Durban – Brett Crawford made history at the Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, becoming the first trainer to win the Durban July in consecutive years since 2014. His three-year-old colt, Oriental Charm, led the race from start to finish, securing the R5 million stake.
Crawford’s victory marks his second consecutive win, following last year’s success with Winchester Mansion and jockey Kabelo Matsunyane. This year, jockey JP van der Merwe rode Oriental Charm to victory, taking the lead shortly after the start and holding off Cousin Casey, Royal Victory, and Flag Man.
The 129th edition of Africa’s Greatest Horse Racing event drew a crowd of over 40,000 to the Greyville Racecourse, with South African super group Mango Groove performing the National Anthem to open proceedings. Fashion and entertainment were on full display, with an estimated R240 million injected into the eThekwini Municipality’s coffers and almost 5,000 temporary jobs created.
Crawford’s back-to-back wins cement his position as a leading trainer in South African horse racing, and fans eagerly await the return of Africa’s Greatest Horse Racing event next year.
Photo: The African Perspective
