Experienced workrider Bazile Nkunzi, the man who is part of the team behind leading local classic hope Charles Dickens, drew first blood in the 2022/23 Hollywoodbets Workriders’ Series at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.
The first of 4 legs of the series which culminates on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day in January, produced an exciting finish as Bazile, riding the Andries Steyn-trained Wylie Jack (10-1), caught the favourite Carriacou (8-10) and Johnny Tamela out of their ground and held on in a driving finish to win in a time of 60,06 secs.
Bazile Nkunzi keeps Wylie Jack going to beat the obscured odds-on favourite (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Cider House Rules (13-2) was 1,50 lengths back in third under Andile Ndlela, with Rafiki (5-1) fading late under Callum Dixon to finish fourth.
In an unfortunate incident, the wayward Janneman – a stablemate to the winner – dumped Sawutini Qhwaba shortly after the start.
A beautifully balanced rider, Bzile Nkunzi has now ridden 7 career winners and takes an early lead in the Hollywoodbets Workriders’ Series.
Ed – a suspension of one workrider race incurred here won’t do his prospects any good.
Hollywoodbets’s Jackson Masengesho enjoys the moment with Bazile Nkunzi (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
]The next three races are scheduled for 27 November, 17 December, and the series culminates on 7 January on the 2023 L’Ormarins King’s Plate Day with the running of the R135 000 Workrider’s Maiden Plate.
Was this a pointer? Bazile made the SPRINT cover on Wednesday 26 October!
Besides earning the standard riding commissions in each of the four races, a grand prize of R25 000 is up for grabs, with points being earned by individual workriders in each of the four races.
Cape Racing will publish a log on the Monday following each of the races, and this will reflect the standings of the various competitors as they bid for glory
Following the final race on Saturday, 7 January 2023 and once the log has been updated and finalised, the R25 000 prize pool will be apportioned as follows:
- Winner earns R12 000 and will receive a beautiful trophy as a momento
- Runner-up earns R6 000
- Third placer earns R4 000
- Fourth placer earns R2 000
- Fifth placer earns R1 000
