Life Is Good – winner of the 2017  Zimbabwe Challenge.

It was Amy Bronkhorst’s day at Borrowdale Park on Sunday when she saddled three winners on the seven race card.

The stable got off to a good start when Countess Varovski (by Var) won the 1200m Maiden – after a traumatic beginning to the race which resulted in three runners being withdrawn by the starter. Altruist bolted, while Can’t Hold Back and Coastal attraction were fractious in the stalls. Ryan Munger rode this winner.

The 1450m Zimbabwe Challenge was won by the Bronkhorst-trained Life Is Good, followed by Super Good, Comanche Brave and Road To Dubai. Weight told in this one with Mathematician (60kgs) and Ashton Park (59 kgs) at the rear of the field, but only 3.75 lengths separated the first and last horse.

Jarryd Penny had the ride on Life Is Good. Robin Bruss owns the four-year-old Var (USA) gelding bred by Northfields Stud, and now a five-time winner.

Amy’s other visit to the Winner’s Enclosure came in the second race, the 1700m Progress Plate won by Knuckleball with Kevin Derere in the irons. Flasher On The Run, Roman Discent and Rebellious Queen filled the minor places.

Bridget Stidolph sent out two winners during the afternoon – Business Jet in the 1700m Maiden Plate where the fancied Hillah The Hun dislodged his jockey, bolted and was subsequently scratched by the veterinary surgeon – and Temple Run, involved in a tight finish with What A Dandy and Megagram in the 1260 MR 60 Handicap.

The Penny Fisher yard scored with a fast finishing Roy’s Sailor in the 1800m Novice Plate. This time the top weights triumphed, both Roy’s Sailor and Designer Pot, separated by 0.25 lengths at the finish, carried 60 kgs.

Kirk Swanson’s stable came to the party in the 2000m MR 80 Handicap where Phantom Major led from start to finish. Kevin Barry, giving away 6.5 kgs, was only 0.25 lengths off Phantom Major at the wire – quite a cliffhanger.

The next Borrowdale Park race meeting is on January 14, and features the 1100m Hachiman Sprint.