It was a marvellous day for mudlarks at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.  The going was heavy – penetrometer reading 32 – but, even so, most winners were well fancied.  However, the Pick 6 has a net carryover of $56,545.89 which bodes well for punters at the Ipi Tombe meeting on February 19.

Kirk Swanson saddled the winners of five races, with the other two events going to the Stidolph yard.  In the main the runners who scored kicked on from the start, held position, and found extra when the rest of the field cried enough. Close finishes were not  the order of the afternoon.

First-timer Cape Cod, a three-year-old colt by Mullins Bay (GB) and bred by Summerhill Stud,  turned the 1260m Maiden Plate into a procession, finishing an easy 13 lengths clear of Bridget Stidolph’s Glorious Dawn. Callan Murray rode Cape Cod for Swanson and the owners are the Brooklyn Bullet Trust (nominee Mr A.J. Joseph), Merlyn Chant, Sterling Miller, Richard Morgan and Anna Mason.

The Stidolph yard came up roses in the next two races.  The Alado (GB) gelding, Coachella, with Fanie Chambers up, kept the 1200m Graduation Plate from stable mate El Gallo – winning margin 6.75 lengths. Coachella has now had back to back wins for Zimbabwe racing lynch-pin John Koumides, who had another three winners later. The gelding was bred by Professor I.M. Sanne.

Ice Pack, with Brendon McNaughton aboard and starting at 28/1, held off Supa Challenge by 3.75 lengths in the 1600m MR 75 Handicap.  Noble Peer and Comanche Brave followed. This was a fifth win for Ice Pack (by Western Winter (USA) who was bred by Nutfield Stud. He is owned by Messrs G. Readings and R. Sherwood, G.S. Perkins, S.N. Buchan and N. Evans.

David’s Flower was pulled up during this race when Ryan Munger felt something was amiss.  Fortunately the Australian bred gelding will soon be back, having over-reached and suffered a cut on the near fore.

From then on the afternoon belonged to the Swansons.

Hot favourite Flasher On The Run, kept clear of second favourite Don’tfencemein by 4.25 lengths in the 1700m Maiden Plate with Sherman Brown in the irons. The three-year-old gelding by Bold Silvano was bred by Ascot Stud. He has been placed in all his previous four starts.

Stirling Road (7/1)  and Callan Murray finished 8 lengths in front of Al Salaam in the 1700m MR 55 Handicap. Valmont and Bullion Bay completed this Quartet which paid $ 1375.70.  The winner is by Judpot (USA) and was bred by Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud. He has now won five races.

Mullins Bay (GB) and Summerhill Stud featured for the second time when the 1600m Allowance Plate for three-year-olds went to Haga Haga and Callan Murray, with Megagram only two lengths back, followed by the favourite ,Phantom Major, and Determination.  Congratulations to owners, Ben Mugabe and Ronald Mhizha.

There was a false start to the last race, the MR 94 Handicap, but all ended well with Road To Dubai recording his ninth victory.  The five-year-old son of The Sheik was bred by Scott Bros and ridden by Sherman Brown.  Super Good came second, then Madigan and Newton Power.

Sheik’s Brashee was a late scratching here due to “insufficient work and being unfit to race (Stewards Permission)”.

Although it was a rather dreary afternoon, weatherwise, with patchy showers,  but the Ipi Tombe Room was well supported with some new faces.  Very encouraging.

PS. It is whispered that Borrowdale Park could soon have another trainer….. something is in the pipeline.

PPS.  Borrowdale Park jockey, Kevin Derere recently took a quick flip to Ngong and won the Kenya Britam Guineas.  It’s all happening!

Photographs… ABOVE: Haga  Haga ridden by Callan Murray. BELOW: Road To Dubai ridden by Sherman Brown.  Both horses trained by Kirk Swanson.