THE PICS WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

Thank you, Jenny Stock of Zimbabwe Equine News for these special photographs taken in the Borrowdale Park parade ring on Saturday the 10th of May, 2025, when Action Zone starred in the Castle Tankard Show.

ACTION ZONE’S GLORIOUS MOMENT

Five-year-old Action Zone won the $50,000 Castle Tankard (GR1) at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, the 10th of May 2025, beating Jaeger Moon by three parts of a length, and then came Master Tik Tok and My Secret Place.

There were doubts about how the son of Canford Cliffs (IRE) would handle 2000m, but Thomas Mason’s charge held on like the champion he is. Bred by Daytona Stud, Action Zone (Mathew Thackeray) has won 10 races but was at his best up to 1700m – prior to Saturday.

Jaeger Moon (Daniels), who was conceding 4 kgs to the victor, also gave his all, and once again, the Castle Tankard lived up to expectations.

Craig Danckwerts, an ardent and popular supporter of Zimbabwe racing, owns Action Zone, so it was good to see him celebrate this worthwhile winner.   It was also pleasing, and a bit of a surprise, to see Nico Kritsiotis, back at Borrowdale, and commentating.

Tom Mason has been training for six years but served his time as an assistant trainer before that.  This was his second Tankard runner – and second Tankard winner – having previously won with True Beauty in 2022. Quite an achievement!

Congratulations to the winning connections and well done, everyone, who helped make this a memorable afternoon.

There has been an unavoidable runaround regarding photographs, but I am sure this will be sorted, given time. These things happen  – best laid plans don’t always work.

Saturday 10 May 2025 -ACTION ZONE HAS WON THE $50 000 Castle Tankard!

BUILD-UP TO ANOTHER SUPER RACE – Established in 1960 and run over 2000m on 10 May 2025.

Exciting – Tricky – But Our Greatest Race

The scene is set for the 2025 Castle Tankard (GR1) at Borrowdale Park this Saturday, the 10^th of May.

Sixteen runners have accepted and all have jockeys, other than Admiral’s Chance.

Ideal View won this race in 2023 carrying 52 kgs; he ran 5th to Raffles in 2024 with 59 kgs on his back and he will be hoping for a repeat victory this year, carrying 54 kgs. He should have a very good chance.

The Tankard is over 2000m and weight counts, so I have been brooding since the Final Field was declared.  Most would agree the most fancied runners are Jet Mirage (60 kgs), Jaeger Moon 58.5), Abayyaan (57), Action Zone (54.5) and Ideal View (54).  However, can they give weight and a beating to the rest of the field, all carrying 52 kgs?

If I were able to do a Quartet – and unfortunately, I cannot as the Tote has not been operating at Borrowdale Park for years – I would bank on Ideal View and Jaeger Moon to run in the first four, with as many of the others as I could afford. And make no error, these “lightweights” are not slouches.

That said, racing wouldn’t be racing if it were a foregone conclusion. There is no entry fee to the course on Saturday, and the first race is off at 12:00. It will be a wonderful afternoon, and many thanks to Delta for their continued support of racing at Borrowdale Park.

BREAKING NEWS: See Card Changes published 8 May 2025. Admiral’s Chance will be ridden by J. Penny and Cosmic Event has been scratched on a veterinary certificate.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News: All set for 2025 Castle Tankard on Saturday. Can Ideal View do it again? Jeffery Syster rides this time.

Race-6 (Turf) US$ 50,000 2000m 15:00 Ref-87
1st US$25,000, 2nd US$12,500, 3rd US$7,500, 4th US$5,000
CASTLE TANKARD GRADE 1
Open/5th leg Open Series
WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
1 2 JET MIRAGE 60.0 110 HA N Takawira Debra Swanson
2 7 JAEGER MOON 58.5 107 A D Daniels Debra Swanson
3 10 ABAYYAAN 57.0 104 A J Greyling Debra Swanson
4 9 ACTION ZONE 54.5 99 A M Thackeray Thomas Mason
5 4 IDEAL VIEW 54.0 98 BA J R Syster Debra Swanson
6 11 CITRUSDAL 52.0 92 HS M Mjoka Bridget Stido
7 13 MAJESTIC WARRIOR 52.0 91 BA K Derere Debra Swanson
8 16 WANTAGE 52.0 89 HS D De Gouveia Bridget Stido
9 5 ADMIRALS CHANCE 52.0 88 A …………… Debra Swanson
10 1 MASTER TIK TOK 52.0 87 CA N Klink Amy Parham
11 14 MY SECRET PLACE 52.0 87 CS M K Katjedi Amy Parham
12 15 CAPTIVE MOON 52.0 86 A Wes Marwing Gavin MacLeod
13 6 KARVANI 52.0 83 HA N Patel Debra Swanson
14 8 RAINING AGAIN 52.0 83 A L Nhlapo Gavin MacLeod
15 3 ZAZU 52.0 83 HA N K Sibanda Debra Swanson
16 12 COSMIC EVENT 52.0 78 T A J Penny Thomas Mason

16 HORSES ACCEPTED

Sixteen runners have stood their ground for the 2025 $50 000 Castle Tankard (GR1), which will take place on Saturday, the 10^th of May.

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2024 CASTLE TANKARD – WHAT A RIDE!

Raffles has won the 2024 Castle Tankard (GR1) run over 2000m at Borrowdale Park  – and what a ride by Gavin Lerena!

Congratulations to the owners, Messrs A Dixon, R S Dyer, S N Buchan, N Evans, G de Jong, M K Chant, Bryn Ressell, and R Sherwood, as well as trainer Bridget Stidolph.

Photo for second place.

By Time Thief (Aus), Raffles was bred by Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud.

Photograph: Zimbabwe Equine News

RACE NO ….. Seven RACE NAME…. CASTLE TANKARD GRADE 1
DIST….2000m

No. Horse Name Jockey BTA Mass +/- Draw Fin/Pos Dist O/Bett S/Price
4 RAFFLES G LERENA A 58.0 5 1 –
12 MAJESTIC WARRIOR D DANIELS AB 52.0 +1 4 2 3.00
7 WANTAGE K A BREWER A 54.5 6 3 3.10
2 IDEAL VIEW J GREYLING A 59.0 8 4 3.85
3 HOLY LAND R DANIELSON A 58.5 3 5 4.35
8 ADMIRAL’S CHANCE P MXOLI A 52.0 1 6 6.10
9 RAINING AGAIN N K SIBANDA A 52.0 0.5 7 7 6.60
10 TRADITION J PENNY A 52.0 2 8 6.65
11 JACKY SPARROW M NYAMAGWETE BA 52.0 12 9 9.15
6 CITRUSDAL N KLINK HA 55.0 9 10 10.80
1 BRIANNA N TAKAWIRA A 60.0 10 11 11.05
5 DINDINGWE J R SYSTER HA 56.0 11 SCR SCR SCR SCR

WON BY: 3.00 Lens 0.10 Lens 0.75 Lens TIME: 120.06 sec

TRAINED BY: Miss B Stidolph OWNED BY: Messrs A Dixon,R S Dyer,S N Buchan,N Evans,
G de Jong,M K Chant,Bryn Ressell, R Sherwood, S Shutt, P Annesley &
D C Samuels.

Welcome Back Gavin Lerena

Celebrated South African jockey, Gavin Lerena, will be riding Raffles for Bridget Stidolph in the 2000m $50 000 Castle Tankard at Borrowdale Park on Saturday,

It has been a long time, but Gavin has ridden at Borrowdale Park before.  The photograph above was taken by Gavin Macleod in 2014 – unfortunately, I can’t say what Lerena and Flintstone were winning way back in December 2014 – finding out would take too much time.

At last, the Final Tankard field, with jockeys, has been published, and bidding should be brisk at Thursday evening’s Card Call. So start studying.

In 2023 the Castle Tankard was won by Ideal View with Nathan Klink riding. Ideal View steps out again on Saturday -carrying a lot more weight. Dindingwe, Down To Business and Raining Again filled the minor Tankard places in 2023 – and Dindingwe and Raining  Again are also ready to try again.

TWELVE STOOD THEIR GROUND

Twelve horses have stood their ground to run in the $50 000 Castle Tankard over 2000m at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.

As the MTC chose not to supply me with either the Nominations or the Weights & Draws for Zimbabwe’s ‘big one’, and certainly not the Final Field in the usual format, my information is sketchy. It would have been non-existent if a kind person had not sent me a photograph (via WhatsApp) of a board displayed when the Final Field was announced last week, which showed the acceptors, weights and draws, two jockeys, and scribbled opening betting.

Be that as it may, I am sure Saturday’s Castle Tankard will be, as always, a great race.

Drawn in stalls 1 to 6 are Admirals Chance (52), Tradition (52), Holy Land (58.5), Majestic Warrior (52), Raffles (58), and Wantage (54.5).

Jacky Sparrow (52 kgs) is drawn 12, Dindingwe (56 kgs) 11, and topweight Brianna (60 kgs) is drawn 10. Citrusdal (drawn 9) carries 55.

Raymond Danielson is down to ride Holy Land, and Morgen Nyamagwete is on Jacky Sparrow. It has been stated by George Crowther, on Facebook, that Gavin Lerena is coming to Borrowdale to ride in the Tankard. George is reliable so let’s hope he is right.

According to the betting on the photographed board, the most fancied runners are likely to be Ideal View (59kgs and drawn 8) and Raffles (58kgs), followed by Raining Again (52kgs, drawn 7)) and Majestic Warrior (52kgs).

Apologies to anyone who visits this site or my Facebook pages, hoping to find the Tankard field in the usual format. Fortunately, I have been able to post Saturday’s minor fields in the usual manner.

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2023 CASTLE TANKARD

A Day To Remember

The connections of Ideal View were in fine form on Saturday, 6th May, when their Global View gelding won the prestigious 2000m Castle Tankard (GR1) at Borrowdale Park, beating stable companions, Dindingwe and Down To Business, to the wire.

The happy owners are Messrs C J Smith, P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward, G Carter& M W Smith. Debra Swanson was the successful trainer and Nathan Klink was in the irons. Ideal View was bred by Riyo Stud.

Hearty Congratulations!

Photographs Zimbabwe Equine News

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RACE NO ….. Eight RACE NAME …..CASTLE TANKARD GRADE 1
DIST ….. 2000m

No. Horse Name Jockey BTA Mass +/- Draw Fin/Pos Dist O/Bett S/Price
13 IDEAL VIEW N KLINK A 52.0 8 1 –
9 DINDINGWE G PIETERSE A 55.0 15 2 0.25
12 DOWN TO BUSINESS J SYSTER A B 52.0 13 3 0.35
15 RAINING AGAIN F HERHOLDT A 52.0 12 4 1.60
2 ONLY HIM J PENNY A 59.5 7 5 2.10
7 LILY BLUE M THACKERAY A H 56.5 6 6 3.60
14 CITRUSDAL M NYAMAGWETE A 52.0 3 7 5.10
4 HOLY LAND B NYAWO a 58.0 1 8 7.60
1 MR GREENLIGHT N SIBANDA a 60.0 9 9 8.60
5 WANTAGE W MARWING A 58.0 2 10 10.35
6 BUGATTI BLUE N TAKAWIRA A H 57.5 14 11 11.60
10 THREE TO TANGO K DERERE TAH 53.5 11 12 refused to run
3 TRUE BEAUTY SCRATCHED A 59.5 4 SCR SCR SCR SCR
8 MASAAKEN SCRATCHED A B 56.0 5 SCR SCR SCR SCR
11 GRAND WARRIOR SCRATCHED A 53.0 10 SCR SCR SCR SCR

WON BY: TIME: 120.08 sec

TRAINED BY : Mrs D Swanson OWNED BY: Messrs C J Smith,P D Gorringe,S P Gorringe,V Patel,D K Ward,
G Carter& M W Smith.

TOTALISATOR: WIN: PLACES: $ $

SWINGERS:

TRIFECTA : $

QUARTET: $ EXACTA: $

STAKES:- USD 50 000

1ST:- $ 25 000 2ND:- $ 12 000

3RD:- $ 7 000 4TH:- $ 4 500

5TH: $1 000 6TH: $ 500

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GRAND WARRIOR OUT
Borrowdale Park fans were devastated to hear that Grand Warrior will not take part in tomorrow’s Castle Tankard. Debra Swanson’s champion was lame this morning (5th May) for the first time ever.
So very sorry Centaur Syndicate.

Fifteen horses have accepted to run in the 2023 Castle Tankard at Borrowdale Park on the 6th May.

Betting on Grand Warrior opened at evens 1-1, and last year’s Tankard winner, True Beauty, was 8-1. Down To Business is also 8-1, and Only Him 7-1.

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2022 CASTLE TANKARD (GR1)

WHAT A BEAUTY – GREAT STUFF

The four-year-old filly, True Beauty, was facing the toughest test of her career and came through in style, winning the US$50 000 Castle Tankard (Gr1) at Borrowdale Park On May 7, 2022.

Only Him, also a four-year-old, came second, followed by Holy Land and Wantage.

Owned by Ms SP Moyo and Mr G Tafeni, True Beauty is trained by Thomas Mason. and Denis Schwarz was in the irons. Congratulations to the connections on winning Zimbabwe’s most prestigious race.  What more can one say!

By Skitt Skizzle and out of a Silvano (GER) mare, True Beauty was bred by Bosworth Farm Stud, and this was her sixth victory.

Once again, the sponsors, Delta Beverages, set the scene for a spectacular and memorable day.

Photographs Andrew Philip and Jenny Stock

RESULT ….RACE NAME ….2022 CASTLE TANKARD GRADE 1
DIST ….. 2000m

No. Horse Name Jockey BTA Mass +/- Draw Fin/Pos Dist O/Bett S/Price
9 TRUE BEAUTY D SCHWARTZ A 55.5 7 1 – 5/1 13/2
5 ONLY HIM K STEYN A 57.5 4 2 0.75 25/3 9/2
3 HOLY LAND K MATSUNYANE AB 58.5 11 3 2.25 10/1 6/1
6 WANTAGE T GOULD A 56.0 9 4 3.00 20/1 40/1
11 CITRUSDAL M NYAMAGWETE AB 52.0 2 5 3.25 25/2 14/1
12 HEIR LINE WES MARWING TA 52.0 10 6 4.00 100/7 25/2
1 FINCHATTON D DE GOUVEIA A 60.0 6 7 4.25 50/7 15/2
8 BUGATTI BLUE N TAKAWIRA A 55.5 5 8 4.75 10/1 14/1
2 LILY BLUE J PENNY A 60.0 13 9 5.50 100/33 5/1
7 ARMSTRONG N SIBANDA A 55.5 1 10 9.50 50/3 33/1
10 LOVE THE VIEW A ARRIES A 52.0 8 10 10.25 50/7 7/1
4 MR GREENLIGHT H GREYLING AB 57.5 3 12 25.25 50/3 20/1
13 THREE TO TANGO F HERHOLDT TA 52.0 12 13 99.00 100/7 25/1

WON BY: 0.75 Lens 1.50 Lens 0.75 Lens TIME: 123.23sec

TRAINED BY: Mr T Mason OWNED BY: Ms S P Moyo & Mr G Tafeni

TOTALISATOR: WIN: $ 10.20 PLACES: $ 2.20 $ 6.60 $1.00

FINAL FIELD CASTLE TANKARD (GR1)
BORROWDALE – Saturday 7 May 2022

Entry to the course is FREE – First race at 12 10 – Castle Tankard at 15 50

Race-1(Turf) US$ 50,000 2000m
CASTLE TANKARD GRADE 1
Open/5th leg Open Series
WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs

No Apprentice Allowance
1 6 FINCHATTON 60.0 (MR99) A – D de Gouveia – Gokhan Terzi
2 13 LILY BLUE 60.0 (MR99) A – J Penny – Bridget Stidolph
3 11 HOLY LAND 58.5 (MR96) S – K Matsunyane – Vanessa Birketoft
4 3 MR GREENLIGHT 57.5 (MR94) S J Greyling Vanessa Birketoft
5 4 ONLY HIM 57.5 (MR94) A – K Steyn – Bridget Stidolph
6 9 WANTAGE 56.0 (MR91) A – T Gould – Bridget Stidolph
7 1 ARMSTRONG 55.5 (MR90) A N Sibanda Vanessa Birketoft
8 5 BUGATTI BLUE 55.5 (MR90) A – N Takawira – Debra Swanson
9 7 TRUE BEAUTY 55.5 (MR90) A – D Schwarz – Thomas Mason
10 8 LOVE THE VIEW 52.0 (MR83) A – A Arries – Thomas Mason
11 2 CITRUSDAL 52.0 (MR81) BS – M Nyamagwete – Bridget Stidolph
12 10 HEIR LINE 52.0 (MR81) AT – Wes Marwing – Debra Swanson
13 12 THREE TO TANGO 52.0 (MR78) ATM F Herholdt Debra Swanson

13 HORSES ACCEPTED

OPENING BETTING

FINCHATTON 33/10

LILY BLUE 4/1

HOLY LAND 5/1

MR GREENLIGHT 20/1

ONLY HIM 3/1

WANTAGE 14/1

ARMSTRONG 12/1

BUGATTI BLUE 14/1

TRUE BEAUTY 9/2

LOVE THE VIEW 5/1

CITRUSDAL 18/1

HEIR LINE 10/1

THREE TO TANGO 14/1