To quote commentator Adrian Nydam, last season’s top-three-year-old, Dindingwe, “destroyed them”, and won the Pioneers & Heroes Tankard at Borrowdale Park today, with lengths to spare.
Wantage came second, then Finchatton and Yarraman.
Trained by Debra Swanson and bred by Ndoro Stud, Dindingwe was ridden by Rodgers Satombo. The Futura filly is owned by Mr CM and Mrs EB Shepherd and Mr CG and Mrs KM Bonthrone, CJ Danckwerts, GM Littleford, SH Murray, PC Rugg, PD Gorringe, SP Gorringe, V Patel, DK Ward and G Carter.
The “Tankard” has always been an integral part of Borrowdale Park but in 2020 the prestigious event fell victim to COVID regulations. This year it’s party time again.
We have the US$4000 Pioneers And Heroes Tankard on Sunday and can look forward to another thrilling race over 2000m.
Peggson, who won this race in 2019, steps out to defend his Tankard title, against the concerted efforts of What A Dandy, Finchatton, Yarraman, Wantage, Dindingwe, At The Office and Wild Heritage. The former Tankard winner will carry top weight of 60 kgs, and all going well should just be able to hold off former rivals Finchatton (winner of the 2021 Ok Grand Challenge), Yarraman and Wantage.
I always hope What A Dandy will shine but fear that this time the trip may be a little too far. If there is significant rainfall before Sunday, then the lighter weights could come to the fore. Wild Heritage is distance suited, as is At The Office who can, as they say, stay all day.
Most of you will have watched many Tankards and will know it is difficult to pick the winner. I’m hoping Peggson can do it again. Time will tell.
The first race on Sunday’s 7-race card is due off at 12.30, and the Pioneers & Heroes Tankard will take place at 15.55.
The minor feature at Borrowdale Park on Sunday is the 1600m Tote Free Handicap where apprentice allowances may be claimed.
Five lightly raced three-year-olds have accepted and Tigers Eagle, Days Gone By and Cutback seem the pick. The race is due off at 13.40 and the stake is US$2000.
Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News
1 Drawn 2 TIGERS EAGLE 60 kgs (MR63) Satombo – Debra Swanson …3-year-old filly by Flying The Flag (IRE) – Neck Of The Woods by Al Mufti (USA)
Winner of 1700m Maiden Plate from 3 starts, and third in 1800m Novice Plate. Has beaten Cutback and is a likely favourite.
2 Drawn 3 CUTBACK 59.5kgs (MR62) *Shumba (4.0) – Thomas Mason …3-year-old filly by Twice Over (GB) – Suedette by Dynasty
Placed in all four starts from 1000m to 1700m and deserves respect.
3 Drawn 4 MASTER MING 57.5kgs (MR58) Derere – Thomas Mason …3-year-old colt by Toreador (IRE) – Madame Ming by Overlord (AUS)
Won his first start over 1000m but disappointing over more ground – so far.
4 Drawn 5 DAYS GONE BY 57kgs (MR57) Takawira – Debra Swanson …3-year-old filly by Byword (GB) – Rememberance by Fort Wood (USA)
Relished the extra distance when winning 1800m Maiden Plate on December 4. Well held by some of the other runners over shorter but this is a different ball game.
5 Drawn1 LADY SANZA 57kgs (MR57) *Josi (4.0) – Gokhan Terzi …3-year-old filly by Rafeef (AUS) – Supreme Dynasty by Dynasty
Very impressive winner of her only start – a 1000m Maiden Plate for three-year-olds on October 10. A dark horse and your guesses are as good as mine.
Apprentice Munashe Josi picked up the ride on Differentiate in the 1500m MR 60 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Saturday and won in a close and exciting finish with the fancied Delina.
*Josi was riding for Gokhan Terzi and he also piloted Aneksi into third place earlier in the afternoon. Unfortunately, *Josi has had a limited number of race riding opportunities so far – but that’s the way the cookie crumbles – so it was good to see him come right here.
Differentiate, a five-year-old mare by Eightfold Path (USA), is owned by the Brumby Syndicate (nominee Grant Littleford), and she was bred by Scott Bros.
Training honours at Borrowdale Park on Saturday went to V Racing. The yard sent out three winners – Hawi (*Shumba), Kursk (Derere) and Shesalegend (Gould).
First up, in the 1100m Maiden Plate, was Hawi, who is owned by Richard Moor and Gengis Goksel. The Vercingetorix gelding was bred by Mr and Mrs J R Slade.
He was followed by Kursk who scored for Gengis Goksel in the 1260m MR 75 Handicap. By So You Think (NZ), Kursk has now won three.
Last and certainly not least, was Shesalegend. In a thrilling finish to the 1700m Classified Stakes the Mogok (USA) filly denied her stable companion, Mazikeen, victory, by a narrow margin. Shesalegend is owned by Messrs S H Murray, G M Littleford, A P Nydam, P C Rugg and Miss V Birketoft.
Congratulations everyone.
Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News: Hawi – with Apprentice Walter Shumba in the irons.
Jardin from the Amy Bronkhorst yard, with Teague Gould in the irons, won the 1100m Progress Plate for the ZimFun Racing Club (Pty) Ltd (nominee C J Smith).
This was the ZimFunners’ second winner since its formation and the Club continues to gain momentum and enthusiastic support. Shares are still available so it’s not too late to join in the fun.
Borrowdale Park needs more horses – and more owners!
Heir Line came to the fore again in the 1800m Merit Rated 75 Handicap on Saturday and has now won 7 races.
The Dynasty gelding was ridden by Rodgers Satombo, is trained by Debra Swanson and owned by Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward & G Carter, G M Littleford, S H Murray & P C Rugg.
Heir Line won by 2.50 lengths, carrying 60 kgs. Very well done.
We know grand ‘old’ man Coachella, with Daniel Frank up, won the 1200m Swift Gold Cup (Gr3) at Borrowdale Park on Saturday – and here they are back in the parade ring.
By Alado (GB) and bred by Prof I M Sanne, the eight-year-old Coachella has now won 12 races. He is trained by Bridget Stidolph and owned by John Koumides.
What a finish to the Swift Gold Cup (Gr3) at Borrowdale Park today – and what a pleasure to see veteran local jockey Daniel Frank, and sprinting star Coachella, get up to take the honours right on the line.
At one stage it looked as though What A Dandy (Satombo) was home and dry – until Coachella came with that sizzling dash to the wire. Both What A Dandy and Coachella are owned by John Koumides and it was good to see those familiar colours establish supremacy once more.
Third place went to Love to Bluff (Gould) and Armstrong (*Shumba) came fourth. Both Coachella and Love to Bluff are trained by Bridget Stidolph.
Very well done everyone.
Photograph: Daniel Frank on Aloft – quite a long time ago.
Despite stringent quarantine requirements for visitors to Zimbabwe, gazetted yesterday, I hear on the grapevine that we will race at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.
The absence of South African jockeys will result in some scratchings and jockey changes.
Hopefully, the online card, tips, card changes etc will be available eventually.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 