It is with great sadness that we relate the passing
of racing patron Michael Javett on 17 November 2022. He passed away at
his home in Johannesburg at the age of 86.
An
unfailingly loyal supporter of local racing and breeding for close to
half a century, Mr Javett was associated with a number of champions
during his life. The mighty Archangel was an early stand out, but he
will always be remembered for his association with the great Politician,
which he raced in partnership with the Tenderinis. Hand picked by
Javett to test one of his breeding theories, Politician was famously
procured for a bargain basement R5,250 from the Scott Bros at the 1975
National Yearling Sales. In the hands of Syd Laird, the colt went on to
win 18 races (11 of them at Gr1 level), including the 1978 Rothmans
July and back to back victories in the Queen’s Plate and Metropolitan
Stakes, retiring to stud with three South African Horse of the Year
titles and arguably one of the greatest to grace the South African turf.
More
recent enjoyment came by way of stakes winners E-Jet, Montreal Mist,
Marmara Sea, Storm Destiny, Purely Atomic and in particular, the
champion filly Alboran Sea which he raced in partnership with Mary
Slack. The daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar was a 5-time winner from her
10 career starts, with her victories in the Allan Robertson, Cape Flying
Championship and Computaform Sprint earning her Champion 3yo Filly
status.
The
last yearling he purchased in partnership with Mary Slack was
Thunderstruck, a son of Rafeef, who won the 2022 Gr1 Gold Medallion,
shortly before Mr Javett exited the industry for health reasons.
In
addition to his unwavering support to breeders and trainers, Mr Javett
made an inestimable contribution in supporting the preservation and
promotion of local racing, including the mentorship of dual SA Champion
rider, S’manga Khumalo. He preferred to add his support quietly and
without acknowledgement, so the true extent of his support to the
industry may never be fully known, but it can certainly never be
overestimated.
An
intensely private person who eschewed media attention, opportunities to
talk to him were few, but with his lively and determined intellect that
did not shy away from veering off the status quo, these invariably
proved fascinating.
He
was a man of meticulous habits, always impeccably dressed and the most
consummate of gentlemen. His many interests outside of racing,
including art and philanthropy, have been documented elsewhere, but in
every respect he will be remembered as that rarest of life’s finds – a
good man.
