ABOVE: Approval Rating (nearest the camera) and Pegwell Bay involved in a tight finish over 1000m on September 6. Photograph by Gavin Macleod.
The Hachiman Sprint to be run over 1100m at Borrowdale Park is the fourth and final leg of the Sprinters Series.
This began on September 6 with the 1000m AFZ Borrowdale Sprint, won by Approval Rating, and was followed by the 1200m HRIB Gold Cup where Road To Dubai scored.
Super Trouper won the third leg, the 1450m Zimbabwe Challenge, on December 13.
On Sunday Approval Rating and Road To Dubai return to action, together with Thriller In Manila, Picalilly, Pegwell Bay and Gentle Brook, all of whom made their presence felt at some time during the series.
Newton Power finished fifth to Super Trouper in the Zimbabwe Challenge, and although Nimble Dancer did not shape in the HRIB, two of his four wins were over the 1100m trip so he could do better here.
It is tempting to regard those already mentioned as main players but for the two unknown quantities, Atso’s Scheme and Pacifica, also in the line-up.
Atso’s Scheme won three races for Corne Spies at Borrowdale, from 1200m to 1800m, but he has not raced for a year. The four-year-old gelding is now in the Stidolph yard, is set to carry 59,5 kgs and Fanie Chambers has the ride.
I am sure the three-year-old filly, Pacifica, is here for a purpose. A daughter of Lecture (USA), she won three races in Gauteng from 1200m to 1450m, and this will be her first race in Zimbabwe. Andrew Fortune will be in the irons for Gokhan Terzi.
This may be a tough ask – Pacifica will carry 57.5 kgs and has mainly met fillies and mares previously – but watch the betting.
Terzi has a strong hand in this field of 10 as he also saddles Approval Rating, sure to be fancied despite top weight of 63 kgs, and Newton Power.
I expect all of Road To Dubai, Thriller In Manila, Nimble Dancer, Picalilly and Pegwell Bay to be in with a loud shout, so it will be a good race.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 