Everybody’s asking about the relatively unknown dark horse that came from the clouds to cut down an illustrious line-up and scoop the biggest literary prize offered in the history of South African horseracing.
The announcement earlier this week that Chris Swart had won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival Writers Award and booked a once-in-a-lifetime dream trip for two to Glorious Goodwood in August may have come as something of a bolt from the blue.
Our seasoned journo’s earn their living doing this and would have rated their prospects ahead of an unraced outsider!
The mighty Wolf Power
But a read of the winning account of the 1984 Queen’s Plate won by the gooseflesh grey Wolf Power quickly dispels any doubts that this was nothing but a genuinely hard-earned victory full of merit.
Like most racing stories, Chris Swart’s win has an emotional human twist to it.
“I was astonished when the LQP guys called to tell me. My younger brother Conrad – a Frankel freak of note – had a stroke in 2016. I haven’t seen him for years and with my business still in a growth phase, I haven’t been able to afford it. My Mum, Sister and Brother live in Cardiff, so this superb prize presents us the opportunity of also enjoying a wonderful family reunion. That’s why it is such an emotional time right now,” he says quietly.
The 54 year old Zambia – based Chris Swart hasn’t been back to Kenilworth for close on 33 years now. His extraordinarily vivid and tangible recollections of that day in 1984 are remarkable, given the inevitable and emotional twists and turns that our lives take over the passage of years.
“Some days racing has beautiful stories. Any punter or fan will relate to a standout day. Racing provides the platform for us to experience life’s rollercoaster of emotions. And a bonus is that it is sometimes in the presence of champions. That was the great day in my life that has stayed with me ever since.”
Chris was introduced to racing by Tim Preston while studying at UCT in the early 80’s. The pair ended up racing Talent Search and Celestial Charm together. Both horses won and were placed in the Zim Oaks in the late 90’s.
We asked what degree he was pursuing at UCT.
The seat of much learning! The Pig was the place
“Oh hell, I was studying everything. In the end I graduated with a Bachelor Of The Pig,” he laughs in a reference to the legendary student watering hole, the Pig ‘n Whistle, on Rondebosch main road.
He enjoyed the added distraction of Wednesday and Saturday racing during his student years.
While he is reluctant to boast about his own story, Chris Swart’s racing roots go back to 1937. That was the year his paternal grandparents emigrated from Swartruggens to Chisamba, Zambia where his Dad rode for Harry Frost. He briefly mentions his Dad winning on a ringer called Bonaparte.
“My dad lost his right leg in the 40’s so couldn’t ride after that,”’ he says sadly.
Chris’ Mum Shirley was the Red Cross ambulance attendant in Kitwe where the likes of legends like Ralph and Val Rixon, Cliffie Otto, Mike Frankham, Sharon and Reed Patterson, Ronny Sheehan, Noel Riddle and George Uren honed their skills.
It’s not easy finding pics of Chris Swart!
“I got dragged there every weekend,” he says, adding that years later after a traumatic divorce , he moved to Lusaka and stayed with the van Blerk family.
“Their father was champion trainer for many years. In Kitwe I also stayed on the farm where Anchorage is buried. He was sent to Zambia by the Oppenheimer family to try and keep racing going in Zambia.”
Chris is well-known these days as a pedigree specialist and advises some high-profile personalities.
Owner & Breeder Marsh Shirtliff
Names like the late Wally Britz, Marsh Shirtliff, Paulo Do Carmo (his mentor) and Neil Marx come up.
Also PE owner Andrea Puggia, who breeds with Cat Woman. Andrea is the lucky guy who will accompany Chris to Glorious Goodwood. Ian Longmore is another man who features prominently – he encouraged Chris to write his winning story.
While he is loathe to talk hard-luck stories, he adds that champion Star Award is the one that got away in his racing life.
Star Effort wins the 1991 Cape Fillies Guineas
Chris recalls: “I loved her because her half-sister won by six just before the sales. Wally Britz said she was a squib and talked me into taking half of Main Command. Stan Elley had him in the winter. He came back and had one run for the Alexander stable, backed from 20/1 – 7/2 and ran stone last. He died of colic a few weeks later. Need I say what Star Award went on to!”
He proudly tells how he advised Wally’s Jet Flyer going to Silvano. That mating produced Sylvan On Fire who has won 4 and picked up black-type for Vanessa Harrison in the Gr3 Acacia Handicap two weeks ago.
Sylvan On Fire in winning action
Chris hosts a Facebook page called Pedigree Bwana.
“Neil Marx and I discuss pedigrees every day and he’s working on a programme that will help buyers, breeders and trainers about elements in the pedigree that indicate the quality being built on. Our first client is Lowan Denysschen. We’ve selected 30 lots from his preferences and if he gets what he wants in his budget, we will be very happy.”
“Neil’s dad owns horses with Stu Pettigrew. We played Salisbury Schools soccer together when he was three foot high and could dribble like Pele!”
Gaynor Rupert – architect of the Writers Award
“I hope I haven’t left anybody out in this story. Thanks so much for this and my deepest gratitude to the sponsors.”
How Chris summed it up shortly after hearing that he had won:
A very big thank you firstly to Ian Longmore who urged me to write this. Secondly to the Sporting Post for accepting and publishing my best article since Standard 5. Thirdly, to the sponsors. Your generosity and kindness is humbling. Andrea Puggia a top owner in PE, how we planned since Blue Nile and Captive Prince to follow in your great Uncle Aldo’s footsteps. Some days racing has beautiful stories This is one and Jeff Lloyd, your kind message to me after reading it is greatly appreciated. Marsh, your next Pocket is coming
