No margins for error
The elegantly youthful Michelle Rix formed a training partnership with her father, Harold Crawford, in August 2019, and they’ve achieved remarkable success in less than two years since. On Saturday, the father/daughter combination won the G1 Vodacom Durban July, the single race every South African dreams of attending, let alone winning.
It takes rare skill, patience and horsemanship to bring a horse to Durban July level and, to win it, even more so. There is simply no margin for error in the build-up to this race and in the race itself, and through their feats with three-year-old Kommetdieding, the Rix/Crawford team has shown they’re well up to the task.
Per Covid-19 regulations, no fans were allowed at Greyville last Saturday, but Michelle gained a host of new fans watching the spectacle around the world and she was on a cloud when we spoke to her, all the same. She’s set her sights on winning this prestigious race again in front of the July’s customary 50,000-plus fans.
Michelle is only the second female trainer in South African history to stand in the VDJ winner’s box, and she paid tribute to her dad, a veteran of over 50 years in the training ranks who himself was almost speechless after Kommetdieding’s sensational win.
Here’s our snap Q&A with Racing’s Lady Of The Moment:
- Full name? Michelle Rix
- Date of Birth? 26 February 1986
- Steak or sushi? Steak
- Superstitions? Don’t walk through the winners box
- Fav Holiday Destination? Barcelona
- Which: BMW or Merc? Neither… Audi
- Who inspires you the most? My Mom
- Big night out or quiet night in? Quiet night in
- Left-handed or right-handed? Left handed
- Milnerton or Summerveld? Summerveld
- What annoys you the most? Ignorant people
- Cape racing: Limited season or year-long? Year long
- Funniest person you have ever met? Joanne Knowles
- The Cape Met or Durban July? Both
- Strict whip rules or no whip at all? Strict whip rules
- What is your biggest phobia? Claustrophobia
- Most embarrassing moment? Falling and chipping my front tooth with friends
- Colts or fillies? Colts
- Live or online auction sales? Live Auction
- Proudest Achievement? Winning the July, and my Daughter
- Economy or business class? Business (of Course)
- Your star sign? Pisces
- Single or taken? Taken
- Bath or shower? Shower
- Read or Netflix? Read
- Would you rather ask for permission or ask for forgiveness? Ask for forgiveness
- Nominate someone for our Q&A next? Gavin Lerena
Nominate two horses to follow for the rest of this year:
Desert Miracle & Captain Lannister
Chosen charity for readers to donate to:
TAFTA Care of the Elderly
