With the impressive Derby Trial winner Litigation carrying his instantly recognisable white, red and black strip in Saturday’s R1,5 million WSB Gr1 SA Derby at Turffontein, owner Laurence Wernars looks set for another profitable day at the races.
At Turffontein last Saturday, the Wernars silks were in the number one box four times, which included a Gr2 and Gr3 winner.
Laurence and Jarryd Wernars (Pic – JC Photos)
At Turffontein on Saturday the Chairman of the Studio 88 Group has eight runners, including a candidate in each of the day’s Gr1 contests.
While he has enjoyed many trebles in his three decades plus in horseracing, Saturday 26 March’s four-timer was a milestone.
“I am absolutely blessed and privileged to have had the chance to win four races on an afternoon. While I have a professional team behind me, if it wasn’t for my best friend and major partner in a lot of our horses, Harry Willson, this achievement wouldn’t have been possible,” Laurence Wernars told the Sporting Post.
Laurence and his potential Hollywoodbets Durban July prospect Second Base (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Asked to outline the team behind him, he says that the calibre of his horses has ‘improved drastically’ since Justin Vermaak took over managing his acquisitions and equine investment.
He has approximately 110 horses in training – mostly in partnerships- and about 40 mares, weanlings and yearlings – approximately another 90 in total on the farm.
Johan Janse van Vuuren trains the majority of the Wernars horses, with Paul Peter his second biggest conditioner.
“I also have Sean Tarry, Brett Warren, Gavin van Zyl, Brett Crawford, Peter Muscutt, Paul Lafferty and Lucky Houdalakis, who have 2 or 3 horses each.”
The passionate owner says that his success on the track is a combination of many factors.
“Johan Janse van Vuuren has upped his strike-rate since I bought the old Gary Alexander Racing stables and he moved in there. At the top of the national log and in great form, Paul Peter and Tony Peter are enjoying improved results as a result of having better quality horses in their string. Both Trainers are slaves to their horses and worked very hard. And it makes a huge difference to both of them having Warren Kennedy and Keagan de Melo respectively as their stable jockeys.
Does he hope to have a Hollywoodbets Durban July runner?
“Hopefully more than one July runner! Second Base ran a great race to win the Colorado King Stakes last Saturday. Shangani must also be in contention and maybe a few of my three year olds put their hands up. Here I’m thinking of Litigation and Outofthedarkness.”
Jarryd and Laurence Wernars lead Litigation in (Pic – JC Photos)
Looking at the health and status of the industry, he says that there is definitely a lot more of a ‘positive vibe’ as the stakes have increased.
He acknowledges 4 Racing and the financial support from Mary Slack.
“Unfortunately that is not going to be enough. We need support from Government! Up to now they haven’t been forthcoming as they appear to view racing as a White elitist Sport. As we all know that is not the case. All major owners pay in millions every month to keep the Industry afloat – none of us make any money in horseracing,” he adds sombrely.
Litigation is a big runner in Saturday’s SA Derby (Pic – JC Photos)
“Therefore, we need Government to tax the Bookmakers with their Sports Betting, Numbers and Lotto betting. This will ensure that Government increases tax revenue and would allow them to reduce the taxes on the Totalisator and it would mean more money allocated to stakes.”
He says it is logical that more stakes would make it more ‘affordable’ and attractive for more owners to enjoy racing.
“This would be the ‘magic’ for Government as more owners would mean more employment in the industry. We used to employ 200 000 people and now currently only employ about 50 000! If only we could find the right person in Government to understand this. So the less tote tax is not about the owner only – it will ultimately create more jobs!”
Mr Wernars’ company sponsors the Golden Grooms initiative.
