1000 for Brett

Ken Nicol: It was a red letter day for Brett Crawford at Durbanville on Saturday as another treble saw him train his 1000th winner.


And it has to be a case of ladies first, as highly progressive Jackson filly Pretty Young Thing marked herself as a real contender for Classic glory this summer.

The Conditions Plate for fillies over 1250m looked a highly competitive affair, with a number of talented youngsters taking on some decent older rivals.

But Greg Cheyne expertly got Pretty Young Thing (17-4) into the box seat from a wide draw, and the race was frankly over as a contest shortly after they turned for home.

The margin was a length and a quarter at the line, but that is extremely flattering to Lana Belle and Drama Queen, who never posed any threat whatsoever to the winner.

“She’s been very progressive and done nothing wrong. Greg put her in a great position, and we’ll now go for the Western Cape Fillies Championship in a fortnight” said Crawford, referring to the Grade 2 contest at Kenilworth on October 26.

“When I asked her she really lengthened and coasted to the line. We rate her” said an understandably impressed Cheyne.

A race earlier Racing Express top bet Kilindini had opened Crawford’s account with a fluent win in the Maiden 1400m.

Allowed to drift to 14-10 as support came for only market rival Pinkerton (11-10), Kilindini looked to have a race on his hands when that one confidently took it up 400m out.

But Corne Orffer had the move covered, and they swept on by impressively to score a fluent win.

Third placed Gold Medal has form but was beaten seven lengths, and both Kilindini and Pinkerton will pay to follow.

The landmark 1000th win was scored in the final race, and Orffer had to earn it the hard way.

Bag Of Tricks was heavily supported from 7-1 into 2-1 favourite, but after racing prominently seemed about to be swamped in the latter stages.

But a determined Orffer somehow kept his nose in front at the line in a desperate finish where a neck covered the first four past the post.

He then had to survive an objection and later picked a weeks suspension for causing interference to an unlucky Snowy Mountain at the 150m mark, but the number went into the frame.

Well done Brett and many more.

Well done Brent, Brett not too shabby either

Great trainer , well done

Over the Air wrote: Well done Brent, Brett not too shabby either

Cheers, was up all night watching USYK