FLASHBACK to 2017 Breeders Champions Cup (L)…Comanche Brave then Mathematician.

There are two feature races on Sunday’s Borrowdale Park card, the 1800m Silver Slipper (L) and the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup (L). The first race is due off at 12.05.

With the exception of Master Switch and Roman Discent, the other runners in the Breeders Champions Cup met in the 1600m MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes on February 25. That day they all carried 60 kgs and the race was won by Ashton Park, closely followed by Mathematician, and then Amsterdam. Comanche Brave was 3.25 lengths off the winner while Leven Point trailed in.

The turnaround in weights here adds interest to a race likely to provide pointers to Borrowdale Park’s “big three” which are just around the corner.

Comanche Brave won the 2017 Breeders Champions Cup and Mathematician, who was giving the winner 6.5 kgs, was three-parts of a length behind him. At that time Comanche Brave was trained by Amy Bronkhorst and he went on to win the 2017 Castle Tankard in May, and the 1900m Republic Cup in July.

SECOND LEG OF THE TRIPLE TIARA

The Fillies Classic, raced over 1600m at Borrowdale on 25 February, resulted in the tightest of finishes between Wild Imogen and Raven Girl. This pair meet again in the 1800m Silver Slipper, second leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Tiara. Can Wild Imogen complete a hat-trick on Sunday?

This listed race, the second leg of the Triple Tiara, has attracted four runners and is worth $5600.

SOME ANIMALS MORE EQUAL

Ridiculous as it might seem the first race on Sunday’s card is a 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate with five runners, four from the same yard. This race is worth $7000!

The top division horses in the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup (L) will race for $8000, and in several other races, far more attractive from a punter’s point of view than a Maiden Juvenile Plate, the runners race for $5 600.

The management of Borrowdale Park should look at the varying discrepancies in stake money allotted for all races. Just because some stupid decisions were made, for whatever reason, in the past, this should not mean we are stuck with them forever.

It would also be good to give some thought to how many two-year-olds, and fillies, race at Borrowdale at present – and adjust the racing program accordingly. It would appear some animals are more equal than others, under existing conditions.

The Mashonaland Turf Club AGM takes place tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 5pm.