Bye Bye Brett

Father-and-son training partnerships are very much in vogue in South Africa right now. First we had Mike and Adam Azzie, then the Hollywoodbets-sponsored Brett and James Crawford, and most recently Mike and Mat de Kock.

While Mathew de Kock has returned home to South Africa after a stint abroad to join his veteran Dad, it is the middle-mentioned Crawfords that will soon undergo a professional and domestic restructuring, with Dad Brett spreading his wings and taking on the big guns in Hong Kong, while the good son holds the fort.

But according to both Brett and James it will be business as usual at Hollywoodbets-sponsored Crawford Racing down Futura Park way in Philippi, despite Zimbabwe-born trainer of champions realizing a long-held dream to train internationally.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club broke the news early on Friday that the 53 year old has been licenced in one of the world’s greatest and most competitive racing jurisdictions, with effect from the new season.

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 in his absence 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 staff members 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 began his horse racing journey as a child, riding work before transitioning to a stable employee immediately after finishing school.

Brett tells how he gained valuable experience under the guidance of some of South Africa’s most esteemed trainers, including the internationally renowned Mike de Kock, as well as South African champion trainers Eric Sands and Dennis Drier.

At the age of 19 Brett left Zimbabwe and moved to Johannesburg in 1989 were he joined the Mike de Kock yard. In 1991 he moved to Cape Town and became assistant trainer to Peter Muscutt, running the satellite yard for 2 months in Gqeberha with great success.

In 1993 Brett moved to Eric Sands where he stayed for 4 years and had the pleasure of working with one of South Africa’s best sprinters, Flobayou. In 1997, Brett had the opportunity to move to Durban through a job offer from the now retired racing legend Dennis Drier.

After a rewarding four and a half years with Dennis, Brett developed in many ways and learnt fundamentals in mastering the art of training a thoroughbred.

In 2001, he successfully applied for the position of private trainer with Sabine Plattner, one of South Africa’s leading owners, marking the start of his training career. He obtained an open licence in 2010.

Crawford’s best season in South Africa came in 2017/18, when his stable claimed six Group 1 wins.

He operates primarily from the Western Cape, along with a satellite stable in Randjesfontein in Johannesburg. In the 2023/24 season, he achieved third place in the South African Trainers’ Premiership with 106 winners at a strike rate of 11.7%.

Crawford started the 2024/25 season in strong fashion with 29 wins under his own name before forming his partnership with James Crawford.

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.

Tony Millard told the Sporting Post that Brett’s work ethic and vast experience would stand him in good stead. “It’s not easy, but nothing worthwhile achieving ever is,” added Millard, and he should know, after plying his trade there for almost a quarter century.

Millard trained 709 winners after moving to Sha Tin from South Africa in 2000 and will forever be synonymous with the major race achievements of dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon, one of his two Hong Kong Derby winners, while he also campaigned abroad with success, triumphing in Korea with Super Jockey.

Tony Millard’s last Group elite victory in Hong Kong came via Panfield in the Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, a success which secured Panfield the mantle of Hong Kong Champion Stayer in 2020/21.

We could be talking about Brett Crawford in the same breath twenty years hence!