September 2025 News

Four Winners at the Country Course for James Crawford Racing

A very wet winter is slowly dissipating as we start transitioning to warmer, sunny days, and in horseracing parlance that means firmer going and more racedays in Cape Town. It is also the beginning of the period when trainers start plotting the way forward for their respective horses for the Graded Races towards the end of calendar year 2025/beginning of 2026 when the summer season is in full swing.

James and his stable are no exception and during the month of September they visited the winners’ enclosure on four occasions, all the winners having now exited the maiden ranks in the form of Smart Horse, Gallic Forge, Reet Petite and Coco’s Hero.

SMART HORSE

Age:                    4 (at last run)

Sex:                    g

M/Rating:        76 (at last run)

Owner:             Mrs D J Sherrell & Mr L Sherrell

Breeder:          Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd

Trainer:           James Crawford

Breeding:        Heavenly Blue (AUS) – Cupid’s Kiss by Jet Master

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

First up at the beginning of the month was Smart Horse. Having been relatively consistent over his career, James then added the blinkers for his run on 07 September. He jumped alertly from the gates with race jockey Louis Mxothwa bringing him across from his 4 draw to take up the running as the field cornered for home.

He was still galloping well within himself as the field stretched past the 400M, with Louis now giving him more rein and he readily extended into a four-length lead through the 200M, with the Sherrell’s son of Heavenly Blue galloping resolutely all the way to the line winning a good race, by just under four lengths.

Smart Horse readily exits the Maiden ranks in style

Smart Horse – Winning Interviews

James and his stable were on the double on Sept 09, with Reet Petite and Gallic Forge both finding the winners enclosure. Reet Petite win as a first timer was exceptional (see insert below) and Gallic Forge, a horse with a mind of his own, won an incredibly gutsy race under a strong ride from Louis.

GALLIC FORGE

Age:                   4 (at last run)

Sex:                   g

M/Rating:        71 (at last run)

Owner:             Mr P M Murugasa

Breeder:          Syrilla Stud

Trainer:            James Crawford

Breeding:        Vercingetorix – Winter’s Forge by Western Winter (USA)

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

James’s assistant trainer, Rob Barrett describes Gallic Forge as a horse with a mind of his own who does what he wants, when he wants. On this day, what he wanted to do was win. Jumping from a relatively wide draw, he showed good gate speed, skating to the front as the field slid into the bend.

Mr Murugasa’s son of Vercingetorix was still travelling well within himself as the field travelled to the 300M, but that was when the challengers started cutting into his lead. Gallic Forge was having none of it and now with Louis hard at work, he kept his mind on the job and his head in front all the way to the line under a forceful and determined ride from Louis.

Gallic Forge keeps his mind on the job & his head in front to break his Maiden

Gallic Forge breaks his Maiden – Winning Interviews

The stable booted home their fourth winner for the month on Saturday, when Khaya Stables (Pty) (Ltd) three-year-old son of Fire Away, Coco’s Hero, won at the third time of asking under a polished ride from Craig Zackey.

COCO’S HERO

Age:                   3 (at last run)

Sex:                   c

M/Rating:        (at last run)

Owner:             Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

Breeder:          Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

Trainer:            James Crawford

Breeding:        Fire Away (USA) – Miss Coco (IRE) by Galileo (IRE)

Colours:       Yellow, black stripe, striped sleeves, yellow cap

Having his debut run over the minimum distance and then stepping up to 1600M at his second start, on the face of it, it seemed as if his first two runs were relatively moderate, but when looked at more closely, both runs were in the middle of ferocious winter rains when the going was very soft. However, he did improve from run one to run two, and on Saturday stepped up again over the extra furlong to record a very good win.

Craig had him out of the stalls quickly, settling him just off the pacemakers as the field made their way down the back straight. He seemed to corner a tad awkwardly albeit still in fourth place and then straightened at the top of the stretch. Once Craig had balanced him, he gave him a couple of backhanders, but he seemed to hit a flat spot between the 400M and 300M.

However, as the field raced to the 200M, his mind was back on the job, and he showed an impressive burst of acceleration to cruise up to the leaders and as all the momentum was with him, he swept on by to win full of running. James and Craig are of the opinion that the further he goes the better he will be, and when horses win over 1800M at their third racecourse appearance, they normally continue their upward trajectory, which the stable and Lady Christine Laidlaw would also be hoping, especially as the Summer Season draws closer.

Khaya’s Stables Coco Hero breaks his Maiden under a polished ride from Craig Zackey

Coco’s Hero breaks his Maiden – Winning Interviews

Crawford Racing has now become a global proposition.

With the Crawford stable having four winners for the month of September in Cape Town, Timothy keeping the winners ticking over in Gauteng (see Insert below), and Brett kicking off his Hong Kong season with a double at Sha Tin on Sunday, Crawford Racing has now become a global proposition to all their current and prospective owners going forward.

Ride of the Month – A Brilliant win from a potential Superstar

Reet Petite is a three-year-old filly by Rafeef and owned by Ridgemont (Nom: Mr Craig Kieswetter) & Mr Devin Heffer and sired by six-time winner Rafeef. On debut at HWB Durbanville Racecourse on 09 September, she was entered into a 1250M Maiden race for fillies.

She was drawn wide at eight, was making her racecourse debut, was going around the turn on debut, and was running on a course that was favouring horses who either raced from the front or raced just off the pace. Therefore, on her debut, she had four factors working against her, and none working for her. However, when a filly has natural ability, a very good turn of foot and arguably the best jockey in South Africa in the saddle, you can overcome all those challenges.

REET PETITE

Age:                    3 (at last run)

Sex:                    f

M/Rating:        (at last run)

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

Breeder:          Ridgemont Highlands

Trainer:            James Crawford

Breeding:        Rafeef (AUS) – Super Elegant by Daylami (IRE)

Colours:       Dark green, blue sleeves, white cap

She showed good gate speed at the jump and Richard could see she wanted to gallop, but as the field jostled for early position especially the horses with the inside draws, he decided to take his medicine and drop her in at the back of the field. He then allowed her to find her feet around the bend and as the field spun into the stretch, he allowed her to balance up under the hands.

He then started working on her and the response was immediate as she moved up a couple of places just behind midfield. A couple of left-handed cracks of the whip later and she started running at them strongly as the field approached the 200M. All the momentum was now with the daughter of Rafeef and Richard even had the luxury of putting the whip away at the 50M mark and then a little salute as she hit the line full of running to win a race where many factors were against her.

Reet Petite wins at the first time of asking under Richard Fourie

Reet Petite – Remember the Name – Winning Interviews

An immature filly, on debut, going around the turn for the first time came flying from the back of the field to win her Maiden going away. All great positives for owners Ridgemont (Nom: Mr Craig Kieswetter) & Mr Devin Heffer and Crawford Racing. Add to that she will only get better as she strengthens and matures, and that she is bred to go further, then the sky could be the limit for Reet Petite.

Timothy continues to bring home the winners in Gauteng

Nominations for September have been sparse in Gauteng for Crawford Racing as the stable waits for the rains to come, the turf to become more raceable and horses that have moved from Cape Town to Gauteng to settle into their surroundings. Despite all these factors, Timothy Woodfuff is doing a sterling job.

The Gauteng stable produced one fourth place, two third places, four second places and two winners for the month despite the small number of runners. The first winner early in the month was for Mr Peet Boonzaaier and Stonehill Stud in the form of Count Huhtikuu, a horse that has been earmarked for possibly competing in Graded Races in the months to come. The second winner was Copper Plate, a Maiden which was moved down to Gauteng by a host of owners having previously been trained by Candice Bass.

COUNT HUHTIKUU

Age:                   4 (at last run)

Sex:                   g

M/Rating:        95 (at last run)

Owner:             Mr P Boonzaaier & Stone Hill Stud (Nom: Mr H C W Rix)

Breeder:          Stone Hill Stud (Nom: Mr H C W Rix)

Trainer:            James Crawford

Breeding:        Royal Mo (USA) – Banking April by Bankable (IRE)

Colours:       Green and bright yellow checks, white sleeves and cap

Count Huhtikuu is a good horse. He has only had nine runs, has won three times and has been run in two Graded Races in his relatively short career. After running a very good sixth in the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom a race for Stayers over 2200M on HWB July Day at Greyville Racecourse he was given a well-deserved rest until his reappearance in September.

From the jump from a wide draw, he showed good gate speed with jockey Callan Murray slotting him into second place as the field started taking the turn into the long Turffontein straight. Callan remained motionless until the field ran through the 500M mark when he started urging the son of Royal Mo to go past the pacemaker and take up the running. He did that readily and as Tim said, being only 80% ready, he continued to gallop strongly over the last 400M and went on to win a very good race over a distance that was slightly short of his best. Co-owner Peet Boonzaaier commented in the post-race interview that he feels this could be a horse that will contest Graded Races during the current season – Remember the name – Count Huhtikuu.

Count Huhtikuu comes back from the break to win well under Callan Muray

COPPER PLATE

Age:                    4 (at last run)

Sex:                    g

M/Rating:        50 (at last run)

Owner:              Mark Bass, A J Brand, H D M Otto, Wehann Smith, Dr J Steytler, Nick &    Val  McFall & SMB Insurance Brokers CC (Nom: Mr M A Brackett)

Breeder:          Mr G J Armitage

Trainer:            James Crawford

Breeding:        Futura – Sound The Flute (USA) by Theatrical (IRE)

Colours:        Pink, white stripe, blue sleeves, pink cap, white stripe

In his post-race interview after Copper Plate broke his Maiden, Tim said that in his opinion the horse needs a galloping track and the further he goes the better he should be. He then added that James had found this race and advised him to enter it, teamwork at its best.

The son of Futura’s earlier form had been relatively moderate with the caveat that he had only run over a longer trip once, that was in June when finishing sixth at HWB Kenilworth on the winter course with the shorter straight.

However, having his second run in Gauteng over the 2000M at the end of September, on the galloping Turffontein track and drawn one, he jumped well allowing Callan Murray to place him just off the pacemaker. Callan had him cantering in third spot on the rail as the field entered the straight and at the 400M as he was asked to quicken, he was baulked for a run and could not quicken immediately.

However, at the 200M he re-rallied between horses and continued to gallop strongly all the way to the line to win a good race. He has shown improvement since relocating, and now that the stable has figured out how to run and ride him, he could continue to improve especially as the ground becomes more forgiving when the rains come.

Copper Plate breaks his Maiden – Race Replay & Post Race Interview

Brett Crawford Racing on the Double in Hong Kong

In 2012 the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes was won by Thunder Dance at Kenilworth Racecourse. The same horse then went on to score a Grade One double under the lights at Turffontein Racecourse in 2013. The trainer of Thunder Dance all those years ago was Brett Crawford and the jockey who rode him to both of those Grade 1 victories was then stable jockey Karis Teetan.

Fast forward just over a decade, and now Brett Crawford trains in Hong Kong. Karis Teetan has also established himself as one of the best in Hong Kong and it was therefore quite poetic that after three places from Brett’s first five runners in Hong Kong, Karis could bring home his first winners as a trainer.

Speedy Smartie was Brett’s first runner in Hong Kong for owners, Dr Andrew Yu, Dr Alvin Yu Man Ho & Dr Bernice Yu Man Yan, finishing second on the turf from a wide draw. His second run in September for Brett was even more impressive, with Karis having him out of the stalls in a flash, his mind immediately on the job at hand. As the field moved down the back stretch and around the turn Karis allowed Speedy Smartie to race just off the leader.

Karis got to work on him as the field spun into the short 400M stretch, allowing him and get up to eye Not the Silly One going through the 300M then going past but then had to withstand the low flying Double Bingo to win by a head. As the commentator said as they crossed the line, “It’s a big day for Brett Crawford, he’s now a Hong Kong winning trainer”, just brilliant.

Speedy Smartie wins under Karis to give Brett his first winner as a HK Trainer

As we all know that Brett was not happy just to have his first winner as a Hong Kong trainer, he went on to score a double on the day to put the cherry on the proverbial cake. Step forward South African born and bred Lyle Hewitson, another rising star in the Hong Kong jockey ranks. Ninja Derby was drawn 14 out of 14 two races after Speedy Smartie had given Brett winner number one. No problem for Lyle as Ninja Derby showed beautiful gate speed as the stalls crashed open, Lyle easily overcoming the unfavourable draw.

He was cruising as the field sped down the back straight as Lyle allowed him to take a breather as his lead was uncontested all the way down the back stretch. As the field started to corner into the straight that little breather allowed Lyle to skip the field as they approached the 200M mark, and Ninja Derby continued to gallop relentlessly all the way to the line to give Brett his second winner of the meeting for owners, Wilson Chan Wai Kwok, Joseph Yim Wai Ho & Gary Ng Ka Wai.

Ninja Derby wins under a great ride from Lyle Hewitson to give Brett the Double

A brilliant day for Brett Crawford, his stable, his ex-stable jockey in the form of Karis Teetan and South African superstar Lyle Hewitson. They all combined to give Brett a double for the meeting, with his stable sending out their sixth and seventh runners for the season both as winners, remarkable.

Knowing Brett, this will only be the start of the upward trajectory for his stable, his owners and old acquaintances who dovetailed on the day to make the day a memorable one. May they all continue to make wonderful memories during the remainder of the Hong Kong horseracing season.