Royal Zulu Warrior runs for Express
ROYAL Zulu Warrior will run under the Kempton Express banner in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile at Turffontein Race Course on Saturday, November 2. Ridden by jockey Karl Zechner and drawn number eight, Royal Zulu Warrior will run in aid of Maphanzela Primary Aftercare Centre in Phenduka Section, Thokoza. The centre is one of …
ROYAL Zulu Warrior will run under the Kempton Express banner in the Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile at Turffontein Race Course on Saturday, November 2.
Ridden by jockey Karl Zechner and drawn number eight, Royal Zulu Warrior will run in aid of Maphanzela Primary Aftercare Centre in Phenduka Section, Thokoza. The centre is one of the Peermont Children’s Trust charities that have been selected to take part in the day’s festivities. The day itself offers something for the entire family with live entertainment, a celebratory autograph signing, beer garden and kid’s carnival.
The horses’ positions were drawn at Emperors Palace on Wednesday. Express’ celebrity for the race is Gerry Elsdon, humanitarian and activist and known as the face of Lux SA.
Royal Zulu Warrior is a seven-year-old gelding, owned by Roy Moodley and trained by Kumaran Naidoo. He had his debut in 2010 when he set Clairwood alight with a scintillating performance in winning a 1 200m race.
The charity mile brings together top race horses in the country and celebrities to benefit 16 charities.
Each horse races on behalf of a charity and its finishing position determines how much the charity wins. R550 000 will be given away to the participating charities and each will get something.
The charity represented by the winning horse gets R100 000, second R70 000, third R50 000, fourth R40 000, fifth R30 000, sixth R29 000, seventh R28 000, eighth R27 000, ninth R26 000, 10th R25 000, 11th R25 000, 12th to 16th R20 000 each.
Mbyiswa Tshabalala, a teacher at Maphanzela Primary Aftercare Centre and Hayley Mkupa, a supervisor, were very excited to be part of the race and that the children under their care would benefit from it.
The centre looks after and feed 113 grade 4-7 pupils of five primary schools in Thokoza. Most of the children in their care are orphans affected by the 1990 violence in this township, because some of their parents and family members died during that era.
The aftercare centre, situated at Maphanzela Primary School, operates from 2pm each week day during school terms. The children do their homework, are fed and washed before going home. Each child also gets a food parcel for school holidays.