The Round Table Pinnacle Plate (90) will be run over 2700m at Borrowdale Park this week – and the field includes three former winners of the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby (GR3), the third leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown.

For a change, there has been some welcome rain about, but hopefully any deluge will hold off until late afternoon on Saturday. I may be wrong but, perhaps, this time, it’s a case of can the boys – Wantage and Three To Tango – beat the girls?

These are the runners:

1 1 WANTAGE (6G) 60.0 (MR86) W Shumba – Bridget Stidolph

Owner:  Messrs R S Dyer, S N Buchan, N Evans, M K Chant, G de Jong, A Dixon, R Morgan, R Sherwood & Bryn Ressell

Breeding: Ato – Angora by Tamburlaine (IRE)

Colours: White and orange checked diamonds, white sleeves, orange cap

As a 3-year-old Wantage won the Guineas Trial, the Tote Free Handicap, the Zimbabwe 2000 and ran second to Lily Blue in the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby in 2020. Since then, he has performed well and won from 1600m to 2000m but has not gone further.

2 4 THREE TO TANGO (7G) 58.5 (MR81) R Satombo – Debra Swanson

Owner:  The Swan & Donkey Syndicate (Nom: Richard Linnell)

Breeding: Greys Inn (USA) – Danseuse by Joshua Dancer (USA)

Colours: Turquoise, orange sleeves, turquoise chevrons, striped cap

Three To Tango will sport new colours here and his new owners will be hoping this winner of the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby in 2019 will do well. He has ability and has since won from 1600m to 1900m. He has his days.

3 5 MASAAKEN (AUS) (5M) 56.5 (MR88) N Takawira – Debra Swanson

Owner:  Mr D H & Mrs J L Cocksedge

Breeding: Teofilo (IRE) – Lahqa (AUS) by Stratum (AUS)

Colours: Yellow, purple epaulettes, yellow sleeves, purple cuffs, yellow cap, purple peak

This will be Masaaken’s fourth outing at Borrowdale and she won her last start – a 2000m MR 80 Handicap – on July 13.  She has won from 2000m to 2850m in Gauteng so is unlikely to run out of steam. Could be the one to beat come Saturday.

4 3 OBSCURE (5M) 55.0 (MR83) M Thackeray – Bridget Stidolph

Owner:  Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (Nom: Miss K Stidolph)

Breeding: Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA)

Colours: Pink, pink sleeves, turquoise armbands and cap

Obscure has won six races and is comfortable from 1450m to 2200m, but this will be her first attempt at further. At the meeting on November 5, she just managed to hold off a fast-finishing Jubilee over 1600m, but Obscure keeps on giving.  She will probably be thereabouts.

5 2 TIGERS EAGLE (4F) 53.5 (MR82) K Derere – Debra Swanson

Owner:  Mr C J Danckwerts

Breeding: Flying The Flag (IRE) – Neck Of The Woods by Al Mufti (USA)

Colours: Gold and black checks, gold sleeves, black seams, collar and cuffs, gold cap

Tigers Eagle is the baby here but has plenty going for her having won from 1600m to 2700m, and she seems to enjoy the longer trip.  She won the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby on July 13, and her last start on November 8, over 1700m.  That day Tigers Eagle carried 58 kgs and beat Tulip Way by 2 lengths.  She Is set to carry 53.5 kgs this time.

Photographs by Jenny Stock and Andrew Philip.:  This field has clocked up heaps of winners between them. So – a random selection of lead-ins. TOP Wantage (above) Masaaken (below).