Almost two years to the day since they touched down in South Australia, the Alexander brothers have become the first trainers to move their horses into the $13 million state-of-the art stables at the Murray Bridge Racing Club.
It’s a moment world-renowned South African trainers Gary and Dean have been waiting for since they were first approached by Racing SA to make the move down under.
“It’s great to be here, it’s been a long time coming so finally we are here,” said Dean.
“The facilities are fantastic. The training tracks are great. (We've) got lots of options which really make it a lot easier for us to get our horses into good condition for racing.
“They’re actually world class stables, they’ve got a lot to offer,” added Gary.
“The boxes are nice, the doors are great to open, easy access, safe. The design of the barns are great with the ventilation and the ceiling. There’s good air flow through and that’s what you want with a stable, and easy to use which is good.”
Twenty-one Alexander horses have now moved in at Murray Bridge, and there’s plans to grow that number to 60 in the near future as they establish themselves in the Australian racing scene.
In South Africa their name was synonymous with success. They amassed over 1600 winners including multiple Group 1s.
Their late father Duncan was also a legendary jockey.
“It was tough to leave, it wasn’t easy to leave. A lot of good people, a lot of good friends and a lot of nice horses, so not always easy to walk away from,” said Gary.
“When we first arrived we were locked up in quarantine, and then of course we couldn’t travel to look at horses so we started to buy one or two online.
“And one of course was Brazen Force and he came out and he ran third in his first start for us, and then he won his next. That was a great start for us to have your second run a winner so then we built up and bought a few more online.
“And when we started to travel we went to New Zealand to the Ready to Run Sales and we bought some more babies there, and then the Adelaide sales we got some yearlings so it’s been a process.
“But it’s been a slow process trying to get our name out there, meeting a lot of people, doing a bit of marketing - that’s Dean’s baby. I’m more with the horses and hands on,” said Gary who among his many accolades was voted trainer of the year in 2000 by the South African Racing Association.
At their peak the brothers had 160 horses in full time work at Johannesburg’s Turffontein Racecourse, and Durban.
They had cut back to 80 by the time Racing SA approached them about a move.
Their unbreakably positive attitude even more remarkable considering the industry they love so much in South Africa has been in a sad state of decline.
“For me it’s all about the horses. I just love working with them. They keep you going. You get up in the morning as long as you’ve got a horse to train,” said Gary.
“I think my worst part was when we sold up about a month before we got on a plane. For the first time in 40 years I had nothing to do, nothing to get up for. I couldn’t wait to get out of quarantine to come buy my first horse so I could have a horse to saddle up and have a look at in the box. So that keeps us going, that keeps us positive,” he said.
“I think there’s been a decline in South Africa in general due to what’s going on in the country,” explained Dean.
“It’s very tough in the country, a very difficult phase, and racing’s been also a victim of that.
“They’re not getting any support from Government, and the Government has pulled the funding from racing which has been devastating. So it’s very difficult for racing in any country to grow and to prosper without Government support.
“And I think that’s key. When that happened we were already on the back foot, and then we got this offer from South Australia and it was a no brainer,” he said.
Racing SA’s approach came at the Asian Racing Conference in Cape Town at the end of 2020.
The Alexanders had been regular buyers at the Australian and New Zealand sales so they knew what they were getting into.
“It’s all about getting that champion racehorse. Everybody wants that champion. We’ve been very blessed we had a lot of champions in South Africa. Very good horses over the years so we know what it’s like to have champions and train champions, but it will be lovely to have a couple over here and get it done you know and get that behind us,” said Dean.
“I think we’ll get there eventually. It’s like everything. You just keep working at it and keep knocking on doors until they open. We’re very fortunate we’ve got a buyer in Robert Hill-Smith from Yalumba Wines who has given us an opportunity, and then we’ve got Gerry Harvey involved in a couple of babies that we’ve purchased and we’ll grow on that.
“I think it’s a great opportunity, especially for our children to come to Australia. There’s a good future here for them. The country is good in comparison to South Africa where it is at the moment. So it’s for them now basically. We’re trying to build something for them,” he said.
