L’Ormarins King’s Plate Day – Crawford Racing Runners

RACE 2 – Sharp Frank B Stakes (Net Rating of 96) – 1000M

SPEED RACER

Age:     4 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          91 (at last run)

Owner:               Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

Breeder:            Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:          Querari (GER) – Word Perfect by National Assembly (CAN)

Speed Racer last two runs were below par. These were disappointing runs for a horse that has raced very consistently throughout its career, having run nine times over the sprinting distances and never having run out of the top three. His penultimate run was at Durbanville, where after being TCO2 tested pre-race, the starter reported he was restless in the stalls and the Vet reported that the Khaya Stables owned gelding was cut into and had an abrasion on his left hind leg. His last run was over 1200M at Kenilworth where he was reported not to be striding out freely by Craig Zackey.

Both those runs can therefore be excused, and if he shows the form he did when he had his second win beating Bluff on Bluff in a Class Four handicap, then there is no reason for the son of Querari to come back to his best form. Showing good pace from an outside draw, Louis Mxothwa tracked the pacemaker Major Appollo all the way down the lane, ranging up to take up the running 400 metres from home. Runner up Bluff on Bluff then made his run to the inside of the Crawford Racing inmate, drawing to within a half a length of Speed Racer at the 200M who then reasserted, pulling away to put two lengths between himself and Piet Steyn runner up at the line.

Speed Racer beats Bluff on Bluff down the Kenilworth straight

Bluff on Bluff franked that form by winning on the last Saturday of December beating the highly rated The US of A. Although Speed Racer runs on Saturday in a very competitive handicap he had valid reasons for his last two below par runs, and if you combine his consistency with his penchant for the straight course at Kenilworth, a good draw and in form Craig Zackey in the saddle, he should run a much-improved race on Kings Plate Day on Saturday.

RACE 2 – Sharp Frank B Stakes (Net Rating of 96) – 1000M

THE ABDICATOR (IRE)

Age:     4 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          96 (at last run)

Owner:               Messrs T Gujadhur, L Sherrell, Mrs D J Sherrell & Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs M Slack)

Breeder:            Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:          No Nay Never (USA) – Pink Jubilee (AUS) by Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE)

The Abdicator has won four races, three times at Kenilworth and once at Durbanville and all over the minimum trip. His last two runs have been perplexing though, as in his penultimate run he flyjumped and finished midfield, and last time he jumped awkwardly from the gates, and then had to be steadied off heels as he was regaining his stride.

The poor jump and having to regain his stride at the 800M took their toll at the 200M as he had raced up to be with the pacesetters at that point, as he faded to the back of the field. Prior to these two runs, he had returned from a layoff of five months, running a very good second to the Candace Bass-Robinson trained Captain Arrow.

He jumped well, moving into second as the field spun into the stretch. Captain Arrow was gliding down the inside to take up the running with the Abdicator, who at the finish seemed to be paddling, just keeping going to run a good second.

The Abdicator comes off a rest to run second to Captain Arrow

On Saturday, The Abdicator has his fourth run after his rest, is back over 1000M, and has the in form Kabelo Matsunyane in the saddle. Hopefully his starting stalls challenges have been resolved, and if so, from a good draw of seven down the lane at Kenilworth, his natural speed should see him in the firing line as the field approaches the 200M.

RACE 3 – Franschhoek Motor Museum Winchester Sprint Cup – 1000M

MUFASA

Age:      6 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          105 (at last run)

Owner:               Messrs J F & L M F Wernars, H Willson & Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Dr W A & Mrs N Jacobs)

Breeder:             Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:           What A Winter – Magical Miss by Al Mufti (USA)

Mufasa is very talented. When a horse runs less than a half a length off multiple graded winners Thunderstruck and Isivunguvungu then the owners know that they own a very good horse. He is lightly raced for a six-year-old and prefers the good going in the summer months as opposed to the softer going when the rains come. In 2023, he reeled off a hat trick of wins in good going at Durbanville and Kenilworth racecourses respectively, in the process pushing up his merit rating from a 91 to a 99.

Another win in at Durbanville in September saw him raise his bat in merit rating terms. Then came the third place to Thunderstruck and Isivungavunga over 1000M in the Winchester Sprint Cup. The former went on to win three races since that win, the latter went on a widely publicised globetrotting adventure. In January of 2024, Mufasa ran a very good race to finish just over three lengths off multiple Grade One winner Dyce, in the Cape Flying Chapionships, carrying level weights.

His penultimate run was a very good fourth place to the highly rated Vaughan Marshall inmate Questioning in a Cape Sales Stakes. He raced down the middle of the course throughout, quickening well as they approached 200M just fading in the last 50M to finish in fourth. In his last run in a full field of 20 runners and him being drawn 16, all the racing took place down the inside running rail with the horses drawn on the outside all paddling in the last 200M, and the majority of them finishing in the bottom half of the field.

On Saturday he runs over the easier Kenilworth 1000M, is drawn down the middle at 9 in a much smaller field has Kabelo Matsunyane in the saddle and has his second run after a layoff of 32 weeks. If he runs to his best form to Dyce, Thunderstruck and Isivunguvungu with a handy galloping weight of 56kg he might be a very good value bet in this very competitive Sprint Cup.

RACE 4 – Cartier Sceptre Stakes (Grade 2) – 1200M

ARTISTE

Age:     3 (at last run)

Sex:      f

M/Rating:          95 (at last run)

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

Breeder:            Ridgemont Highlands

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:          Canford Cliffs (IRE) – Dancer’s Daughter (GB) by Act One (GB)

Artiste is a lightly raced 4-year-old filly. She is a two-time winner, breaking her Maiden in April 2024, and then following that win two runs later with another win in a Juvenile Plate in July. From a wide draw, she showed good gate speed to sit on the heels of the leaders as the field came into the straight. She quickened well under Gareth Wright to hold off the sustained challenge of In the Green Zone passing the post with just over a length to spare at the line.

Artiste rallies strongly to win well at Durbanville from a wide draw

She was then given a break from racing of five months, returning to the track in a Cape B Stakes. She took up the running strongly as the field approached the 200M, but the break meant she probably needed the run, crossing the line in 3^rd place just over two lengths off the winner.

On Saturday she is thrown into the proverbial deep end running in the Grade 2 and against much stronger than she has faced thus far in her career. However, she would have sharpened up considerably from her last run, has a good draw of seven and has Gareth Wright in the saddle again and has good gate speed to sit up with the pace. With a handy galloping weight of 55.5kg, she could just be the fly in the notorious ointment and is definitely a horse to watch in a strong Cartier Sceptre Stakes.

RACE 5 – Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy (Grade 2) – 1800M

THE FUTURIST

Age:     6 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          104 (at last run)

Owner:               Pete & Janet Carolin, Mrs G MacGregor, Mr A G & Mrs D Turk

Breeder:            Mr P F Carolin

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:          Futura – Black Mischief by Black Minnaloushe (USA)

The definition of Enigma is a person or thing that is mysterious or difficult to understand. The Futurist is the very definition of an enigma, a horse who runs one way, fast. He will jump and just run, and if he is in the mood, will beat Pacaya by almost ten lengths in the Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes over 1950M at Kenilworth, setting a course record in the process.

The Futurist wins the Grade 3 Pocket Power Stakes in spectacular fashion

Since that win in the Grade 3, he has travelled to Natal and Gauteng to contest races in those centres, finishing midfield in all three races. On Cape Guineas Day, Saturday, the 14^{th of} December, The Futurist was in the mood and decided to put his best foot forward in the Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap, a Grade 3 event over 1800M.  Drawn widish at seven, he jumped a step slow out of the gates so had to work a little harder to get to the lead.

However, after 400m he had taken the lead and was now in full stride as he stretched his lead to four lengths as they started taking the turn. Anthony Andrews was now allowing him to stride as they spun into the stretch, and he increased that lead to six lengths as they entered the long Summer Course straight.

He continued to lead as the field thundered the lane, still having a two-length advantage going through the 200M and although he started feeling his early exertions as they went through the 100M, but just kept finding all the way to the line to record the second Grade three win of his career.

The Futurist gallops resolutely to record his second Grade 3 victory

The Futurist has a mind of his own and can beat good horses when he is in the mood. He has struck up a good relationship with Anthony Andrews, who seems to have a telepathic connection with him and the pair have now won two Grade three races in seven months by a combined margin of ten lengths.

He might be coming to the end of his racing career, but the way he runs, and the way Anthony seems to connect with him, there is no reason to think that if entered in the right race, ridden by the right jockey he could very well win another race or two. He has to be in the mood though, and if that zest for racing continues to flow through him, then watch out.

 

RACE 5 – Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy (Grade 2) – 1800M

ZAPATILLAS

Age:     

6 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          119 (at last run)

Owner:               Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert), Kalinga & Mrs P A Isdell

Breeder:             Varsfontein Stud

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:           Master Of My Fate – Moggytwoshoes by Mogok (USA)

Zapatillas is seven years old but tomorrow only has the 20^th start of his career. He has won three races, all within his first seven runs. After starting his career with back-to-back wins, winning his Maiden and then winning the Listed Sophomore Sprint at his second start he has since raced mainly in Feature races, winning the Grace 2 World Sports Betting Guineas in his seventh start over the tight Greyville circuit.

The next couple of years was peppered with injuries and eight months ago he made his reappearance for 2024, after a layoff of ten months from July 2023. He has slowly built up his confidence and race fitness, and his last run, in the Grade 3 Cape Mile, he was touched off in the shadow of the post by the Gavin Lerena/Vaughan Marshall combination of Rascallion.

Zapatillas runs a courageous second in the Grade 3 Cape Mile

Jumping from barrier three, he showed good gate speed to sit up with the pace all the way around the turn. As they entered the straight Kabelo Matsunyane slid him three wide into the stretch, slaloming through the gaps and just succumbing to the sustained late run by Rascallion in the last 50m of the race.

With the extra 200M on offer tomorrow and the long run in down the Summer Course straight, Kabelo will not have to bustle him at the top of the straight as he had to do in his last run. He will be able to allow the son of Master of My Fate to build up gradually and if he finds the gaps timeously will be running strongly at the leaders as the whips are cracking in the last 200M as the field thunder down to the winning line.

 

RACE 7 – L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Grade 1) – 1600M

ORIENTAL CHARM

Age:      4 (at last run)

Sex:      c

M/Rating:          125 (at last run)

Owner:               Messrs Greg Bortz & Leon Ellman & Ms Gina Goldsmith

Breeder:             Cheveley Stud

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:           Vercingetorix – Souk by Greys Inn (USA)

After breaking his Maiden on debut, Oriental Charm had been penciled in form studiers little black books. His next three runs were all over the sprint trips, but then in his next six runs he won three races, including the Grade 2 World Sports Betting 1900M, the Grade 3 Dolphin Cup, and the pinnacle of the Natal season, the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The son of Vercingetorix was then given a well-deserved five-month rest. He made his reappearance in the Grade 2 Green Point Sakes, against a small but very competitive field which included the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July ante post favourite, Green With Envy. Jumping from a five draw, Oriental Charm showed no signs of rustiness as he took up the running as the field took the bend.

He continued set the pace as jockey JP Van Der Merwe slid him across to the outside running rail at the top of the straight. He continued to gallop relentlessly all the way to the line, displaying all the grit and determination of a champion and hitting the line full of running. As JP said in the post-race interview, he was still looking a little underdone in condition, so there seems to be plenty to work with for Crawford Racing as the Cape Season progresses.

An “underdone” Oriental Charm is all class winning the G2 Green Point Stakes

On Saturday he takes the next step to the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, when he runs in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Grade 1) – 1600M at Kenilworth Racecourse. He will probably still not be 100% as Crawford Racing steps him for his ultimate goal, but there is no reason to underestimate the class and determination of the Oriental Charm/JP Van Der Merwe combination.

Owners Messrs Greg Bortz & Leon Ellman & Ms Gina Goldsmith’s might have another flashback to the Hollywoodbets Durban July come 16:15 pm tomorrow, because Oriental Charm’s brilliance might just be enough for another victory in the Feature Race on this prestigious raceday.

 

RACE 7 – L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Grade 1) – 1600M

AT MY COMMAND

Age:      5 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          119 (at last run)

Owner:               Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

Breeder:             Varsfontein Stud

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:           Querari (GER) – Imperious Girl by National Emblem

At My Command’s run in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint at Scottsville Racecourse was a brilliant run (he’s the third nose from the left in the above picture). He had raced very well over the middle distances in graded races, but now that he reverted to a Grade 1 sprint race, he could not go with the sprinters early in the piece.

However, as his motor kicked in halfway down the straight, he was seen weaving in and out of the traffic running on strongly in the last 200M. It can be argued that if Craig Zackey (who has retained the ride on Sunday) had not ridden him with a loose rein in the last 50M he could have had enough in hand to beat the winner of the race, Lucky Lad (the fourth nose from the left in the below picture).

At My Command in the GR1 Golden Horse Sprint

At My Command has run three times since that run. running in the Grade Two Post Merchants 1200M at Greyville racing from a horrendous 13 draw, where he ran a very good second to the Lucinda Woodruff inmate, Café Culture.  Next up was the Grade One Mercury Sprint running a very good fifth, just over a length off stable companion Surjay.

The third run was back in Cape Town, running a good third to Vaughan Marshalls budding One World superstar Questioning in the Grade 3 Kuda Matchem Stakes over 1400M at the tight Durbanville circuit. His last run, however, was poor relative to those three good runs where, being drawn on the wrong side of the straight course he showed none of his customary dash to finish downfield in his first run after a three-month rest.

On Saturday he takes his place in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Grade 1) – 1600M. The field is filled with current and rising superstars, but At My Command has the services of the in-form Kabelo Matsunyane in the saddle as he steps up in distance from the sprints he has been campaigning over. The son of Querari comes into this race having blown away the cobwebs of his first run after the rest, and given a good run in transit could upset the horses at the top of the bookmakers betting boards.

 

RACE 9 – A Case Of You Middle Stakes – 1400M

BIG UNIT

Age:      4 (at last run)

Sex:      g

M/Rating:          86 (at last run)

Owner:               Mr P M Murugasa

Breeder:             Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud

Trainer:               B/J Crawford

Breeding:           Master Of My Fate – Stormz Emprez by Second Empire (IRE)

Some horses need time to develop, others, despite displaying natural speed, require racing over the middle distances, and other colts are naughty and require the unkindest cut of all. Big Unit’s first six races yielded one win, over 1250M at Durbanville.

After those six races and now five months older, Crawford Racing decided to switch the Master of My Fate gelding to racing around the turn, and in his next five runs he ran in the top five places in all those runs. The unkindest cut of all happened in May 2025 after which Big Unit was given a four-month rest.

Since that rest and gelding he has run four times for two wins, a second to Aristotle and two fourth place. His first win after the gelding was at Durbanville over 1400M, where he contested a Class 4 (highest benchmark @ 60kg rating 80) race. Under a forceful driving ride from Louis Big Unit responded to the whip in the last 100M, flashing up and putting his nose down when it mattered to win a very courageous race.

Big Unit wins first run back after a gelding and a rest

His next win was more impressive than his previous one. Drawn twelve over 1400M at Kenilworth on the winter course is a challenging task for any horse. Kabelo Matsunyane, who rode him on debut, was in the saddle again for this run. At the jump Kabelo took his medicine and just slotted in at the back of the field and as they rounded the turn, Big Unit needed to make up eight lengths on the leaders. As the gaps opened in the last 400M the Master of My Fate gelding readily made up the ground and was full of running as they hit to the line to win an exceptionally good race.

Big Unit wins from a wide draw under a brilliant ride by Kabelo

His next run was a class 3 handicap over 1400M on Fillies Guineas day where he ran a good race to finish fourth. On Saturday he runs in an open Handicap race which brings down the curtain on King’s Plate Day. Kabelo will be on board again for Jayson Murugasa and will have a length of the long Summer Course straight to negotiate a passage to the finish line, thereby giving the upwardly mobile Crawford Racing runner the opportunity to win the fifth race of his career.