It was time to celebrate on Wednesday when Xolile Nkompela, owner of the horse Celinto’ndikwenzele, drove away with a Toyota Hilux long-base bakkie worth R250,000 after accepting his prize from Berlin November founder Luthando Bara at Buffalo Toyota in Beacon Bay.
Nkompela, a Safa-NEC member, was ecstatic on Saturday when his horse powered to the win in the Wafa Wafa Umhambo traditional horse-racing category at the fifth annual Berlin November to net him the special anniversary edition prize. “I am very excited and was so happy when my horse won the race,” said Nkompela.
“Remember that horse is only three years old, so it still has a lot to give and many more years in it. I won't be complacent after this win because people will be planning to unseat me, so I will be training and maintaining this horse to be a champion of this province for many years.”
Going into the Berlin November, Celinto'ndikwenzele was in top form having triumphed in a number of races over the year and had impressed in training in the lead-up to the Berlin November.
“After I saw how my horse was performing over the year and in training two weeks ago he was showing very good speed, so I called my colleagues and told them my horse was going to do it and they thought I was joking,” said Nkompela.
“The racecourse at Berlin is conducive to horse-racing, it is not a hard course and so I was happy to be racing on it.
“In the buildup what was most important was to prepare the horse mentally, you must let it feel free so that when it races it races freely.
I always make sure my jockeys are treating my horses right and then the horses repay that with good performances.” For race founder Bara it was the perfect way to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the event, with a prize that will be remembered for years...