Are there any Trainers like this anymore?

JULY LEGENDS
By Richard Mcmillan

To a great many the legendary Sydney Laird epitomised all that is the very essence of the Durban July - supremacy, greatness and an abundance of character.To those "many" he was the thoroughbred trainer supreme, revered by his peers and even lauded by his successor as the country's leading trainer, Terence Millard.

Between them they share the laurels as the two greatest trainers of Durban July winners, each having prepared six bearers of the country's equine blue riband.

Sydney Laird or "The Bear" as he was affectionately called was the kingpin of an incredible dynasty that has been connected, in one way or another, with no less than 23 winners of South Africa's premier turf event.No family in world racing can claim such a record with it's nation's most prestigious race.

In 1961 Sydney Laird burst on the Duban July scene with a resounding bang that saw the birth of a legend in racing.His 40-1 charge Kerason hopped out and led from start to finish, just holding off the Oppenheimer runner Hengist by a short-head.

Two years later it was that man Syd Laird again with the 3 yr old, 6-4 favorite Colorado King. This colt was ridden by Robbie Sivewright who was to become part of the Laird dynasty when he married Sydney's younger sister Mary.

Sydney won the Durban July with Java Head in 1966 AT 6-1 and the following year teamed up with Sivewright with the famous Sea Cottage who, as 11-10 favorite, dead-heated with Jollify.

Mazarin at 9-4 was Laird's next winner with Bert Hayden in the saddle and this combination went on to win with Yataghan at 4-1 in 1973, and then the mighty Politician in 1978.
ENDS.

Please note that the above are selected segments pertaining to the Durban July wins only and Syd Laird also trained other Super stars like Archangel, Secret Service, The Rutland Arms ,Ocean City, Zatopek etc.

It is safe to conclude that Syd Laird could have won most of the country's major races in his career.

Mikesack - what a FANTASTIC thread - thanks so much !!

Mr Buddy Maroun..best of the best

Syd Laird the best in my books by a length or 2 at least. Just good food, training and hrsemanship and thats all. If I could be half as good as him I would be happy.

Not comparing any trainers with others Craig, just that some are good whilst that elite band of a few become great and legendary,like a few Olympic winners!

........without decent horses even the best would battle.....having a concentration of above average animals goes along way in achieving greatness.......

Cyril Naidoo was also a very good trainer. Although not in the same league as the Lairds, he trained many a grade1 winner. Besides Drier he did natal proud. Historic lady was just one of his champions that come to mind. Does anybody know what he is doing now?

Muhtiman Wrote:

---

> ........without decent horses even the best would
> battle.....having a concentration of above average
> animals goes along way in achieving
> greatness.......

MM it's no fluke that thru the years the likes of MDK, Syd laird, Terrence Millard, Fred Rickaby etc were the yards that had top class horses

A few good and one shockingingly wrong statement made in the last few posts. Mikes as you say some stand out but as Miltim says without the horses even the best cannot do anything. 1 of the old top trainers(might have been Uncle Joe Joseph) said that"a good horse trains himself in spite of the trainer" and I am a great believer in that 90% at least is the horse.

Kitty, i dont know if you are pulling the piss but C Naidoo was warned off, you probably are joking because he cannot be mentioned in the same sentence as Syd Laird.......

I am still amazed that Anne Upton could produce results like she did from so few horses, in some ways C Bestel's handeling of horses & training style reminds me of Anne Upton. The approach that Anne Upton used was not for everyone, she took her time and would only race horses when they were ready, definately not for the owners who wanted a horse to race every week.

Tigershark, same sentence or same book?

anne upton was a superb horsewoman but training today as compared to her era of furious north island etc has changed big time...one only has to listen to mr millards interview when he says that he had 40 horses in his yard for many years and no assistant as to today where the likes of dekock snaith etc have around 150 horses and 5 assistants ....not only do they have many more horses they have QUALITY IN QUANTITY....im in no way saying that trainers like mrs upton or joe joseph etc wouldnt have been successful today but it is far harder for small yards of 20 to 30 horses to compete against the mega yards ...as for cyril naidoo the man was a disgrace to racing and well done for the jockey club in banning him BUT THERE ARE one or two more out there who need to be chucked out with him...