MVELELO is a gelding by What A Winter, out of the Silvano mare Orchid Island. Purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate at the BSA August Two Year Old Sale 2022, he was bred by Wilgerbosdrift.

Name: MVELELO
Name Meaning: Mvelelo is a Tshivenda name that means “continuous growth”. It symbolizes the growth of the Hollywood group.
Sex: Bay Gelding
Sire: What A Winter
Dam: Orchid Island
Damsire: Silvano (GER)
DOB: 25 August 2020
Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift
Pedigree: See Here
Trainer: Wengesai “Vengi” Masawi
Previous Trainer: Mike and Mathew de Kock; Trevor Brown
Record: 24-4-9

UPDATES – Mvelelo

February 27th, 2026
Raced over 1400m on Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 4th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good run. He is returning to his best form. Hopefully he does not go up in the ratings as he is now at a competitive mark.

January 28th, 2026
Raced over 1400m on Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 10th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: The weight may have been too much for him as he is a very small horse. He needs to drop a few points in the ratings in order to be competitive again.

January 7th, 2026
Raced over 1200m on Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 1st out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: I feel the field was a bit too strong for him. He will need to drop a few points in the ratings to be competitive. I do feel he is better over 1400m.

November 28th, 2025
759 – MVELELO keeps finding to give Hollywood Racing a lovely double over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville this evening. He was given a perfect ride by Hollywood Racing-retained Jockey Sean Veale and brings up the hat-trick. The son of What A Winter is trained by Hollywoodbets-sponsored Wengesai “Vengi” Masawi and was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein. Race Replay / Interview.

October 27th, 2025
743 – MVELELO brings up Hollywood Racing’s 50th winner for the 2025/2026 season and that is a treble on the day. He ran on well under Hollywood Racing-retained Jockey Sean Veale over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack. The son of What A Winter is trained by Hollywoodbets-sponsored Wengesai “Vengi” Masawi and was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein. Race Replay / Interview.

October 27th, 2025
Raced over 1200m on Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 1st out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A very good win. He has done well since moving to Vengi.

September 10th, 2025
713 – MVELELO gives Hollywoodbets-sponsored Wengesai “Vengi” Masawi his first winner as a trainer. Hollywood Racing-retained Jockey Sean Veale put the son of What A Winter into a good position over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack and he won well. He is bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein. Mvelelo is a Tshivenda name that means “continuous growth.” Race Replay / Interview.

August 24th, 2025
Raced over 1600m on Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 5th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He had every chance, but didn’t find much up the straight. He will go back to the poly.

August 1st, 2025
Raced over 1400m on Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 2nd out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He was unlucky not to have won. He was caught three-wide with no cover. I believe that cost him the race. A much improved run for his new yard.

May 8th, 2025
He has gone into training with Wengesai Masawi.

February 3rd, 2025
He will be going to Hollywoodbets Life After Racing for a break.

January 31st, 2025
Raced over 2000m on Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 9th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: The trip was too far for him. Gavin Lerena believes 1600 m will suit him better. I also feel he has had a lot of racing recently. He will be going to Life After Racing for a break.

January 19th, 2025
Raced over 1600m on Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 11th out of 15 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Muzi Yeni believes he needs further.

January 12th, 2025
Raced over 1600m on Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 9th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A disappointing run. I feel he never enjoyed the going. We will try blinkers on him next time.

November 17th, 2024
SECOND – MVELELO runs 2nd to I Salute You in the 3rd race at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Our jockey Serino Moodley lodged an objection based on interference in the latter stages, but the objection was overruled. Race Replay. 

October 30th, 2024
Raced over 1700m on Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 4th out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Not a bad run, although he had every chance. He may have not enjoyed the poly.

September 27th, 2024
Raced over 1800m on Hollywoodbets Greyville on the polytrack. Finished 3rd out of 7 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good third beaten just under half a length.

September 8th, 2024
Raced over 1750m on Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Finished 6th out of 12 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good first run out the maidens. Muzi Yeni feels he can get further.

August 22nd, 2024
576 – MVELELO kept finding to shed his maiden tag over 1600m. The son of What A Winter was given a confident ride by Muzi Yeni and he is trained by Mike de Kock. Well done to the breeders Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein. Mvelelo is a Tshivenda name that means “continuous growth”. Race Replay / Interview.

 

January 28th, 2024
Raced over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside course. Finished 2nd out of 9 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A good first run after gelding. He should win soon.

November 16th, 2023
He has been gelded.

September 16th, 2023
Raced over 1700m on the Turffontein Inside course. Finished 5th out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: I feel it was a bit of a disappointing run. He may have had one run to many in the month.

August 31st, 2023
Raced over 1600m at the Vaal. Finished 2nd out of 6 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: I feel he would have won if able to have got cover. He race freely in the open and still ran a great 2nd. I also feel he will be better around the turn.

August 5th, 2023
Raced over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside course. Finished 2nd out of 6 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He came through to win, but he didn’t go through with his run. Jockey JP van der Merwe believes he may need blinkers back on or cheekpieces next time.

July 4th, 2023
Raced over 1800m on the Turffontein Inside course. Finished 3rd out of 11 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: Big improvement on his first run over further. He was a bit strong with the blinkers. It was good to see him finishing his race off well.

May 23rd, 2023
Raced over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside course. Finished 8th out of 8 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: He did not settle in the early stages against winners. A disappointing run.

May 9th, 2023
Raced over 1200m on the Vaal Classic course. Finished 8th out of 10 runners.
Anthony Delpech post-race comment: A very disappointing first run. Mike de Kock said that his work at home is way better this outing.

August 26th, 2022
The Hollywood Syndicate purchased Winter Island who is a What A Winter bay colt out of the dam Orchid Island (by Silvano) at the BSA August Two Year Old Sale 2022 (Lot 45). He is bred by Wilgerbosdrift.