New Zealander Stephen Crutchley is the latest trainer to exit Kranji before its closure in October this year, joining Michael Clements and Shane Baertschiger on the list of departures.
Crutchley is all set to jet off home to the Land of the Long White Cloud and set sail with his own commercial fishing business. He will also remain in the horse racing game, buying and selling horses, which was what initially put him on the map in the first place as the seller of Laurie Laxon’s Group-winning mare Makkura.
The 56-year-old Kiwi spent years as an assistant trainer to the likes of John O’Hara and Mark Walker before becoming a trainer in his own right in 2022. Last Sunday’s fixture on March 17 was Crutchley’s final meeting, with his final runner, the appropriately named Sweet N Sour, winning the $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m.
In an interview penned by Michael Lee for The New Paper, Cructhley said: “It’s been a great journey. Of course, I’m also disappointed as this place has the best establishment in the world.
“To see it go is sad, not just for me, but for everyone, especially the owners who are so passionate about racing.
“I’m going home to run a commercial fishing company from New Plymouth. It’s something that I’ve been dabbling in before I came here.
“It was a good time to get into it full-time, I’ve already got some ships and plan to get some more. I just need to complete my commercial fisherman licence.
“All Toast Trusts horses will go to Daniel Meagher, except for two, Pride Of Love and Makkura’s unraced son, He’s My Halo. They’ll go to James Peters,” said Crutchley.
“Fame Star will run his last race in a Class 2 race (1,400m) on March 30. He will then go to New Zealand where he will keep racing.
“I haven’t discussed with Lucky Stable about Super Bowl yet. Regardless, we would have moved out by the end of the month.
“Dan’s very good at taking over horses, especially young ones like this winner Sweet N Sour.”
