Whisky Baron in top form
CAPE TOWN - Brett Crawford, one of a select few of those now training to have won the Met more than once, reports the well-backed Whisky Baron in great shape for Saturday week’s Sun Met Celebrated with Mumm.
“Whisky Baron came out of his last run (the Glorious Goodwood Peninsula Handicap) very well and he reminds me of Angus, my 2003 winner. They have come much the same route although Angus won the Premier rather than the Peninsula.
“Futura (Crawford’s 2015 winner) was a different type of horse and he had already proved himself as a threeyear-old when he ran third in the Durban July.
“Whisky Baron started off the Cape season with a 96 merit rating and he is now on 110. We still have to improve him another eight points to have a chance of beating Legal Eagle. But he is still getting better and, although it’s going to be difficult, I don’t think it’s impossible.”
Whisky Baron is named after Ridgemont Stud owner Wayne Kieswetter, who recently purchased Highlands Stud, and has been backed from 14-1 to 9-2 third favourite.
Crawford also runs the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate runner-up Captain America who was only a length behind Legal Eagle when third in last year’s Met.
“He ran a great race that day – he never stopped,” recalls Crawford. “He has come out of the Queen’s Plate exceptionally well but his best performances have been at a mile.”
Crawford, 45, the son of a Harare accountant, had originally hoped to be a jockey and began riding work in Zimbabwe when he was 13.
He rode as an amateur over hurdles and worked as assistant to a number of trainers – including Mike de Kock, Peter Muscatt, Eric Sands and Dennis Drier - before sending in his CV to Sabine Plattner when Chris Snaith decided not to continue as her private trainer.
He took over in July 2001 and handled many top horses including Laisserfaire and Bad Girl Runs as well as Angus.
He decided to leave Plattner Racing in 2009 when he set up on his own at Philippi and he now has one of the biggest strings in Cape Town.