October 2026 Round Up

Crawford Racing – Shifting Gears as Summer Approaches

The tiptoeing is over. Over the last two months, I have written about Crawford Racing easing into the new season with only a handful of nominations, but October was when the yard shifted gears. With racing at Hollywoodbets Durbanville for the month of October before moving to Kenilworth from 01 November, nominations picked up, and so did the winners.

The highlights were a debut winner in Future Engagement, a hat-trick for the stable’s flag-bearer for September and October, Boozy Susie, a long-awaited return to the winner’s enclosure for Dubbelosix, who led home a one-two with stable companion Signor Dante, and a Maiden win for Virginia Bluebell.

At the last meeting of October, Mickaëlle Michel marked her return to South Africa by bringing Stitchintime home in a thrilling three-way finish to the opening race. It was a reunion that brought back fond memories of her successful partnership with the stable last season.

In Hong Kong, Brett, who had endured a frustrating start to his second season with multiple near misses, saw the wheel turn. He saddled two winners in eleven days at Sha Tin and with both arms of Crawford Racing now firing, there is plenty to unpack this month, writes Hadley Lakay.

FUTURE ENGAGEMENT

Age: 3 (at last run)

Sex: f

M/Rating: (at last run)

Owner: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

Trainer: James Crawford

Breeding: Futura – Sapphire Gem by Trippi (USA)

Colours: Blue, white square, blue sleeves, and cap

Every season a few horses arrive at the racecourse for the first time with more hope than expectations but leaves with seasoned punters making a note of them in their proverbial black book. Future Engagement was one of those at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on 7 October. Sent off at long odds-on debut, against an odds-on favourite from one of the strongest yards in the country, the young, progressive daughter of Futura showed she is very much one for the future for owners and breeders Drakenstein Stud. As James mentioned in last month’s newsletter, the stable had some exciting three-year-olds still to make their debuts, and there were always going to be questions about greenness and racing around the turn at the country course.

She lined up in a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1250M, in which Miss Arizona, who had already shown plenty of ability in her previous runs, was sent off the 3/10 favourite. Jumping well from the plum draw of one, Future Engagement sat just off the leaders as the field rounded the turn. As the field spun into the stretch, she made her run down the inside under the urgings of Callan Murray.

As this was her first racecourse outing and her first time racing around a turn, she seemed as if she were looking for company as she moved up strongly to the leaders as the field went through the 200M. A couple of flicks from Callan soon had her focused again and she showed good determination to hit the front inside the last 100M and galloped strongly all the way to the line to win a good race by a just under a length.

Future Engagement wins well on Debut

Future Engagement – Post Race Interview

Winning first time out, around a turn, against more experienced and well-fancied rivals says a lot about the temperament and natural ability of the daughter of Futura. With the experience of that debut under her belt, and further improvement to come as she matures, James will map out her path through the divisions for owners Drakenstein Stud. Remember the name Future Engagement – she is one to watch in the months ahead.

VIRGINIA BLUEBELL

Age: 3 (at last run)

Sex: f

M/Rating: 78 (at last run)

Owner: Greg & Gina Bortz

Breeder: Millstream Farm

Trainer: James Crawford

Breeding: What A Winter – Cape Bluebell by Trippi (USA)

Colours: Aquamarine, dark grey seams, aquamarine sleeves, dark grey armbands, striped cap

Some fillies take a little time to put it all together, and James is never one to rush them. Virginia Bluebell’s sire, What A Winter, was a sprinter, so it made sense to keep her to sprint trips for her first five runs. Her last run, her first after a four-month break, was a good one despite a poor draw, finishing third to Georgie’s Girl, who franked that form by winning next time out. Stripping fitter for that run, she came back to Hollywoodbets Durbanville on 21 October for her sixth start, stepping her up to 1400M for owners Greg & Gina Bortz.

Out in a flash from a wide draw of eight in a field of eleven, she showed good gate speed, which allowed race jockey JP Van der Merwe to position her in fourth as the field rounded the turn. As the field straightened for home, JP manoeuvred her to the outside of the course to make her run.

As the field went through the 400M she was racing close to the outside rail and making inroads into the leaders. She drew level with them just inside the 200M and under a driving ride and some left-handed encouragement, she ran on strongly all the way to the line to win by a length and a quarter.

Virginia Bluebell steps up in trip and breaks her Maiden

Virginia Bluebell – Winning Interview

Now that Virginia Bluebell has broken her Maiden, continues to mature and seems to enjoy going a little further, she could keep improving. James is of the opinion that she could even go up to 2000M. With the fitness edge from her comeback run, she could continue to step up in distance for her handicap debut for owners Greg & Gina Bortz.

DUBBELOSIX

Age: 5 (at last run)

Sex: g

M/Rating: 79 (at last run)

Owner: Mrs D J Sherrell & Mr L Sherrell

Breeder: Varsfontein Stud

Trainer: James Crawford

Breeding: Vercingetorix – Captive Lady by Sail From Seattle (CAN)

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

Dubbelosix is a good horse. He broke his maiden at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in March 2025 and followed up with another win at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth the following month. As a three-year-old he then finished just a head behind Gr3 winner Ahead Of The Facts, a run that looked to set him up to take on the better stayers in the country. Since then, however, he has been through a challenging time, not only for his owners Mrs D J Sherrell & Mr L Sherrell, but also for James and the stable. His loss of form saw him have a six-month layoff, and he returned to the racecourse at the beginning of 2026.

He soon began to show glimpses of his better form, and when he was dropped to slightly shorter distances, his confidence started to return. A fifth to Clark Griswold in June and a fourth to Soho Heartthrob over 1600M in July suggested he was heading in the right direction. After a three-month break, James brought him back to the country course looking to end a run of nine races without a win.

Jumping from a good draw of two, Dubbelosix showed early gate speed. Rather than take on the pace, Craig dropped him into second behind Signor Dante, who sat at the sharp end, and the two Crawford runners held those positions as the field rounded the bend. As the field straightened, Craig let Dubbelosix make up a couple of lengths just under the hands. As the field went through the 200M, Craig went for the right-handed stick, and Dubbelosix responded like a good horse. He got the better of Signor Dante by a neck to lead home a one-two for the stable.

It was the third win of his career, his first in eighteen months, and it took a well-judged ride from Craig to get it. Mrs D J Sherrell & Mr L Sherrell have now enjoyed winners with Miss William, From The Get Go and Dubbelosix this season. The son of Vercingetorix has finally shown the spark we knew he had as a three-year-old and seems to have his confidence back now that he has matured. The promise he showed earlier in his racing career could be fulfilled in the summer months, when racing returns to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and its long run-in.

Dubbelosix regains his spark with great win

Dubbelosix – Winning Interview

With the country course meetings at Hollywoodbets Durbanville ending, Crawford Racing now turns its attention to the most important period on the Cape racing calendar, the Summer Season, when racing returns to HQ, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth where the Cape’s most prestigious races are contested. James will be looking to step up his progressive horses through the coming months, carefully planning each campaign so that they arrive at the graded races in peak condition and ready to contest the two highlights of the season, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met.

Several of the yard’s exciting three-year-olds have now had their first taste of the racecourse, and their performances over the summer should give us a clear indication of which of them have the potential to develop into future champions. Success at this level is built as much on planning and preparation as it is on raw talent, and the stable is approaching the summer with a clear strategy in place – The Cape Summer Festival of Racing Awaits.

HOTM – Boozy Susie is very Impressive – Again

When a horse is Horse of the Month two months running, she must have done something special, and Boozy Susie has been a revelation over the last three months. She won in August and again in September, the second win more impressive than the first.

In October, the daughter of Danon Platina went one better, completing a hat-trick of wins at Hollywoodbets Durbanville for owners Hollywood Racing (Nom: Mr A Delpech). She did it with her merit rating already 11 points higher than when her winning run began, and with a change of jockey, as Callan Murray took over from her regular pilot Sean Veale and she did not miss a step.

BOOZY SUSIE

Age: 4 (at last run)

Sex: f

M/Rating: 90 (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

Jumping from a middling draw of five, Boozy Susie was out in a flash, and Callan settled her in the box seat, one off the leader, as the field rounded the turn. As the field spun into the stretch, Callan was quick to give the filly her head, and she made up the leeway in a matter of strides. She hit the front at the 300M, Callan giving her a couple of right-handed reminders to keep her mind on the job. Boozy Susie kept on resolutely all the way to the line, winning by a half a length and reeling off a very good hat trick for owners Hollywood Racing.

Boozy Susie reels off her hat-trick in impressive fashion

Boozy Susie – Winning Interview

In the post-race interview, Callan and James were both full of praise for her hat trick win. Callan said she had won with a ton in hand last time out, and that Sean’s ride on her had given him every confidence that she could continue in that vein today. James added that he was delighted with the win and believed if she continues to improve and mature, she could be aimed at a smaller black-type race in the coming months.

Three wins in a row show a filly who is still improving, and she has now taken to a different jockey without missing a beat. James’s patience in finding her best distance continues to pay off. Boozy Susie looks like a progressive filly who now that she has matured and winning has become a habit, could keep progressing through the divisions for Crawford Racing’s sponsors, Hollywood Racing.

ROTM – Mickaëlle and Stitchintime Wins a Thriller

In 2025, Mickaëlle Michel arrived in South Africa on what was meant to be a working holiday. By the time she left, she had written her name into the history books. Her well documented partnership with Star Major for James and his owners produced victory in the Gr2 WSB Guineas and then the Gr1 Daily News 2000. Her confidence, balance in the saddle, her ability to pick up the pace of a race and her strength in a finish made it a debut season to remember.

STITCHINTIME

Age: 3 (at last run)

Sex: g

M/Rating: (at last run)

Owner: Messrs W K Graham & R J Munien, Mrs Roberta Jansch & Nick & Val McFall

Breeder: Dr V Kritzinger

Trainer: James Crawford

Breeding: Vercingetorix – Patchit Up Baby by Ideal World (USA)

Colours: Orange, teal hoop and cuffs, orange sleeves and cap, teal peak

Stitchintime ran a good race on debut, finishing third over course and distance behind the much-vaunted and very well-bred Justin Snaith three-year-old Above The Law. His second run, in October, coincided with Mickaëlle’s return to South Africa, and what a return it was. He was drawn one, the ideal draw, but was bumped as the field jumped, so Mickaëlle could not get into the position she wanted. Instead, she settled the son of Vercingetorix in midfield as the field traversed the bend.

As the field spun into the stretch, Mickaëlle made her run down the inside of the track and drew level with her main adversaries: Andrew Fortune on Tequila Tango and Aldo Domeyer on Snow Sniper. All three jockeys went for the persuader, extracting everything from their mounts as the post loomed. Inside the last 50M, Andrew’s and Mickaëlle’s mounts were nosing ahead of Aldo, the pair hitting the line as one, in a thrilling heads up, heads down finish to the opening race of the day at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

Right on the line, Mickaëlle and Stitchintime put in their bob at just the right time to win a brilliant race for owners Messrs W K Graham & R J Munien, Mrs Roberta Jansch & Nick & Val McFall. A bad start, no room to work with early and a three-way battle to the line could easily have beaten a young horse having only his second run. It took all Mickaëlle’s balance, timing, and strength to turn it into a win.

Stitchintime breaks his Maiden at his second career start in thrilling fashion

Stitchintime Winning Interview

There is a special bond between Mickaëlle and Crawford Racing. It was James who offered her the ride on Star Major, and together they enjoyed some of the biggest days of the stable’s breakout season. So it was only fitting that her first winner back in South Africa came for James, and that it was the kind of finish that has become her trademark: patient early, decisive late, and at her strongest when it mattered most. After a ride like that, all we can say is – Welcome back to South Africa, Mickaëlle.

BE PART OF THE STITCHINTIME PARTNERSHIP

Stitchintime has already shown plenty of promise, and there is still an opportunity to become part of his racing journey. Shares are available for anyone looking to join the partnership and follow this exciting young colt as he develops.

SHARES AVAILABLE: 20%
PURCHASE PRICE (ex VAT): R1,173,160

10% Share = R117,316
(Includes fees up until the end of November 2026.)

Brett Crawford – Raising the Bar One Winner at a Time

As we wrote in August, Brett’s aim for his second season in Hong Kong was to raise the bar. The opening weeks were challenging, although many of those runners were only narrowly beaten and several made the frame. Margins at Sha Tin and Happy Valley are wafer-thin, and seasoned punters in Hong Kong and South Africa alike knew that all the stable’s hard work would eventually be rewarded.

When the reward came, it brought two winners in eleven days. Both were horses the stable had rehabilitated, the kind of patient turnaround for which Brett and his stable has become known, and both had tested the patience of everyone involved before repaying the faith shown in them by their owners.

ALL ARE MINE

Age: 7 (at last run)

Sex: g

Rating: 41 (at last run)

Owner: Chen Chun Man

Breeding: New Bay (GB) – Ardeola by Manduro (GER)

Ridden by Alexis Badel and jumping from draw one in a field of 14, he settled towards the back. Alexis sat quietly and was still tenth turning for home but now short of room to make his run. However, he did not panic, easing the gelding off the heels of the runners in front, and once he saw daylight, the son of New Bay quickened smartly and swept past the field. He won by just under two lengths, giving Brett his first winner of the season.

All Are Mine gives Brett his first winner for the Season

All Are Mine’s revival did not happen overnight. When he arrived in Brett’s yard, he was rated 37, and after nine runs without a win he had slipped to 26. However, Brett kept experimenting, bringing him back to a mile, and the change was immediate. In October of 2025 he won his first race for Brett, and his rating has been ticking up ever since for owner Chen Chun Man.

SHINYU KOKOROE

Age: 6 (at last run)

Sex: g

Rating: 39 (at last run)

Owner: Tak Sum Syndicate

Breeding: Deep Field (AUS) – Syrahbeel (NZ) by Savabeel (NZ)

Shinyu Kokoroe is a well-travelled gelding. Bred in New Zealand by Waikato Stud, he fetched NZ$475,000 as a yearling. He won twice on the Gold Coast in Queensland under the name Steel King, then moved to Hong Kong, first to David Hayes and later to Brett’s yard. He came to Sha Tin on Sunday 11 October still looking for his first Hong Kong win after 13 starts.

Showing good gate speed under race jockey Karis Teetan, he jumped well and Karis was able to position him in a handy position from barrier four, racing fourth early and third on the turn. He hit the front early in the straight but began to drift away from the rail, so Karis pulled the whip through to his left hand inside the final 100M to straighten him up. The gelding dug in to hold on by a head, galloping resolutely all the way to the line to win by just under a half a length for his owners Tak Sum Syndicate.

Shinyu Kokoroe shows grit and determination to win under a great ride by Karis

Two winners in eleven days show the patience and horsemanship Brett brings to every horse in his yard: a seven-year-old few had backed to win again, and a gelding who had gone 13 starts without a win in Hong Kong. With the stable now on the board and the younger string still to come, we look forward to many more trips to the winner’s enclosure at Sha Tin and Happy Valley.