April 2025 News

Crawford Racing Continues to Tick over in April – Seven Winners

The reasons as to why racing in Cape Town only resumed for April on Monday the 14th of April has been well documented, suffice to say that it seems as if all the issues related to the abandonment of the meetings in the first fortnight of the month has been amicably resolved. Since the resumption, there have been four meetings with Crawford Racing securing a double at every meeting prior to the last meeting of the month.

The last meeting in April saw only four runners from the stable with the stable still ending with a 25% strike rate and therefore ending the month with a very good seven winners in a month in which there were only four racemeetings in Cape Town.

The month of racing started with Crawford Racing and Louis Mxothwa bringing home two winners on the day. Interestingly, both winners were for the in-form owners, the Murugassa and Sherrell families, but both winners were not top of the bookmakers’ boards.

The first winner on the 14th was Mr Murugassa’s 3-year-old filly Angel’s Oasis. After starting her career well with two placed finished in her first three races, she seemed to lose her way in her subsequent starts. However, on the first Cape Town racemeeting of April, she regained her form and confidence of that first three outings, winning under a brilliant frontrunning ride from Louis Mxothwa.

Angel’s Oasis breaks her Maiden under a brilliant frontrunning ride by Louis

14 April 2025 – Angel’s Oasis breaks her Maiden – Winning Interviews

If Angel’s Oasis’s win was a masterclass from the front, Gimmeathrill’s win was a masterclass in timing a run to perfection. Again, it was Louis who showed all his class, strength and determination to get Gimmeathrill nose in the right place on the line for the Sherrels’ and Gwen MacGregor.

Louis times it to perfection as Gimmeathrill breaks his Maiden

14 April 2025 – Gimmeathrill Winning Interviews

At the next Cape Meeting on April 16, Crawford Racing scored another double. Lady Look Alike looked the part for “in form” owners the Sherrell’s. Drawn 2 in a sixteen-horse field, jockey Louis Mxothwa gave her the perfect ride.

Showing good speed from the gate he had her handy all the way into the straight and then allowed her to sidle up to the frontrunner on her own, pushed the button at the 200M to hold off the fast-finishing Beach Queen. A good win for a consistent filly.

Lady Look Alike wins in workmanlike fashion under a top ride from Louis Mxothwa

16 April 2025 – Lady Look Alike Winning Interviews

The stables second winner of the day was Chasingtherainbow which is chronicled as the second article in the Newsletter.

The stables next two winners were on the 21^st of April, where North Point and Show Off both won, the former giving JP Van Der Merwe an armchair ride, the latter making Richard Fourie work for his riding fee. Both wins are also detailed in the Newsletter.

The final winner of the month was on the April the 28^th meeting, where the stable ended the month with their seventh winner in the form of another Mrs D J Sherrell & Mr L Sherrell’s Dubbelosix. Louis gave the son of Vercingetorix an exemplary ride, jumping well and settling midfield around the turn.

He gave Dubbelosix his head as the field passed the 400M, with the cousin of James Bond extending beautifully to reel in the pacemaker. The more Louis asked the more he was given, with Dubbelosix cruising past the leaders as they went through the 200M and extending as they hit the line.

Dubbelosix wins well for the Sherrels’ under Louis Mxothwa

28 April 2025 – Dubbelosix Winning Interviews

Another month and seven winners for a stable that is ticking over as the Natal Champions Season starts to click into gear. After a relatively lean spell in the first couple of months of 2025, hard work and dedication has ensured that the stable is now producing winners at every Cape Meeting.

Now that the stable has clicked into a higher gear, there is every reason to be optimistic that this form will be carried forward into the Natal Season whilst continuing to provide regular visits to the winners’ enclosure in Cape Town.

Horse of the Month – Chasingtherainbow

When your Grandad tells you he would like you to use your expertise and advise him as to which racehorse to buy at a Yearling Sale you might feel a little bit of pressure. When he adds that he will not only buy the horse but will also stable the horse with your Racing Yard, then the pressure will increase.

CHASINGTHERAINBOW

Age:  3 (at last run)

Sex:  g

M/Rating:  78 (at last run)

Owner:  Mr P Barrett

Breeder:  Normandy Stud

Trainer:  B/J Crawford

Breeding:  Potala Palace – Lady Of The Fleece by Argonaut

Colours:  Turquoise blue and purple quartered, white sleeves and cap

Rob kindly provided me with pictures of the feisty & talented son of Potala Palace at the Sales.

Not so for Crawford Racing assistant trainer Rob Barrett. He not only casually picked Chasingtherainbow as a buy for his Grandad Paul, but then the stable got to work training the son of Potala Palace to a third place and two wins in his first five starts. Bred by Normandy Stud, Chasingtherainbow’s first three runs down the straight at Kenilworth were good.

Green on debut he finished just over 7 lengths off Heal and Soul at long odds. He then followed that up with a good third to the Kotzen trained Circumbendibus and then ran just under 4 lengths off the highly rated Des McLachan inmate Jet Force with all three runs being down the lane at Kenilworth. At his fourth run Crawford Racing decided to put him around the turn at Durbanville.

A step slow as the gates crashed open, Louis Mxothwa decided not to bustle him forward, just allowing him to find his stride as he slotted in at the back of the field. He allowed Chasingtherainbow to corner at his leisure before giving him a couple of backhanders as the field entered the straight.

As the field approached the 400M Louis started getting stuck into him as he started weaving in and out of the traffic. At the top of the straight he was about eight lengths off the leaders and at the 400M he still had to make up approximately four to five lengths. However, at the 200M the afterburners were seen in full effect as he burst forward between horses to win a very good race under a strong and balanced ride from Louis.

Chasingtherainbow flashes up between horses to break his Maiden at his 4th start

His second win was even more impressive than his Maiden win. Unfancied in the market, a jockey change from Louis to Kabelo Matsunyane, first time out of the Maidens and first time around the turn at Kenilworth there were numerous factors working against him.

 Competing against a field of rising three-year-olds and battle-hardened older horses from a middling draw, he jumped well, slotting in behind midway as they took the turn. He maintained a steady gallop around the bend despite cornering a touch unsteadily and as the field spun into the stretch Kabelo decided to give him some fresh air on the outside of the field.

As they came through the 400M he still had 4/5 lengths to make up on the frontrunning Hoodia but was really getting into his stride now with a few cracks of the whip. The change of gears at the 200M was the game changer, as he flew up in those last 200M to nab the Andre Nel trained favourite in the shadow of the post.

Chasingtherainbow follows up on his Maiden win with another stunning win

Chasingingtherainbow – Grandad and Grandson Interview

As Rob said in the post-race interview he does give you mini heart flutters during his races, but if he continues to improve as he matures, Mr Barrett and Crawford Racing might have really good days at the races going forward when this son of Potala Palace takes to the track in the coming months.

Ride of the Month – Richard is Showing Off

 

SHOW OFF

Age:  3 (at last run)

Sex:  g

M/Rating:  79 (at last run)

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

Breeder:  Ridgemont Highlands

Trainer:  B/J Crawford

Breeding:  Canford Cliffs (IRE) – Front And Centre by Dynasty

Colours:  Dark green, blue sleeves, white cap

Show Off started his racing career in good fashion, running 3 lengths off the highly rated Des Maclachin three-year-old Jet Force over the Kenilworth straight 1200M. His next two runs were over 1400M and 1500M where he acquitted himself well, running places in both races.

 He was then stepped up to a 1700M at Kenilworth, not only having to concede weight to most of the field and then was drawn twelve in a thirteen-horse field. It was also his first time around the turn at HQ, not a great combination for a three-year-old having his fourth run. However, Show Off, was ready to show off.

His pilot for the day, Championship chasing Richard Fourie, took his medicine on the early part of the race, just allowing the son of Canford Cliffs to settle at the back of the field. As they turned the corner Show Off was twelve lengths off the leaders with Richard allowing him to build from the back of the field under the hands.

As the field cleared the 400M Richard gave Show Off a couple of sharp cracks of the whip, and he responded like a good horse. Richard switched to the inside as they came through the 200M and Show Off now only had to make two lengths on the frontrunner.

He continued to show plenty of determination forging to the front inside the last 100M to win a very good race as Andrew Fortune had brought Tunguska rallying late but Show Off kept finding all the way to the beat Tunguska by just shy of a half a length.

Show Off storms home down the inside under the Richard drive to break his Maiden

21 April 2025 – Show Off Winning Interview

Owners Ridgemont (Nom: Mr Craig Kieswetter) & Mr Devin Heffer own a horse that could go even further as he strengthens and matures. Additionally, they have the services of one of the best in Richard Fourie to aid Show Off in his future races. Show Off, not a name one forgets easily, so remember the name.

One to Watch – Keep Pointing North

 

NORTH POINT

Age:  2 (at last run)

Sex:  g

M/Rating:  (at last run)

Owner: Mr Greg Bortz & Ms Gina Goldsmith

Breeder:  Klawervlei Grooms Trust

Trainer: B/J Crawford

Breeding:   William Longsword – Little Bristol by Speightstown (USA)

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

There is an old saying that a change of scenery is as good as a holiday. I am not sure that applies to a two-year-old son of Willam Longsword, but owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith made the decision to move North Point from the stable of Gareth Van Zyl to Crawford Racing after two runs.

 After moving to James and Brett’s Yard, he was given a two-month break and then put together back to wins both over the Kenilworth straight course, both wins being over 1000M.His Maiden win was impressive, showing good gate speed, he tugged himself to the front and then settled. At the 400M jockey JP Van Der Merwe pulled the trigger and he rocketed away  before being geared down to win by just under four lengths.

16 March 2025 – North Point stamps himself as one for the future breaking his Maiden

16 March 2025 – North Point breaks his Maiden in facile style – Interviews

His second win was equally impressive. He displayed the same gate speed, but this time he settled one back as he tracked the pacemaker. At the 400M he cruised up to the leader still on the bit.

A quick shake of the reigns, a tap down the shoulder and North Point cruised all the way to line to win under the hands by just over three lengths. As commentator Brandon Bailey reiterated, in his opinion the second win was even more impressive than the Maiden win.

21 April 2025 – North Point Strolls in to record his second win

21 April 2025 – North Point follows up on Maiden victory – Interviews

Point North is appropriately named based on his last two wins. He has the look of a two-year-old gelding that is on the up. He should continue to improve as the matures and gains more confidence. He has owners who are passionate about their horses, coupled to a stable that have won the Hollywoodbets Durban July in two successive years.

The son of William Lonsword will continue to benefit from this formidable combination of owners Greg Bortz & Gina Goldsmith and Crawford Racing as his racing career progresses and if he continues to show what he has shown in those back-to-back wins, the only way forward will be onwards and upwards for the appropriately named Point North.