Thabo Mhlongo

This is a racing fairytale if ever there was one with a first-time owner having a winner with the first horse he has owned in its very first race.

Thabo Mhlongo was a farmer in the Midlands where he became friends with popular owner-breeder Rob Smith who farmed in the same area – a friendship which developed to the point where Rob eventually talked Thabo into buying a racehorse that he had bred – Ishnana.

At Scottsville on March 1 under Mandla Ntuli for Garth Puller, the two-year-old Al Miqdaam colt proved too good for his opposition to win by half a length completing the fairytale.

“Rob was my neighbour when I started farming and he was very helpful, teaching me how to farm properly. He’s a wonderful human.

“It is very exciting and has united the whole family. They are all very excited and we visit Ishnana at the stables as a family, talking to him and reminding him that we remember him as a baby.

“This horse is a start and I hope to have three or four by the time I retire in the next few years.”

Congratulations and well done Thabo.