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.