Zebaldt Ngaruka
Racehorse Woodland Ridge from Junius Racing (JR) won the Independence Cup 2026 competition held at Gobabis turf in the Omaheke region on Saturday.
The annual event attracted more than 50 horses from various racing clubs in the country, as part of Namibia’s Independence celebration, and vied in 17 plates, of which the last plate of 2000 metres (m) was the main race of the prestigious competition.
Woodland Ridge, a thoroughbred horse, competed in the competition’s main race with other elite horses like Action Time from Burger Racing (BR), Okahandja Racing’s (OR) Imperial Ruby, Whisper from Angermund Racing (AR) and Otjinene Supporters Club’s (OSC) Equerry.
The champion horse was challenged by Equerry in the second place, Whisper in third, while Action Time and Imperial Ruby claimed fourth and fifth places respectively.
In addition to the trophy, a cash amount of N$ 4 500 was paid to the horse owner for winning the main race.
In another highlight profile sprint of the Namibian born horses, OR’s Katiti Komambo emerged victorious, leaving behind Harambee Racing’s top horse called Boma in the second place, while Bin Laden came third and leaving another Aminuis Racing’s popular horse Lady Diamond in the fourth position.
BR’s top horse Pee Jay won the 1800 m in the D-Division category following a photo finish decision when it was challenged closely by Eamon Freygang’s Torix Night in the second place.
Wondering Star from Khomas Racing (KR) came third, while OSC’s Chief Helmet settled for the fourth spot in a highly competitive plate.
The thoroughbred horse Torix Night, earlier in the competion threw dust to its opponents in the 1000 m of the import D-Division horses, and claimed victory in a race where Pee Jay didn’t feature.
Furthermore, the future of thoroughbred horses in Namibia looks promising after nine horses competed in the 1600 m of the import graduation pot.
Horses like Del Boy, Time Master, World in Unison, Mr Aminuis, Force De Dieu, Desert Fox, Weerlig Mootu, Happiness Is and Crystal Maiden put the crowd on their feet.
Otjonene supporters smiled in the end after Weerlig Mootu emerged, leaving its challengers more than ten metres behind.
Time Master from BR, followed by Weerlig Mootu in second place, while Professor Supporters Club’s Force De Dieu took the third spot.
In the Nambred graduation category, KR’s Golden Fire scooped the first position in 1600 m, followed by Slim Shadey and Prince in second and third places respectively.
Also in the frame were Nambred maiden horses who sprinted in 1400m, of which Tallismanus horse White Nossob won, challenged by Miss Chicka’s in second, whereas Dr Bictor of Kopano came in third.
Katiti Komambo also emerged in the mixed race of D and A Division (1000 m), Boma came second while Bin Laden settled for third position.
In the Nambred juvenile category, Desert Storm won, leaving behind Storm Breaker and Sunday Silence in second and third places, respectively.
Pee Jay also showed its class after its triumph in the import open (1400m) followed by Earl of Cardigan in second, while Vang en Los grabbed the third place.
The much anticipated event ended in bad mode to horse fanatics after a debutant horse from Okahandja called Royal Style broke its right forelimb beyond recovery.