Stanley Ferreira

STANLEY FERREIRA (60) has been in racing for close-on four decades. He was well on his way to becoming a hugely successful trainer when he decided to leave the game and relocate to Tzaneen. He was away from training for eleven years and Stan says it was much needed stress-less time for him. In August 2009 he was again granted a trainer’s licence with his main patron being his long-time friend Roland Bouwer. Starting with only three owners and ten horses, he has slowly been working his way back. Today he has 48 horses at his Vaal base. There is no doubt that he has retained his enthusiasm and love of the game.The way his horses look, and run, is proof that he still has the ‘magic’ to train big race winners. Any day soon punters can expect to see one of Stan’s charges being backed off the boards and will know that he is well and truly back. Until then we will watch his progress with keen anticipation.  

 What is your name?  Stanley Martin Ferreira.

What is your star sign and birthdate?  Virgo and I was born on 9 September 1952.

Where were you born? Johannesburg.

Where do you live? I have premises on the Vaal racecourse.

Tell us about your family? I have one older brother.

Do you have a ‘nickname’? No.

Favourite food?  Prawns and ice cream for dessert.

Favourite drink? Coca Cola or passion fruit and lemonade.

Favourite music?  Leona Lewis.

Favourite sport?  I like watching English football and SA Rugby.

Who is your favourite author?  Dick Francis.

What book are you reading at the moment?  I am currently reading The Race.

Which is the characteristic about yourself that you like most?  Honesty factor.

Which characteristic about yourself do you like the least? I am too gullible.

Are you interested in soccer and, if so, which is your favourite soccer team? I am not interested in local soccer but I am a Man United supporter.

Favourite holiday destination? Mauritius.

Where did you go to school?  Rosettenville Primary and then went to Forest High School.

What sort of student were you and what did you really enjoy studying?  I was not a good student. My current book keeper sat in front of me, so I could copy her hard work.

How did you become interested in horses and horse racing? I was horse mad from an early age. I grew up in the south of Jo’burg, eight houses from my school, Forest High. My cousin Bruce Phillips was a jockey, apprenticed to Reggie Ralph, and I used to bunk school to go to track in the morning and stables in the afternoon.

What did you do after completing your schooling?  I worked at Barclays Bank, then did military training and back to Barclays for 12 months. In the racing game since 1974. I took a break in 1989, re-started 1991. I took a sabbatical in 1995 and returned to where I am happiest in 2009.

Tell us about your association with the late trainer Michael Roberts?  Started as his stable employee then was his assistant and he was the most knowledgeable horseman.

Michael Roberts had the reputation of being a great horseman. What did you learn from him that has stuck with you?  Patience.

Which were the best horses you were associated with when with Roberts?  Big Swinger, Beau Art, My Hyacinth, Great Tiger and Angel Belle.

When did you leave Michael to take out your own licence?  1978.

Who were your main owners when going on your own?  Roland Bouwer, Joe Green and the late Syd Gervis.

Tell us about the ‘golden streak’ you had soon after becoming a trainer? The horses seemed to thrive under my care and the new environment.

At one time it was said you had the most horses of any trainer in South Africa. How many horses did you have in your yard then? I had 167 horses and had the most winners in SA in 1994/1995.

Which was the best horse you trained then? Cossack Guard was the best stayer and Brutus was the best sprinter.

What was the most successful day you had? I had 5 winners and one was taken away by objection.

Despite all seeming to be on top of the world you suddenly left racing. What was the reason and where did you go? For personal reasons and I relocated to Tzaneen.

How long were you out of racing? I was out for 11 years.

What was your business when you left?  Managed a SuperSpar supermarket and a contracting paint company.

How enjoyable was it compared to training?  It was needed at the time and I had no stress.

Did you take bets on horses, PA’s, P6’s, JP’s etc when you lived in Tzaneen?  Always kept an interest in racing. My main bet was a PA.

 

How successful were you as a punter?  Pretty fair with PA’s other than that, not a heavy punter. I always have each way bets on my runners.

 

What did you miss most being so far from the action?  Being close to the horses.

Was your heart still in racing and did you always plan to come back? Yes, in my heart, but I had no plans to return.

What finally decided you to re-apply for your trainer’s licence? Roland Bouwer approached me in choosing horses as he wanted to get back into the game and asked me to come back to training. I am thrilled that he made that request and today I have a yard of wonderful owners including Roland.

 

When was your licence granted to you again?  August 2009.

How many owners and horses did you have on your return?  I had three owners and ten horses.

Where are your stables? Vaal racecourse.

Which jockey’s ride work for you?  Currently Louis Nhlapo, Gavin Lerena, Menno Malherbe, Marco van Rensburg, Hennie Greyling and Bennie Dean.

Did you buy any horses at the Shongweni Horses in Training sale? No, I did not.

How easy was it for you to get back into the routine of being a trainer? It was very simple.

At that stage did you have any horses which could win races for you?  I knew Kalaam who was unraced was good. She was the first horse I chose for Roland on my return.

Since your return have you been given many horses to train?  Yes I have. I now have 48 horses in my yard.

Which is the best horse in your yard at the moment?  There are many that are on a par but Kalaam is doing us proud as she has placed in some feature races.

How many races have you won since your return?  I have won 30 races.

Which of your horses do you think are worth following?  They all go out trying.

Do you find training even more enjoyable after your long break from the game?  I am adjusting to the many changes. Once in your blood, the game of horse racing never leaves.

What are the most noticeable changes you have you seen since last you trained?  Attendance is very low.

Do you think that training has become much more competitive than before? Yes, I do think so.

In previous times your stable had the reputation of not being afraid to put down big money. Is this still so? Yes.

Have your ideas about punting and ‘readying’ horses up changed with time?  No, they haven’t.

Many trainers have a team of advisors when it comes to buying yearlings. Will you be going the same route?  No, I won’t.

Do you have, or will you be acquiring things like treadmills and hot walkers?  I have a hot walker in the pipe line.

How important for you is it to have these training helps? Cut staff compliment.

How would you sum up the difference in training, generally, from when you left, to your comeback now?  Inconsistency of the training tracks.

The old maxim goes that, “Behind every successful man is an equally successful woman.” Does that apply to Stanley Ferreira? I am divorced. However, rely on my very successful book-keeper who is also an owner in my yard.