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By Citizen Reporter

Journalist


Zubbadubbadoo has become one of racing’s “feel good” stories

The Brett Crawford-trained three-year-old gelding Zubbadubbadoo has become one of racing’s “feel good” stories of the season and looks set to provide a lot more publicity for the good cause for which he races: the Reach For Recovery Breast Cancer Association, after winning for the second time in just his third career start at Kenilworth Racecourse on Sunday.


This horse has also helped raise the profile of the Kenilworth Ladies Day race meeting, which is held annually, as he fetched R130.000 for the cancer charity at the first of these meetings in 2013. Owners Marsh Shirtliff, Lukas Theron and owner of Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud David Hepburn-Brown donated him for the auction and 12 ladies put their force behind the cause by purchasing him and forming the Flaming Flamingos syndicate.

Champion trainer and winner of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the J&B Met, Brett Crawford came to the party and donated the training for Zubbadubbadoo. Zubbadubbadoo took a while to come to hand, but the patience has paid off as he now looks to be a decent sought. The Flaming Flamingos syndicate are extremely enthusiastic supporters of their horse.

They have been in fine voice and spirit around the winner’s enclosure after both of his victories. Zubbadubbadoo, who was bred by Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud, flew through for third on his debut on January 24 over 1200m and then won next time out on February 25 over 1000m. On Sunday, he pulled off the rare feat of winning first time out of the maidens in a handicap event over 1200m. All of his starts have been at Kenilworth Racecourse and he has been ridden on each occasion by

Crawford’s stable jockey Corne Orffer. Zubbadubbadoo looks to have inherited the heart of his father Jay Peg, who is the highest earning South African-bred racehorse in history and was famous for his courage. Crawford said after Sunday’s win that there was “still plenty in the tank” for the bay gelding.

Ladies Day has gone from strength to strength with fetching R150.000 from last year’s filly Blu Tack donated by Mary and Jessica Slack from Mauritzfontein Stud. Planning for this year’s Ladies Day is well underway.

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