Small Stables and Second Acts:
Stories from beyond the finish line
Two smaller stables made their mark last week with notable victories, each carrying a backstory. Halfway through the meeting at Fairview last Friday, Jurgen van Heerden halted Alan Greeff and Richard Fourie’s dominant winning streak with a Maiden Plate triumph posted by Anchor Man. At Turffontein on Saturday, Van Heerden’s former neighbour, Brett Warren, saddled Romeo’s Magic to his ninth career success.
Above: Jurgen van Heerden and Gareth Wright with the ROA’s bonus cheque for Anchor Man (photo: Pauline Herman).
Anchor Man (Vercingetorix) started at 14-1 and snatched a narrow win, getting there in the nick of time from the favourite Asinantanga. Jurgen said: “I didn’t really know what to expect, I thought he wouldn’t be fit enough after his five-month break. Thankfully, he was. I am pleased, because I think I have finally figured out the best ways of working horses on my home track.”
Above: The uphill track at the Van Heerden farm, Kenton-On-Sea (Photo: supplied)
In 2019, Jurgen and his wife Vanessa opted for a lifestyle change, relocating from Randjesfontein in Gauteng to the Eastern Cape, where Jurgen was born. Settling near Kenton-on-Sea, he built a 700m training track with a 30m incline and established a stable yard with 12 boxes. His head groom Joseph Dlamini relocated with the Van Heerden family. He has been in Jurgen’s employ for 29 years and plays an important role in the day to day life of the stable.
Jurgen said: “A few years ago, I started consulting jockey Greg Cheyne, who works for William Haggas at Newmarket, where they utilise the renowned Warren Hill track for training. Based on his advice, I’ve refined my approach to exercising my runners, incorporating heart rate monitors and using recovery rates as a key metric. My work riders have also learnt about fractions. This has made a significant difference to my training methods.”
Anchor Man was bred from Van Heerden’s now deceased mare Africa’s Touch (Al Mufti), who had produced earlier winners in Africa’s Gold and Dumisani. Africa’s Gold and another of the mare’s offspring, Duchess Of Africa, moved on to Amy Ratcliffe for showjumping careers. Both are jumping over 1.10m fences and doing well.
Jurgen said that he was extremely grateful to Mary Slack for her huge and ongoing contributions to the industry, which has given everyone a chance to continue doing what they love. He believes there is untapped potential in the synergy between the racing and showjumping industries. He noted that many individuals, like himself, are willing to train and race a small number of racehorses as a hobby, and this crossover could be further encouraged and developed.
There is the famous story of low-key Australian trainer Peter Moody, who had only a handful of horses and kept things quiet and personal. He’d often travel with his superstar Black Caviar in a caravan when they were on the road for races. Jurgen said: “There are people like this in the sports horse industry who would love to train a few runners, but they don’t because it takes too long and it’s too cumbersome and expensive to get a trainer’s licence. It can take several years to get through the process, so they sit on the sidelines instead of getting involved.
“I think that we can licence aspiring new trainers a lot quicker now that we have access to so much incredible technology and freely available online training courses. There has to be good control and examination schedules, but I think it can be done and racing will benefit. There is no or very little prize money to win in showjumping and eventing, but yet there is a lot of money going into it. There is an affluent community for racing to tap into. Horse people want to be involved in the day-to-day experience of the horse. There is nothing like watching your horse develop, get strong and finally winning. It is almost as exciting as watching your child do well on the sports field.”
A number of trainers came into the game from the showjumping and events circuit in years gone by, including John Nicholson, Willie Pieters and Nigel Riley. More recently Philip Vermeulen moved into Jurgen’s old property at Randjesfontein. He and wife Jeannique have enjoyed a fair amount of success with unfashionably-bred horses.
Above: Brett Warren (back) and connections with Romeo’s Magic (photo: JC Photos)
Across the road from Vermeulen in the Randjes Estate, veteran trainer Brett Warren has six stables, and he utilises the North Rand Training Centre for the yard’s morning gallops. One of the gentlemen of racing, Brett belongs to the ‘old school’ of horsemen. He also came from the showjumping community - a rider and teacher - and his training career goes back to the early 1980s, when he launched from a stable complex in the racing village at the old Newmarket.
Brett’s most successful spell came in the late 1980s and early 1990s with runners like Gold Ransom, Royal Mail, Fire Break, Lemon and Lime and Defiant. He is credited with giving the now legendary jockey Piere Strydom his first big break as an apprentice. As a team, they had a marvellous run of winners in Strydom’s explosive early career.
Like Jurgen van Heerden, Brett would love to have more horses in his stable. For the past decade, he has persevered with dedication, training a small string of runners with unwavering commitment. He said: “I enjoy what I do, and so does my family. My daughter Holly started a family recently, but she’s a showjumping teacher too and last week one of her pupils had a field day winning many rosettes at a Kyalami show.”
Brett shares Jurgen’s belief in the crossover potential between showjumping and racing and said: “There are many examples to name. Several top Cape trainers cut their teeth in showjumping and cross-country events. Champion jockey Gavin Lerena was very good at showjumping. Lyle Hewitson’s mother was a rider and Lyle himself played polo-crosse. Rachel Venniker and her entire family are active showjumpers, all the way back to her grandfather. The list goes on.”
Brett acknowledges, however, that significant work will be needed and changes will have to be made if we are to attract greater participation from the eventing and showjumping community. “I’d like to see more people with solid horse backgrounds in decision-making roles, in racing. If we’re going to fast-track trainers into the sport, it must be done with careful planning and strict regulations. The horse’s welfare must always come first. There will also have to be programming changes to allow for wider participation. We already have problems in this respect.”
Brett said about seven-year-old Romeo’s Magic, a son of Elusive Fort: “He started his career with Romeo Francis, and was moved to St John Gray when Romeo passed away. I bought him on St John’s sale for R35,000, I thought that was a gift.”
Romeo’s Magic’s races have been carefully selected in Warren’s care, securing six wins for owners Grant Mower and Rose van Zyl. Reflecting on his long-standing association with Rose, Brett shared: “Rosie has been racing with me forever. Before I started training, she was my showjumping pupil, and I helped her buy her first racehorse. We went to the National Sale at the old Milner Park showgrounds in 1977 and she had R500 to spend. We aimed to stay under budget but missed out on a few prospects in the R350 range. Eventually, we bought a colt named Il Medici (by Commentary) for R550 - I had to lend her R50 that day but she got the horse she wanted! Il Medici started his career with trainer Ralph Halket at the Vaal before coming to me at Newmarket, where we won a few races together.”
RETIRED AND REHOMED
Whether in competition, as lead ponies, or simply as beloved companions, many journeys continue beyond the racetrack.
Above: Ava Lerena with Puerto Manzano (photo: supplied)
Laurance Wernars has decided to retire multiple graded stakes winner, Puerto Manzano (ARG). The seven-year-old stalwart of Johan Janse van Vuuren’s stable won the Grade 1 2022 Betway Summer Cup and the 2023 WSB Premiers Champion Challenge, also the Grade 2 ASSM Onamission Charity Mile and two Grade 3 Jubilee Handicaps.
Puerto Manzano has been taken over by 4Racing’s Vikki Lerena (wife of Gavin Lerena), who said: “When I rode work for a while at Johan’s yard, I fell in love with Puerto Manzano, a truly special horse. He will be stabled at Saddlewood Ranch in Kyalami, a beautiful home for his retirement.”
Above: Shannon Nelson with Safe Passage (Photo: Supplied)
De Kock Racing has retired Safe Passage, second to Puerto Manzano in the 2022 Summer Cup and Shoemaker, fifth to Royal Victory in the 2023 renewal.
Above: Kyla Brimacombe with Shoemaker (Photo: Supplied)
Shoemaker is now owned by jockey Diego De Gouveia’s girlfriend, Kyla Brimacombe, and he is stabled on the same property as Safe Passage, at Saddlebrooke. Kyla told: “I am so lucky to have Shoemaker, he is a horse with a special personality. Diego rode Shoemaker in the Durban July and the Summer Cup, and he crept into our hearts. He was a gift from Arun Chadha, Warne and Wendy Rippon, so kind of them.”
Kyla, another accomplished showjumper, has three competitive jumpers on the 1.50m circuit and said that Shoemaker will also be aimed at the jumps, if he enjoys it. “He is going to the show ring for the first time next week, he is doing exceptionally well.”
Safe Passage has been rehomed to Dunblane Equestrian near Benoni, acquired by showjumper Jo-Ann Nelson for her daughter Shannon. Jo-Ann said: “He’s a sweet horse, we’re doing some work with him to get him used to his new, retired life. We have showjumping and perhaps cross-country in mind for him. He is my personal pleasure now, and will be Shannon’s pleasure when she is a bit older.”
In the Western Cape, 2021 Daily News winner, Linebacker, has rejoined Vaughan Marshall’s stable as their lead pony for the young and inexperienced horses coming into the yard. He suffered a bad bout of colic after his retirement in 2024, and owner Ken Truter said: “We were very worried, but thankfully, he pulled through. Now, he’s settled into his new role, and it’s wonderful to see him thriving in a familiar environment.”
NEW OWNERS:
They’re both steeped in racing, but Vikki Lerena and Paul Matchett’s long-time partner and assistant Sarah Clarke only recently registered their individual racing silks.
Vikky said: “I had small shares in runners with Justin Vermaak’s former Green Street Bloodstock Syndicates. We had a number of winners, including Leopold, who won the Secretariat Stakes. But recently I was offered a share in a Canford Cliffs filly that will be trained by Tony Peter, and they’re giving me an opportunity to race her my own silks, which is exciting.”
Sarah has already enjoyed wins with Miss Scaleta and Ruby Rebel and races the mare Coffeeberry on lease from breeder John Slade. Sarah hasn’t been on course to lead in any of the winners in her own silks yet, however, and said: “I don’t go to the races that often, I have duties at the stable. But I will be doing so when Paul takes more of a back seat.”