Judgment Day for hot Mxuli
Philasande Mxuli plans to defend his title when he competes in the fifth instalment of the glamourous Berlin November traditional horse-race in Berlin on Saturday. Mxuli, 20, was hailed by his horse’s owner Lopez Magongo as the best of the best. Mxuli is expected to shine when he saddles Final Judgment with whom he won on at last year’s Berlin November.
Mxuli has been racing for seven years and has more than 15 titles under his belt. He recently won the provincial championships that were recently held in Centane last month. Last year he saddled the horse – Final Judgment and won the grand prize of MTN Wafa Wafa indigenous race and scooped a R100,000 cheque on behalf of Magongo.
He’s first win in the Berlin November race was in 2015 and he’s since went on to win the Ngumbela July this year organised by philanthropist and businessman Advocate Mthetheli Ngumbela. Mxuli said nothing would change this year as he was going to be partnering with Final Judgment again. He said winning the race again was possible. “I’m going to repeat history at the race, and I know Final Judgment will not disappoint me. It’s been four years since I have been racing with Final Judgment.
“She’s ready for the race, we’ve been preparing her for months now and I think on Saturday she’ll give everyone in the race a headache,” said Mxuli. The experienced young jockey said his secret was not to overwork a horse, and he was aware of the stiff competition that will be at the race.
“The only jockey I’m sceptical to go against is my partner Sandile Xoza, he will be riding Kwazibani.
“He’s very fast on the track and there’s a couple of times that he has passed me and I couldn’t get enough time to recover. “Another strong and fast horse is Mona Usesweni and I think I need to pull up my socks if I want to defend my title. “That race is the toughest you’ll find locally, so I’m taking it seriously because one slip up and you out.
“And I hoping to win that Toyota bakkie. That car would make things easy for us as team. For instance when we are going to other races we won’t need to worry about transporting our horses,” said Mxuli.