It will be business as usual at Hollywoodbets-sponsored Crawford Racing, despite trainer of champions Brett Crawford realizing a long-held dream to train internationally from the start of next season.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club broke the news early on Friday that the 53 year old Brett has been licenced in one of the world’s greatest and most competitive racing jurisdictions, with effect from the new season.
Brett and James Crawford – powerful team (Pic – Supplied)
One of South Africa’s most decorated trainers with 38 Gr1 victories among a career tally of almost 1500 winners, and the current Hollywoodbets Durban July title holder, Brett Crawford told the Sporting Post that it was a ‘massive honour’ to have been afforded the rare opportunity to train in Hong Kong but that the transition on African soil would be ‘seamless’.
“I will naturally be engaging with each of my owners ahead of the end of the term, but nothing much will change with the same team in place and our unparalleled attention to detail and a commitment to customer service excellence in place, as has been the case for the past 25 years,” Brett said as he proudly pointed to son James as being the ‘new generation’ – and as a treble Grade 1 winning trainer already, James has shown that he is ready to fill Dad’s shoes.
James learnt the early ropes as a youngster shadowing Dad, and his coaching included stints at the maestro Mike de Kock. James has been running the yard’s Randjesfontein satellite yard with plenty of success.
“In fact my move to Hong Kong sees a welcome injection of youthful energy and enthusiasm into the leadership of our team, which boasts a superb core of loyal staffmembers and owners. We are privileged to enjoy the support of some of the sport’s top personalities, as well as a cross-section of patrons who race for the fun and the love of it. We are a happy family of racing professionals, and that’s the way things will remain,” added Brett.
He was licenced at the beginning of the millenium, having learnt the ropes under Mike de Kock, Eric Sands and then Dennis Drier, before becoming trainer to the powerful Sabine Plattner operation.
David Ferraris, Tony Millard and Doug Whyte are the most recent South Africans amongst the Hong Kong training ranks and Brett Crawford will be looking to continue the proud tradition.
