Victory in Saturday’s 2400m Zimbabwe Derby is all Buster Barnes has to achieve to join the illustrious band of Triple Crown winners.

Debra Swanson’s charge has already won the first two legs of the Triple Crown – the 1600m Zimbabwe Guineas and the Zimbabwe 2000. However, it is not all over bar the shouting as the son of Erupt has yet to race further than 2000m.   None of the 2024 Derby entrants have faced such a test of stamina so – a very interesting race.

1 3 BUSTER BARNES 58.0 (MR86) – D Daniels – Debra Swanson.

By Erupt (IRE) – Servilia by Caesour (USA) – has won 5 of his 7 starts including the 1600m

Zimbabwe Guineas and the Zimbabwe 2000 (the first two legs of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown). The 2400m Zimbabwe Derby is the third leg and it all rests on whether Buster Barnes can handle this testing trip.

2 2 FOLLOW THE BAND 58.0 (MR56) – J R Syster – Debra Swanson.

By Vercingetorix – Jo Piper by Goldkeeper (USA) – one-time winner mostly well held by Buster Barnes in his last three starts but only two lengths off him in the Zimbabwe 2000.  Will Follow The Band prefer more ground?

3 5 PAIR OF ACES 58.0 (MR50) – K A Brewer – Thomas Mason.

Potala Palace – Lucky Hand by Tamburlaine (IRE) – has beaten Follow The Band over 1260m but was behind both Buster Barnes and Follow The Band in the Zimbabwe Guineas (his last start).

4 4 SIMON’S WORLD 58.0 (MR0) – J Penny – Bridget Stidolph.

Ideal World (USA) – Simona by Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – the son of Zimbabwe champion racemare Simona.  Unplaced in both his starts but could be anything. One can’t fault the breeding.

5 1 EMMA OF NORMANDY 54.5 (MR40) – R Danielson +1.5 – Amy Parham.

By William Longsword – Ice Pageant by National Emblem – won a 1450 Maiden Plate on April 21, and Saturday’s runners Jumped A Red and Simon’s World were also in that race.

6 6 JUMPED A RED 54.5 (MR36) – N Klink – Bridget Stidolph.

By Canford Cliffs (IRE) – Light Chaser by Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – still a maiden but don’t write any of the runners off over this ‘unknown’ distance.

Photographs: Zimbabwe Equine News