Celinto favoured to retain title

Celinto’ndikwenzele will defend his wafa-wafa umhambo traditional horse racing title at the Berlin November competition at Berlin on Saturday.

Celinto’ndikwenzele, who is owned by Safa NEC member Xolile Nkompela, rose to stardom in 2018 when he was the fastest sprinter in the wafa wafa umhambo traditional horse division and won a Toyota Hilux bakkie worth R250,000.

Nkompela said they ready to defend the title.

“We are going back to the Berlin November to defend our wafa-wafa title,” he said.

“On Thursday evening they were completing their training, which has taken a few months.”

“We’ve attended quite a few races and we’ve also changed their feed and the way they are trained. All of these horses are going to open up big gaps when they race in Berlin, especially Celinto.”

In the wafa-wafa, thoroughbred Celinto’ndikwenzele is

ROAD CLOSURE ROUTE

were

Blaney Junction and Berlin On Ramp on the N2. (Vehicle would go via Berlin Industrial). Times: 9AM - 5PM. most likely to face Final Judgement, who took top honours in 2017 at Berlin November.

Judgment is owned by Lopez Magongo from Ilitha.

“We have just finished washing all nine horses that we are bringing to the race and they are all looking ready to compete,” Nkompela said.

“Celinto is going to be followed by his sibling Ndoday’buzwa. Ndoday’buzwa is two years older than Celinto, who recently turned four.

“Both horses are prepared to steal the show and win big at the event. They will both cross the finish line together.

“After winning the Berlin November, we went to compete in other races about the province, and in KwaZulu-Natal.

“Celinto has had a good year, winning most races that we have been to this year.

“He only fumbled once, when we went to Newcastle and we found the racetrack covered with soil. The way they prepared that track was not conducive for the horses.”

In that race Celinto’ndikwenzele came fourth.

“But over the past three weeks we’ve participated in a few races locally, and he’s done pretty well.

“And I can’t imagine all my horses dropping the ball at the Berlin November.”

In the wafa-wafa indigenous horse race in 2018, Sigwebo, owned by Bulelani Ndandani, scooped the R100,000 grand prize.