Ntando Stokwe is one of the many unsung heroes of the South African horse-racing industry. Grooms toil day in and day out, and their labour remains an essential and vital part of racing's ability to keep going.
The Tarry Yard has some wonderful grooms working in their stable. One groom who has had a fantastic run of late is Ntando Stokwe.
Ntando, whose hard work and dedication have played a notable part in Sean Tarry Racing's ongoing success, handles a number of talented gallopers in the yard, and his charges have of late really come to the fore.
Among the horses he works with are Champion Warrior, Willow Express and Ombudsman, with all three horses recently finding the winners enclosure.
Classy gelding Champion Warrior, a potential Grand Heritage runner, made it back-to-back wins when he romped home to a facile win at the Vaal recently.
Racing for Glistian (Pty) Ltd in partnership with Lance Michael, the classy five-year-old lost his way earlier in his career, and his return to winning ways is a feather in the cap of Ntando and the rest of the Tarry yard.
Ntando has also done some wonderful work with the veteran Willow Express, who recently won 3 out of his last 6 starts, totalling 7 career wins.
The seven-year-old son of the Tarry-trained G1 SA Nursery/G2 Dingaans winner Willow Magic has won twice and finished second in his last three starts, and is a great credit to his connections.
Flashy grey Willow Express races for Messrs A Lahoud, Mark Currie, Craig Zoghby & Sean Tarry Racing (Pty) Ltd, with the gelding having earned nearly R1 000 000 in prize money.
Remarkably, both Champion Warrior and Willow Express have won twice in their current hot streak of form, which is a real tribute to the care provided by Ntando. Clearly, Ntando proves first-class care to his charges, and he deserves recognition for his hard work.
Yet another of Ntando's charges to win recently was the Flower Alley three-year-old Ombudsman. Stepping up to 1600m, Ombudsman was steered home to a good maiden win by Piere Strydom.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Ombudsman is owned by ASSM Racing Syndicate, who too have had a good run of form.