Louis Mxothwa snappily makes it into rarified Grade 1 territory

Jockey Luyolo Mxothwa couldn’t resist a dig at his senior colleagues in the riding ranks, chirping, “I can’t believe winning a Grade 1 is this easy – when you have the right horse!”

“Louis” had just dismounted from three-year-old filly Make It Snappy after guiding her to victory in the R1-million WSB Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday. It was his first Grade 1 success and just reward for dedication and hard work in his chosen profession.

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It was a third Cape Fillies Guineas win for trainer Brett Crawford – after Bad Girl Runs (2005) and Front And Centre (2018). Accepting his trophy, Crawford praised “a text-book ride” by Mxothwa.

Some of the 6-1 shot’s backers might not have agreed shortly after the 1600m start of the classic, as the jock pushed Make It Snappy up to lead from the No 11 starting gate. Getting a young horse to gallop into the breeze in a Kenilworth mile is a risky tactic.

But the regally bred daughter of Dynasty had shown her front-running capabilities when winning the Summer Bowl over the same course and distance two weeks previously. Trainer and rider knew what they were doing.

Ciao Bela, trained by Justin Snaith and ridden by Richard Fourie, started as the 9-4 favourite and was always likely to make a lunge for the hare and did so with a couple of furlongs to go. Make It Snappy wasn’t for the taking, though. She responded to Mxothwa’s encouragement and held on to win comfortably by 1.50 lengths, with rider waving his crop triumphantly in the air.

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“She pricked her ears in the final stages and I saw Ciao Bela and Richard out of the corner of my eye,” said the jubilant winner.

Mxothwa, 29, started on his racing path fairly late, only joining the SA Jockey Academy in 2010 at 18, after matriculating from Stanger High in KwaZulu-Natal. His father was a groom at leading owner Fred Crabbia’s farm, so young Louis knew all about the wild world of horse racing.

His natural ability quickly became apparent and he had his first race ride in May 2012, at Scottsville. His first winner came just four rides later, at Fairview.

A thorough grounding with a stint in Eastern Cape, in the demanding Gavin Smith stable, honed the young talent. Success as a jockey is never easy but perseverance, riding primarily in Cape Town for Piet Botha, Greg Ennion and Vaughan Marshall, saw a steady flow of winners.

In 2021, the powerhouse Crawford yard found themselves without a retained jockey when Callan Murray left for Australia. It wasn’t a surprise when they got Louis on board. Any number of pundits had been predicting big things for him.

Crawford has many quality horses lining up for the Cape summer season and you’ll struggle to find someone to give you odds on Louis adding to his Grade 1 tally in short order.