Patrick Shaw

PATRICK BERNARD SHAW (56) can justly claim to be the forerunner of South African trainers plying their trade overseas. After training in South Africa for many years he felt that he had achieved what he could in SA and decided to take on the challenge of training in Singapore. While in Singapore he has trained some top horses, including one of the world’s best sprinters, Rocket Man who is owned by Pat’s biggest supporter, Fred Crabbia. To date Rocket Man has earned US$ 6.7million and still has some racing in him. Pat has recently formed a syndicate called Tmen Stables which is represented not only in South Africa but in Malaysia, Australia and Singapore too. The syndicate is represented by trainers Mike de Kock and Robbie Hill in SA. ALEXANDRA PALACE has to be the best horse that the syndicate have at the moment and it is likely that he will take his place in next weekend’s R2million SA Classic.  We wishe Pat Shaw and Tmen Stables all the best for the future and we will be watching them and Alexandra Palace closely in times to come.

What is your name and age? Patrick Bernard Shaw and I am 56 years old.

What is your star sign and birthdate? Libra. 4^th October 1956.

Where were you born? Johannesburg.

Where do you live?  Singapore.

Tell us about your family? I’m married to Wendy and have two step daughters Mandy and Simone.

Do you have a ‘nickname’? Pat otherwise Mike de Kock calls me Jaw.

Favourite food? South African toasted bacon and egg sandwich, and chips.

Favourite drink? Tea.

Favourite music? Golden oldies.

Favourite book? Autobiography of D. Wayne Lucas.

What is the characteristic you like most about yourself? Integrity.

What is the characteristic you like least about yourself? Fussyness.

Favourite sport? To play squash.

Favourite soccer team? Man U.

Favourite holiday destination? Mauritius.

What tertiary qualification did you achieve? Standard 8.

Tell us about your first involvement into horseracing? I grew up in racing. My grandfather was a trainer and my father also trained.

Did you have any early aspirations of wanting to become a jockey? Never.

What or who convinced you to become a trainer? Myself.

Who was the first trainer that you were assistant to and what year was that? It was in 1973 and I was assistant to my father.

What year did you take out your trainer’s licence and where were your stables? Owen Philpott gave me stables on his smallholding in Randjesfontein.

Mention some of the bigger races that you won in South Africa? Durban July, Gold Cup, 4 Derbys, The Classic, The First National, 4 Guineas, Champions Stakes, Dingaans and Daily News. These are what I remember.

Do any of your former South African patrons still support the yard? Yes. Fred Crabbia, Bernard Kantor, Dennis Evans, Myron Berzack, Markus Jooste, Brian Joffe, Gaynor Rupert, Chris Van Niekerk and Marsh Shirtliff.

Tell us about your Durban July triumph with the ‘little pony’ Teal? It was in my 5^th year of training and I took him to Durban. He won the two lead up races to the July and then the Rothmans July, as it was called then. One of my greatest achievements.

What made you take the bold decision of relocating to Singapore and what year was it? I felt I have achieved what I could in South Africa and always wanted to train internationally.

How tough was it to adjust to life abroad? Yes it was tough, as I never had a horse due to the quarantine regulations closing and stopping 40 horses from arriving. You miss your friends, and of course family and the SA banter at the track in the morning. But in saying that, I have no regrets. I did myself and South Africa proud.

One of your former South African stable jockeys, Barend Vorster moved to Singapore to join you a few years after your move. Is he still your main jockey? Yes. Johnny Geroudis came with the stable to Singapore and was a cog in the wheel in making the stable successful. Barend followed 5 years later, and then Robbie Fradd who was a stalwart in the stable, making Rocket Man, “Rocket Man.”

Which other jockeys do you use? Greg Cheyne and Joao Moreira.

Your champion sprinter Rocket Man has made you world famous. How did you acquire him and tell us about his record and what he has achieved for the yard? I bought him through World Wide Blood stock, and he is by far the best horse I have trained. It is an absolute honour being associated with him.

What was the total stake money that he won? US$ 6.7million.

Tell us about the team that assists you?  Ricardo Le Grange and Jaci de Tert are both my assistants. The two of them are a team one can only be very proud of, and are definitely the backbone of my establishment.

Where are your stables based and how many horses do you have in your care? Kranji Turf Club. I have 60 horses, the limit per trainer.

Singapore racing is televised frequently in South Africa on Tellytrack. Mention a few of your horses that the local punters can follow throughout the season? Lizarre, Super Kenny, Bale Star.

Tell us about the duration of the Singapore racing season?  All year round.

How many winners have you trained abroad? +-600.

How many feature races have you won in Singapore? +- 45 including 5 Internationals.

Tell us about the media coverage?  The media is excellent here and in Hong Kong, Australia and South Africa etc. We only have one race course, Kranji. We race every Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

Do you still train for any South African owners? Yes, all the above-mentioned.

You have formed Tmen stables. How did the name originate and tell us all about the syndicate?  It originated from Mr. T. M. Yong who is a legend in the racing at Singapore but, unfortunately, he passed on recently. His son Mark and wife Emily Yong are amongst my biggest owners here and abroad.

How many horses are under the Tmen banner and in how many different countries is the syndicate represented? Malaysia, Australia, Singapore and South Africa.

How many horses does the syndicate have in South Africa and who are the different trainers? Robbie Hill has eight and Mike has two. He has many yearlings at Summerhill.

The syndicate seems to have struck gold with their expensive purchase ALEXANDRA PALACE who races under the care of champion trainer Mike de Kock. How did you acquire him and tell us about the expectations for him?  I bought him at the Cape Sales to bring to Singapore but due to the quarantine being closed for export I sent him to Mike de Kock.

He won a feature race in only his third career outing but sadly flopped in the Guineas last month. What has his trainer attributed that poor performance to and how is he doing since? He definitely needs further and will be a Derby prospect.

Will he take his place in The SA Classic at the end of the month and if so, will you be there to watch him race? I presume the Derby. I will be there at the time.

What does his trainer, Mike de Kock, have to say about him? He says he is a very smart horse.

Apart from Alexandra Palace which other promising horses do you own in South Africa? Tequila Sunrise.

What are your plans for Tmen Stables? To keep racing in South Africa and Singapore.

Which members of your family are really keen on racing? My wife Wendy.

How strict are the stipes in Singapore racing?  They are pretty strict but very fair.

How closely do you follow South African racing? Not that often due to lack of media coverage.

Prices for South African horses are generally much lower than other countries. Do you encourage your overseas owners to buy South African bred horses?  I try to but due to the current ban being in place, you buy them and then have to send them on to other trainers which is not ideal for myself.

How much interest do racegoers in Singapore take in South African racing? I think there is a strong following especially for Johnny Geroudis, Sean Cormack and Robbie Fradd, as all have raced here successfully.

You have been associated for a long time with Fred Crabbia. How did this association come about? He has had horses with me for 17 years as a friend first and foremost, and then as an owner. I would certainly want to go to war with him.  I have nothing but praise for this man. He loves his family first and his horses next and that is my type of person. Thank you Fred for your ongoing support for Shaw Racing Stables.

What does the future hold for you in the racing game? At this stage to aspire to being the best I can be.

The saying is “Behind every successful man is an equally successful woman”. Does this apply to Patrick Shaw? Yes, absolutely.