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At this point in time Dindingwe is the only three-year-old in Zimbabwe who could win both the 2021 Zimbabwe Triple Tiara and the 2021 Zimbabwe Triple Crown.

Last time out the Swanson stable’s formidable filly won the 1800m Silver Slipper by a breathtaking 16 lengths – having previously won the 1600m Fillies Classic, the first leg of the Triple Tiara. She need only win the Zimbabwe Oaks to be assured of bagging the Tiara.

On Sunday Dindingwe lines up for the 2000m Zimbabwe 2000 (Gr 3) – the second leg of the Triple Crown. She won the first leg – the Zimbabwe Guineas – on 21 March, finishing a quarter of a length ahead of stablemate True Beauty.

These three-year-old Classics are designed to test both speed and stamina, and stamina will come into play when Sunday’s five runners meet over 2000m. Dindingwe handled the 1800m Silver Slipper trip with style. Suave Judge has finished 5.75 lengths off Prescott over 1800m, and the rest have still to prove themselves over more ground.

Apprentice Rodgers Satombo will ride Dindingwe as usual. The three fillies, Dindingwe, True Beauty and Mazikeen will carry 55.5 kgs, while Diesel And Dust and Suave Judge heft 58 kgs.

Let’s look at the field:

Race-7 (Turf) US$ 1,800 2000m 16:30
ZIMBABWE 2000 (Grade 3)
No Apprentice Allowance

1 (1) DIESEL AND DUST 58kgs (MR76) A – Derere – Kirk Swanson.
An interesting runner, Diesel and Dust is a stable companion of Dindingwe and True Beauty – and like Dindingwe his sire is Futura. He has only run once on February 24 in soft conditions, when he beat subsequent winner Ultra Edge by four lengths over 1200m. The dark horse without a doubt.

2 (5) SUAVE JUDGE 58kgs (MR67) A – Simons – Gokhan Terzi.
By Judpot (USA) and a two-time winner over 1600m. He finished 0.10 lengths in front of Haga Haga on 24 February when in receipt of 1.5 kgs, when the going was soft. Calvin Habib has the ride again and perhaps Suave Judge will surprise us.

3 (2) DINDINGWE 55.5kgs (MR90) A – *Satombo – Kirk Swanson.
Won 6 of 7 starts including the Champion Juvenile Stakes (Gr3), Breeders Fillies Mile (L), Fillies Classic, Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3) and the Silver Slipper (L). Only defeated by True Beauty in a close finish to the 1200m Jacaranda Free Handicap in October.

4 (3) TRUE BEAUTY 55.5kgs (MR88) A – Gates – Kirk Swanson.
Winner of three of her nine starts and on four occasions bridesmaid to Dindingwe. Mazikeen was matron of honour in the 1600m Fillies Classic when 3 lengths off Dindingwe, and that day True Beauty was behind her. True Beauty was a late scratching from the 1800m Silver Slipper so has yet to try further than 1600m. However, her dam is by Silvano (GER) which is a plus.

5 (4) MAZIKEEN 55.5kgs (MR75) AM – C Habib – Gokhan Terzi
By Twice Over (GB) out of a Black Minnaloushe (USA) mare, Mazikeen won her last start, a 1600m Novice Plate on March 7, beating Seattle Swift and Magic Mike by several lengths. Has yet to race further than the mile.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News and Andrew Philip

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