ALTHOUGH THE Borrowdale Park race meeting on May 16 was all about the 53^rd running of the $50 000 Castle Tankard, and the winner, Yer-Maan, there were six other races on the card.

The progeny of Argonaut won the first two events with Equiano, from the Amy Bronkhorst yard, being first to score in the 1200m Maiden Plate. The two-year-old gelding, owned by Peter Moor, was ridden by Karl Zechner. and finished 4 lengths clear of newcomer Aiiyayaii.  He was followed by Promising and Setswana. Equiano started at 13/20 and was bred by Cheveley Stud.

Equiano and Karl Zechner – an easy win.

Next up was Demagogue, with Apprentice Wesley Marwing aboard, an easy winner of the 1200m TBA Sales Stakes. The two-year-old colt is owned by Genghis Goksel, trained by Gokhan Terzi and was bred by Riverton Stud. Super Good and Go Galaxy finished second and third, with Starry Notions and AP Ikhaja deadheating in fourth place. Another result pleasing to punters as Demagogue started at 18/10.

DemagogueMarwing 1000m TBA Sales Stakes

After two close second’s Neptune’s Rock finally made the grade in the 1800m Maiden Plate, finishing well ahead of Muhannad, Bachata and Anthony’s Lazer. The three-year-old Seventh Rock (AUS) gelding is owned by Markus and Ingrid Jooste and Donavan Mansour rode him for Bridget Stidolph. Out of a Northern Guest mare, Neptune’s Rock was bred by Maine Chance Farms.

Neptune’s Rock was ridden by Donavan Mansour

The Stidolph yard was in line for more excitement later, when Lucky Sam ran second to Yer-Maan in the Tankard.

Kirk Swanson was the only trainer to saddle two winners at this race meeting, and his second success came when Diversify, owned by Marc Greene, won the 2000m MR 65 Handicap.

Diversify with Apprentice Takawira won the 2000m MR 65 Handicap.

The Parade Leader (USA) filly, out of a Fort Wood mare, has now won three races, with Apprentice Norbert Takawira piloting her in the last two winning outings. Diversify was bred by Lammerskraal Stud and Takawira has now ridden 9 winners.

Earlier in the afternoon the Swanson-trained Road To Dubai, a winner of his last start, lived up to expectations and triumphed in the 1200m MR 70 Handicap, with Got A Hold On Me, Pegwell Bay and Amas Amat behind him. By The Sheik out of a Model Man mare, this three-year-old gelding was bred by Scott Bros, and is owned by John Koumides. Francois Herholdt had the ride.

Road to Dubai heading for home with Francois Herholdt in the irons

The Silvano mare, Ebony Silver, with Kevin Derere in the irons, made it two wins on the trot when winning the 1100m MR 55. Corne Spies’s yard also sent out Jean’s Dancer, who was placed second.  Montelupo and Lake Nukuru ran third and fourth. Ebony SIlver is owned by Professor I.M. Sanne, was bred by Oldlands Stud and is out of Blackshot Burgundy by Jallad (USA).

Ebony Silver (Derere beat stablemate Jean’s Dancer to the line.

This was one of those days when Borrowdale punters should have studied form because, with few exceptions, the runners did what they were supposed to do. Now the main focus moves to the $40 000 OK Grand Challenge to be run over 1800m on June 6. The first four in the Tankard – Yer-Maan, Lucky Sam, Warcraft and Rock The Country – are nominated and so is the Spies-trained All The Bids, a card scratching before the Tankard. Weights and Draws for the OK Grand Challenge, and the May 31 race meeting, can be found at https://zimracing.wordpress.com/

The feature race on Sunday, May 31, is the 2000m Bloodstock SA Zimbabwe Oaks (L).