• 

• 

The 2020 Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) will be run over 1600m at Borrowdale Park on Sunday and there is quality in this relatively small field. Colts and geldings all carry 60kgs, while In The Mood, the only mare in the line-up, is on 57.5 kgs.

This competitive race is due off at 15 45 and expect a cracker. Let’s look at the runners:

1 Drawn 4 PEGGSON 60 kgs (MR93) M Thackeray – Bridget Stidolph
(R:25 W:6 P:11)

This five-year-old gelding by Jay Peg is an attractive proposition at level weights with most of the field. He won the race in 2019, beating Twilight Trip who was followed by Simona, Amsterdam, Kevin Barry, Master Switch and Pampas – none of whom take part this time around. Peggson’s last outing was on November 30 in a 1800m MR 90 Handicap where he finished 1.25 lengths behind Sunday’s runner Yarraman who was in receipt of 9.5 kgs. Three To Tango was 3 lengths off Peggson, and also received weight. Peggson has won from 1200m to 2000m and must be a major player.

2 Drawn 6 FAREEQ (AUS) 60 kgs (MR91) D Sampson – Gokhan Terzi
(R:35 W:7 P:14)

By Nadeem (AUS) this 7-year-old gelding is versatile having won over 1800m and 1260 m in his last five starts. In October he beat Yarraman by 5 lengths over 1800m when conceding 5.5 kgs but on January 19 Yarraman turned the tables over the same distance, finishing 3 lengths clear of Sunday’s runner Three To Tango, while Fareeq and In The Mood were further back. Fareeq won twice over 1600m at Turffontein, ran fourth to Amsterdam in the 1600m Independence Trophy, and second to Wolves Among Sheep over the mile in September. That was in a Pinnacle Plate and interestingly Yarraman was one and a half lengths off Fareeq then, at level weights.

3 Drawn 2 YARRAMAN 60 kgs (MR87) H Greyling – Gokhan Terzi
(R:18 W:6 P:8)

Most would agree that Yarraman, a five-year-old gelding by Await The Dawn (USA), has plenty of ability and he goes for a hat-trick on Sunday having won his last two starts over 1800m. He has finished in front of Peggson, Fareeq and Three To Tango before but the question is can he do so again at level weights. The going could be a factor on Sunday and Yarraman has performed well in the soft.

4 Drawn 3 KINGSTON PASSAGE 60 kgs (MR86) K Derere – Kirk Swanson
(R:15 W:4 P:3)

By Western Winter (USA) out of a Horse Chestnut mare, the lightly raced six-year-old has done best over 1000m and 1100m and in fact has not gone further than 1450m so far. He won the 2019 Hachiman Sprint but not sure how he will shape in this one. Kevin Derere who has been missing from Borrowdale for quite a while has the ride.

5 Drawn 1 THREE TO TANGO 60 kgs (MR85) N Takawira – Kirk Swanson
(R:13 W:4 P:7)

This is an acid test for the well-performed four-year-old son of Greys Inn (USA) whose four wins include the 1600m Tote Free Handicap and the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby. He often does better than I expect but has not carried 60 kgs before. There is reason to believe he is out of the ordinary but has a tough task here. He won the Derby in soft going so we shall see.

6 Drawn 5 IN THE MOOD 57.5 kgs (MR81) Wes Marwing – Kirk Swanson
(R:24 W:9 P:11)

In The Mood has actually won more races than the rest of this field but since winning the 1260m Sable Flyers in September has not lived up to expectations. At her best this five-year-old daughter of Bold Silvano could make them all run for their money – especially with a little weight on her side. I am not sure what to expect but will be holding thumbs.

Photographs by Jenny Stock and Andrew Philip.

• 

• 

• 

•