepped out of the shadows but is building a legacy of his own, and with Brett flying the flag in Hong Kong, the 2026/27 could be even more successful for the Crawford Racing, the local and global version alike, along with all the current and potential new owners we well as sponsors, Hollywoodbets.

As we let the achievement of this championship season sink in, the entire Crawford Racing team is already looking forward to the future. Winning an Equus Award is a fantastic honour, but it also keeps the stable hungry to achieve even more in the winner’s enclosure. We are incredibly excited about the talent we have in the yard and look forward to welcoming everyone back to the tracks for another highly competitive season of racing for the 2026/27 Season.

Looking Forward to the New Season 2025/2026  

As the starting gates prepare to crash open on a brand-new racing season, there is a real buzz of excitement across the Crawford Racing Team. James and everyone at the yard are busy planning and strategizing, and we simply cannot wait to see our owners and supporters back at the races. The start of a new season is always a special time filled with hope, and we are eager to share every step of the upcoming journey with you.

We are heading into this new year with significant momentum, thanks to what was truly a breakout season for James. Taking sole charge of our South African operation, James guided the team to an incredible top-three finish in the Western Cape standings. With 78 national winners and a highly competitive 11.8% winning strike rate, the stable has proven it will remain competitive across the new season.

To support our stable’s efforts, we work closely with the regional racing bodies that keep our sport running. The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) has a long history of regulating the sport with integrity, tracing its roots back to 1882 when it was first established as the Jockey Club of Southern Africa. Alongside the NHA, regional chapters of the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA) work to manage owner interests and local race-day facilities, helping to ensure our home turf experiences at Kenilworth and Durbanville are always excellent.

To make sure we keep this winning momentum going on the track, we must ensure all our administrative work is sorted out before the season gets too busy. Keeping our licenses, registrations, and memberships up to date is a vital part of running the stable smoothly. Taking care of these details early ensures that James can enter our runners into their targeted races without any last-minute paperwork delays.

This is a gentle reminder to all our owners to complete their annual renewals with the NHA, which oversees registrations, licensing, and Stud Book administration. Every active owner must maintain their registered colours with the authority to participate in races. You can download the necessary renewal forms, check the updated fee schedules, and finalize your registration directly through the official NHA website at https://www.nhra.co.za/.

Crawford Racing – Annual Owners Lunch @ Vascos

One of our absolute favorite traditions at Crawford Racing is spending quality time with the people who make this stable feel like a family. To celebrate the start of the new season and to thank you for your incredible support over the last year, we are hosting our Annual Owners Lunch. It is the perfect opportunity for us to get together, enjoy some great company, and chat about all the exciting plans we have for our horses in the months ahead.

We are gathering at Vascos again this year, a fantastic venue situated at 3 Alfred Street in De Waterkant. The lunch is scheduled for Friday, 18 September 2026, and we will be sitting down together starting at 1:00 PM. We have lined up a wonderful afternoon of good food and relaxed catching up, making it a great way to ease into the weekend.

Because we want to make sure the venue has everything perfectly prepared for us, we need to get our final numbers to them very soon. With that in mind, we kindly ask that you let us know if you will be able to join us by Friday, 4 September.

A quick reply helps us ensure we have a seat and a warm welcome waiting for you. To secure your spot, please RSVP directly to Tammi via email at tammi@crawfordracing.net or message or call on 083 486 2110. We are truly looking forward to a great afternoon together and cannot wait to raise a glass with you to toast the new season!