One Step at a Time and Black Friday charging for victory again at Berlin November

Ruthless Konakel’phi the favourite for 1,000m thoroughbred title

All attention will be on One Step at a Time and Black Friday to defend their titles at the ninth edition of the Berlin November Traditional Horse Racing meeting in Ntabozuko on Saturday.

The two horses were victorious in 2021’s racing campaign.

Black Friday, with Sbu Madalavu in the saddle, won the 1,200m race in 2021, while One Step at a Time, ridden by Tornado Nkofunga, was victorious in the 1,400m race.

Black Friday will go head-to-head with Molotsana, Nithethile Ngam, Asihlangene, Gobasthethe, S denge’ sn ent she be, Ndincamile, Go nond’ uy as abeka,T roy Terminator andTs ho miNtl eke lein2022’ s1,200m race.

One Step at a Time will square off in the 1,400m thoroughbred category with Sanitizer, Ntomb’ethongo, Ms Vee Ndonakele, Ndizoyivala Imilomo, Hayi Abantu, Sihamba NgoLine, Boiling Water and Ntombie. The popular annual race meeting has attracted horse owners, trainers and jockeys from throughout the province, Lesotho and other parts of the country.

Huge prize money of up to R500,000 will be up for grabs in the 12 races, with 132 horses registered so far.

The contenders will go head-to-head in thoroughbred and indigenous races to earn bragging rights over various distances.

The indigenous races, split into three categories, will include Umphalo (speed, turf and galloping races), Umhambo (tripling races) and Umkhwelo (endurance races).

With steed Kumkani unable to defend the 1,000m thoroughbred title, Konakel’phi was the favourite to win, said Berlin November racing manager Lopez Magongo.

“The horse is unbeaten this year and has been dominating the region,” Magongo said. “It is a ruthless horse and will give everyone a run for their money.

“Everyone will be expecting Konakel’phi to do well with the preparation the horse has had heading into the event, and it will be the favourite,” he said.

Konakel’phi will go up against High Court Ndod’emnyama, Izintozimanukwendzeka, Sdenge snentshebe, Phumalanga skothe Ndoda aybuzwa, Alitshoni lingenandaba, Nongqawuse, Fihlani Amehlo and No Evidence.

Konakel’phi won at the Ngumbela Horse Racing Tournament in September and its owner will be looking to repeat the win in the Eastern Cape’s biggest race.

Konakel’phi’s jockey, Sandile Xaso, has Saturday’s title in his sights.

“It will be the second time the horse will be racing in the Berlin November,” Xaso said.

“Last year, we came home in second place in the 1,000m.

“He will be ready to claim the title after a long preparation throughout the year.

“However, it will not be easy because there will be riders from all over SA and Lesotho,” he said.

The racing starts at 10am, with the finals at 4pm.