Skip to main content
2025 May

Owner of the Month –May – Lady Christine Laidlaw

Racehorse Owners AssociationMay 28, 2025May 30th, 2025

Photo Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Owner of the Month –May – Lady Christine Laidlaw

South African horseracing, as with many industries, is filled with highs and lows. We have seen new owners dipping their toes into the Sport of Kings, and there are longstanding supporters who have been instrumental to the industry throughout the years. The Racehorse Owners Association is honored to celebrate Lady Christine Laidlaw as our Owner of the Month in the May edition of ROA Today.

Lady Laidlaw has been a prominent and passionate figure in South African horseracing since 2008, when she made her first purchase at the BSA Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. From that moment, her presence in the sport has grown steadily, both in influence and achievement, through her racing operation, Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd.

The Khaya Stables journey started in South Africa with the first purchase in 2008. This was the acquisition of Noordhoek Flyer (SNL), who won the Grade1 Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas and the Grade 2 KRA Guineas in KwaZulu-Natal, before becoming a sire.

Lady Laidlaw races exclusively under the Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd banner, without partners. She currently has just over 20 horses in training, including a promising crop of unraced two-year-olds, as well as eight more running in Gqeberha, some of whom are nearing retirement or stud duty.

Dean Kannemeyer is the main trainer for the operation and has won most of the feature races for Khaya Stables. The other Cape based horses are conditioned by Brett Crawford and Candice Bass-Robinson as well as Eric Sands who was recently added to the roster. Mike de Kock trains 4 horses on the Highveld and there are a handful with Gavin Smith down in the Eastern Cape.

Lady Laidlaw says they were lucky to win the Grade 1 Cape Guineas race twice and to have placed in it with a further three horses. The country has witnessed some phenomenal horses racing in these silks over the last 17 years and we are thrilled to name their notable stakes horses below:

  • AT MY COMMAND (3rdCape Guineas, Gr.1)
  • CAPE ROYAL (In Full Flight Hcp L)
  • CAPE SPEED (Track & Ball Derby Gr.3)
  • CAPETOWN NOIR (Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas, Gr.1, Investec Cape Derby, Gr.1, Byerley Turk, Gr.3, Matchem Gr.3, L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, Gr.1 – Sire)
  • COSMIC HIGHWAY (Cape Nursery, Gr.3, Gatecrasher Stakes, L, Diadem Stakes, Gr.2, Cape Merchants, Gr.2)
  • DELTA QUEEN (Kenilworth Fillies Nursery Gr.3 – Exported to Australia)
  • DIVINE JET (3rdBetting World Cape Merchants, Gr.3 – Sire)
  • GIMMIE A PRINCE (Cape Flying Championship Gr.1 – twice, Merchants Gr.2, Golden Horse Sprint Gr.1, Diadem St Gr.2)
  • GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (Gatecrasher Stakes L, 2ndGolden Horseshoe Gr.2, 2nd Jonsson Workwear Dingaans Gr.2)
  • GIMMIE’S COUNTESS (Diana Stakes. Gr.3, Gr.1 placed)
  • GIMMIE’S LASSIE (3rd Western Cape Fillies Championship Gr.2, 3rd Prix Du Cap Gr.3)
  • GREEN WITH ENVY (Politician Stakes. Gr.3, SplashOut Cape Derby Gr.1, World Sports Betting KZN Guineas Gr.2, Daily News Gr.1- Sire)
  • KHAYA’S HOPE (Racehorse Owners Association Stakes L, Ibhayi Stakes L)
  • LAST WINTER (2ndCape Premier Trophy, Gr.2, 2nd Sun Met Gr.1- Sire)
  • NOORDHOEK FLYER (2nd Selangor Cup Gr.2, BSA Cape Guineas Gr.1, KRA Guineas Gr.2 – Sire)
  • POMODORO’S JET (World Sports Betting Grand Heritage, Wolf Power 1600 L)
  • POWER KING (Winter Guineas Gr.3, Winter Classic Gr.3, Vodacom Durban July Gr.1)
  • REAL PRINCESS (Poinsettia St Gr.3, SA Fillies Sprint Gr.1)
  • SEVENTH GEAR (3rdCape Classic Gr.3)
  • SILVANO’S TIMER (The Darley Arabian L)
  • SOLID SPEED (Highland Night Cup NBT, Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, Gr.3, Betting World 1900, Gr.2)
  • SUGAR GIRL (3rdPoinsettia St Gr.3)
  • THE REAL PRINCE (Jet Master Stakes L)

Known for her commitment to excellence and her love for the sport, Lady Laidlaw has made a meaningful impact on the racing landscape, this was through the sponsorship of feature races, the jockeys vs workriders races, as well as the Star Grooms Initiative.

Lady Laidlaw has experienced wonderful winning moments as her horses have not only competed but triumphed in some of the country’s most prestigious races. Among her memorable victories is the remarkable win by her very first yearling purchase in the Guineas. This was followed by even greater heights with the brilliant Capetown Noir, who not only won the Guineas but went on to claim the Derby and the Queen’s Plate. Another standout moment came when Power King surprised the racing world by winning the Durban July as a 20-1 longshot, a moment made even more special by Lady Laidlaw’s last-minute decision to fly in from Europe to witness it.

When asked what she enjoys most about racing, her response was heartfelt and clear: “Winning — especially if I bred the winner, is the most enjoyable part. I love the breeding side of the sport, seeing the foals with their mums. The jockeys vs workriders race was my particular favourite – sadly the industry failed to support this project.”

She believes the South African racing industry must evolve to become more welcoming and inclusive. “We need to try and broaden our customer base. It’s intimidating for new entrants, and the focus should be on inclusivity — not elitism.”

We celebrate and thank Lady Christine Laidlaw for her longstanding and ongoing contribution to South African racing, as a dedicated owner, breeder and a thoughtful supporter of the sport’s future.