When the powers that be decided to stage the 3200m Carlton Cup at Borrowdale Park for the first time in years on New Year’s Eve, I am sure they did not anticipate Harare experiencing the wettest week for quite a while.

According to the sometimes-unreliable weather prophets, the rain will cease by Saturday.  I hope they are right.

None of the four runners who have stood their ground have raced over anything approaching this distance – although Dindingwe recently covered herself with glory when winning decisively over 2700m. That day she beat Zazu by 3.50 lengths, conceding 6 kgs. On Saturday both Zazu and Regulate will receive 6 kgs from Dindingwe, while Walking Thru Time will receive 8 kgs. The possibility of a dramatic change in the going complicates things.  

Although I am a Dindingwe fan, the question is can she give away dollops of weight in heavier going, and still succeed over an extra 500m? Jeffery Syster has the ride, and six-year-old Dindingwe is by Futura out of a Jallad (USA) mare.

Wes Marwing’s mount, Zazu, has finished very close to Citrusdal over 2700m, in addition to her second to stable companion Dindingwe in the 2700m Pinnacle Plate (90) on the 2^nd of December. She is by Global View (USA) out of a Count Dubois (GB) mare and must be considered.

Over this trip the Ato gelding Regulate (Penny), and Walking Thru Time (Klink), a four-year-old filly by Jay Peg, are unknown quantities.  Regulate is out of a Silvano (GER) mare and Walking Thru Time’s dam is by Giant’s Causeway (USA) so the breeding is there. Have they been waiting to go further to really shine?  

The first race on Sunday is off at 12 noon, and the BSA Carlton Cup, last on the six-race card, at 14:55.

Meanwhile – please let the sun shine – soon.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News