The Hollywood Syndicate’s Var first timer Shampompo Shampizi won a cracker at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday under emotional circumstances.
Ridden by former SA Champion Lyle Hewitson and trained by Alyson Wright, Shampompo Shampizi (7-2) accelerated up the outside for an eyecatching first-up win, beating Lhasa Star by 1,90 lengths in a time of 61,28 secs.
Shampompo Shampimpi wins well on debut (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Bred by Carl and Amanda de Vos the R300 000 National Yearling Sale first-timer is out of the Victory Moon five time winner, Light The Moon.
A large group that included Hollywood staff and family of the late Kaunda Ntunja, who was a well known rugby pundit and Xhosa rugby commentator, and named the handsome bay, was on course to enjoy the moment.
Kaunda, who sadly passed away on 20 July 2020 at the age of 38, named the winner,
Shampompo Shampizi stems from Kaunda’s commentary in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, when winger Makazole Mapimpi scored South Africa’s first ever try in a World Cup final.
His enigmatic commentary was trending for days around the world at the time , with many reciting his words: “Liqhashu! yiBubbly, shampompo, shampizi! Izinto ezihlwahlwazayo!”
The sentence translates to “The cork is popping! Bubbly, champagne, sparkling wine! All things that sparkle!”
A popular group lead-in! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Hollywoodbets thus proudly hosted their honoured guests on Sunday. These included Kaunda’s widow Aviwe Ntunja, his fellow Xhosa rugby commentator and former Springbok Kaya Malotana, and former Springbok Odwa Ndungane and his wife Kgomotso.
Watch the race and post-race interviews here
