Craig Carey

Saturday’s Cape Guineas favourite Act Of War looks destined to be a star. The mating that produced the handsome athletic colt that carries the major hopes of hometown glory was no fluke. There is a splash of sentimental history in the tale of a budding champion and his modest breeder Craig Carey proudly tells the story of an equine dynasty 75 years in the making.

The Dynasty colt Act Of War has swept all before him since winning his maiden at the second time of asking in May this year.

Along the way he provided trainer Joey Ramsden with his eighth Langerman winner before capturing the Listed Winter Juvenile Stakes, the Gr3 Cape Classic and most recently, the Gr2 Selangor Cup.

In so doing, he created his own bit of history – providing champion jockey Piere Strydom with his 5000^th winner.

If Act Of War wins the Guineas on Saturday it will be his sixth straight victory and he will join the ranks of the elite of the turf  – as only seriously good horses win this great race.

Good Sense

Craig takes up the story.

“Our loyal friend and good client Alfie Duncan sold us the Cordoba mare Si Senorita and having taken a liking to the terrific Dynasty early on, while he was still affordable, we sent her to him. It made sense – we just felt that with her scope and looks, she would be a perfect match for him. She had also bred a champion 2yo colt by the name of Subastador, who was by Fairy King stallion, Tara’s Halls. So going back down the line of Fairy King’s brother Sadler’s Wells made perfect sense. Sometimes it works well!” he said with a proud smile.

And for the Careys it has worked well many times.

A few of the many big name horses that Craig produced  at Arc En Ciel come to mind quickly – Kapil, Joey Ramsden’s first Gr1 winner Major Bluff, the brilliant Tara’s Touch, De Los Rios, Tobe Or Nottobe and more recently, the magnificent grey, King Of Pain.

But he is not quite finished with the Act Of War story, yet.

“We raced Subastador with Joey Ramsden and Alf Duncan, and the astute judge that he is, Joey rated the youngster as one of the best he had ever had, before he went wrong. So when Act Of War went through the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale ring, Joey was in the front of the queue and bought him for Ingrid and Markus Jooste for R550 000. That is looking like money very well spent right now,” he said.

Setting Sales

He doesn’t only breed fine racehorses.

Craig Carey has a solid business acumen and some considered opinion to back it up.

He is a Director of Cape Thoroughbred Sales, a position he says  has been a privilege and an honour to fill.

The South African thoroughbred sales environment was turned on its head earlier this year with CTS dusting out the cobwebs and making aggressive moves in the market.

Craig responded by suggesting that the competition aspect introduced into the thoroughbred sales environment can only be good for the game.

“If I go back ten years, I believe we have made huge strides in racing and breeding. Our leadership today is of a much higher standard and competition is vital – it drives people to perform better. The key to our sales is to do good, solid business – which includes a payment ethic. That leads to breeders getting settled immediately. And owners learn to buy what they can afford and thus pay on due date. Ultimately it will make for a more enjoyable and stable business environment for all,” he says.

“I am close to the action. Believe me that Markus (Jooste), Chris (Van Niekerk), Mike (Sharkey) and Bernard (Kantor) strive to make the sales environment and horseracing in South Africa better for everyone. Not a day goes by without a new innovation being pursued,” he said assuringly.

Big Guy

Craig Carey is not the kind of guy one generally picks an argument with.

An imposing physical specimen with a vice-like handshake, the Bishops Old Boy is not one of modern day life’s typical ‘trained off’ 44 year olds.

To the contrary, a physically active life spent in the company of horses outdoors, interspersed with a regular decent round of golf, has kept him fit and trim – and if likened to a racehorse, he has a certain quiet presence about him that invokes a natural sense of confidence.

The Careys have horses flowing through their veins and Craig proudly enjoys nothing more than speaking about his family.

“My grandmother Dubbles Draper was a leading trainer in Zimbabwe and she is the sister of the Late Dennis Silcock, who bred the 1974 Rothmans July winner, Riboville. My Late father Graham and my mother Leigh were also breeders.”

Sad Time

We interrupted to ask him about a touching story regarding a horse that was trained by James Lightheart called ‘Gee Cee’ – his Dad’s initials.

“My folks helped the late Tony Taberer establish Avontuur Stud and bred Right Prerogative for him. My Dad tragically died in a car accident late one night returning from a foaling in the same year as Right Prerogative was killed in that horrible float accident when returning from his win in the 1989 Rothmans Durban July. Tony named the foal ‘Gee Cee’ in honour of my Dad.”

A Life Among Horses

Craig met his wife (and best friend, he hastens to add) Amanda, when she worked for the legendary Pat O’Neill at Broadlands Stud.

The year was 1988 and Amanda was preparing the horses for the sales. There was plenty of natural synergy – Amanda was a junior showjumper and her father, George Shorter was an amateur jump jockey in the UK.

Today Amanda is the instantly recognisable livewire Sales Manager of Cape Thoroughbred Sales.

Craig smiled when adding: “All said and done, a life amongst horses has always been a natural progression for me.”

The Carey’s have three children – Justin (18), Jemima (15) and Oliver (10). This is the part Craig enjoys talking about.

“I have been fortunate. Justin has just completed his matric at my alma mater, Bishops, and he played first team rugby, which made us very proud. He is off to England to work at a private school in Uttoxeter for a year. Jemima is at Somerset College and Oliver is at Wellington Prep, until he heads off to Bishops. A sound education is vital. I am thankful that I have been able to give my kids a good start in life.”

Of the three so far, Craig says that Justin may follow in the Carey equine hoofprints.

Arc En Ciel

When thinking Carey, most racing folk associate the name, Arc En Ciel.

That is hardly surprising.

“I was very fortunate to start working for one of the legends of horseracing in the late Shirley Pfeiffer. After eight years I was offered a partnership at Arc En Ciel and spent fifteen wonderful years there. The Pfeiffer family are really just the most special people. Unfortunately Arc En Ciel closed last month and is now a game farm,” he said.

But Craig  is already well established in the next step of his journey and is excited about his new venture.

“The Carey family have joined forces with Wayne, Belinda, Craig and Ross Kieswetter and are in the process of establishing Ridgemont Stud. We are currently buying some lovely stock, locally and internationally to race and ultimately breed. There are very exciting times ahead,” he said enthusiastically.

Craig confirmed that most of the Ridgemont racing stock was with Joey Ramsden and Brett Crawford, with others just going in to Mike Bass, Gavin Smith and Ormond Ferraris.

That means big investment. Can we assume that Craig is positive about the future of South African horseracing?

“Yes, most definitely. We have issues, like any industry. For instance we need to get our exports out quicker and safely. This will take our racing to a new level. But we really do boast an excellent product and we don’t have to stand back for anybody.”

Hats Off

Craig wears a few hats – we threw the restricted sale races question at him – are they really that good for the game?

“I like the concept of restricted races as long as they are not for early 2yo’s. I think the excitement leading into the Million Dollar is going to be intense and the money coming back into our racing is good news for us all. If one considers it, these races have produced the few large stakes increases we have experienced – and that is important for all owners,” he suggested.

As for his  immediate future dreams and plans, Craig said he would be thrilled to see his old farm produce another classic winner on Saturday.

“We are right behind Act Of War and will be shouting him home. And I am embarking on a dream phase in my life of building a new stud farm with some amazing stock. Wayne Kieswetter and I spend many hours formulating plans for Ridgemont Stud for the future. It is all very exciting. We are so fortunate to do something we love for a living – and this is a great game to be a part of.”