Vengi Masawi, Anthony Delpech and Sean Veale pose after the milestone victory (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Hollywood Racing’s Ashburton-based conditioner Vengi Masawi will remember Wednesday 10 September 2025 forever as a watershed day in the extraordinary career of a Groom who realised his dream to become a Trainer, writes The Sporting Post.
He had had three seconds from his first eight runners and bagged the glorious icebreaker with his ninth runner!
Living proof that hard work and commitment can make dreams come true, Zimbabwe-born Vengi Masawi saddled the 5yo What A Winter gelding Mvelelo – aptly meaning ‘continuous growth’ in Tshivenda – to a glorious victory under Sean Veale in the final race of the midweek polytrack fixture in Durban.
The race was a modest Class 4, but it was Vengi’s own mini Hollywoodbets Durban July as the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein-bred gelding charged clear to register his second career victory.
The win was all the sweeter after Vengi’s runner, the 5yo mare Qhawekazi, had run second earlier in the day. It also capped a double for the Hollywood Racing team after Alyson Wright saddled Isikwishikwishi (Sean Veale again) to win the penultimate race.
Hollywood Racing’s Anthony Delpech, a seasoned battle-hardened former champion jockey, personified the emotion of the moment as he fought back the tears.
Sean Veale was chuffed to have been the man to have done the honours from the saddle for a team who are set to reach new heights this term.
Vengi looked shell-shocked but thanked the men – and women – who made it possible.
Click here to watch the winning interview
Mvelelo’s milestone happened just over 21 years after Vengi Masawi arrived in South Africa from Zimbabwe in 2004 on a successful feature raid as the Groom of Lisa Harris’ Triple Crown winner Earl Of Surrey.
Vengi enjoyed his South African trip so much that he ‘rushed back’ when an opportunity came.
“I worked for Gary Alexander for a few weeks at Turffontein before joining another former Zimbabwean, Sharon Patterson, at her spelling facility near Randjesfontein. After a while Mrs Patterson felt that I would do well in a big racing stable and she spoke to Diane de Kock. In 2007 she got me the job as a stable employee working alongside Mrs De Kock and their two-year-olds, which are prepped before full training and has always been separate from their main yard.”
Vengi has been with the Hollywood Racing team since September 2024.
“I have known Vengi for a long time from my days as stable jockey to Mike de Kock. He is a fantastic horseman and a thorough gentleman. He also has a passion for horses and for racing. And that shines through,” said Anthony Delpech.
Anthony Delpech, Sean Veale and Vengi Masawi celebrate a memorable moment (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Born and raised in Zimbawe, Vengi was educated at the Rusununguka Secondary School outside of Harare. He spent much of his teenage years on the Woodleigh Stud Farm in East Mashonaland, where his father worked as a mechanic.
The farm was owned by Dubbles Draper, who was married to Graham Carey, the grandfather of Ridgemont Stud’s Craig Carey. The great Ipi Tombe, bred by Peter Moor, was born in the same region.
The early seeds of horsemanship were planted at Woodleigh where Vengi soaked everything up like a sponge and assisted with mare coverings on the farm. There were times, he concedes, when he ran away from school to be with horses.
Vengi met businessman Brian Makwabarara, who is well known in Zimbabwe and South Africa as an auctioneer and racehorse owner. Brian assisted him in securing a job at Borrowdale Park, where he joined then champion trainer Lisa Harris at the height of her success.
Vengi credits Lisa with much of his foundation knowledge of stable management and treatment of injuries. He rode work and handled her top horses Double Bluff, Divine Wisdom and Zimbabwean champion Earl Of Surrey – a horse that was to change his life!
After joining the De Kock team assisting with their 2yo’s, Vengi moved to the main stable after veterinarian Dr Terry Casey was impressed with the way he bandaged and treated an injured runner.
Against the background of De Kock’s travels around the world, the extent of Vengi’s duties grew as he worked closely with erstwhile assistant trainer John Buckler and became a stalwart in the stable.
Diane de Kock enrolled him at the Summerhill School Of Excellence in 2012, where he studied under Heather Morkel with the guidance of Mick Goss’s renowned multiple championship-winning team.
The rest is history. And Vengi certainly looks set for continuous growth!
