I’m the liaison between the trainers and Sheikh Hamdan. I look after the horses in training in Europe, South Africa and Australia – that’s the main job. It also involves a bit of buying, selling the bad ones, trying to get horses to Dubai for Sheikh Hamdan and trying to make it as successful as we can for him
As the old saying goes, ‘a good horse can come from anywhere’ and with the CTS team seeming to possess an unlimited number of cards up their sleeves, it seems there will always be a few new places to look.
Who could wish for anything better – being passionate about your work and enjoying the company of remarkable people? I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Mary Slack is the daughter of Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer. She is also the force behind Wilgerbosdrift Stud, Dynasty and the SA Triple Tiara. The Sporting Post gets to know her a little better.
The 52 year old Kevin Shea, aka ‘Shezy’, looks, and behaves, more like a 32 year old but concedes that he is experiencing some serious ‘wear and tear’ after a race-riding career spanning 37 years
The Moutonshoek maverick on breeding, buying stallions and why he’s looking forward to Val de Vie
In just seven years, the 43 year old Zimbabwean-born Brett Crawford has built an impressive client base of some of the big players on the South African racing scene. On Saturday he reached another milestone when saddling his second Met winner
Mike Bass’s secret to training success? It’s a matter of getting horses fit, making sure they don’t hurt themselves and trying to keep them in one piece.
Call him clever. Call him astute. Call him lucky. The vastly experienced horseman has made a flying start to his association with racing in this country and has proven himself to have a deadly eye for a good horse.
James Goodman’s life reads like The Big Book of Boys’ Adventures – world traveller, racehorse trainer, golf player and raconteur. Condensing him onto the written page is plainly impossible, but we’ve had a go and apologise in advance for all the bits we’ve left out (and perhaps all the bits we should have).
“I want to be the best I can be for PE racing. This is my home and I’m happy here. “
Frank Robinson and his staunch patron Sid Moodley look to have booked themselves a Hollywoodbets Durban July berth with Madison Valley
Reigning SA Horse Of The Year Dave The King became the third back-to-back winner this century of South Africa’s highest-rated Gr1 contest, the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge
Currently offered at 25-1 in the ante-post market, Dean Kannemeyer’s lightly raced 4yo The Real Prince is happy and healthy and on track for a run in the big one
In contrast to heavyweights of the modern era in Galileo, Sea The Stars and Dubawi, who have stamped their authority in classic spheres with excellent support from leading breeders, bona fide breed shaper Acclamation rose from far humbler beginnings
