The 24th of February will be Jeffery Syster’s last meeting at Borrowdale Park, riding for Brumstock Stables, as he will be moving to the UK.
Trainer Debra Swanson said, “He joined the stables in May last season and shortly thereafter won our first OK Grand Challenge with my three-year-old pride and joy, Down To Business. Jeff has been a great asset to the yard and a pleasure to work with.
“We wish him all the best in his new adventure and hope his knowledge and expertise grow abundantly overseas. They are privileged to have him.”
Since becoming a regular visitor to Borrowdale, Syster has done extremely well and currently heads this season’s jockey statistics.
The petite mare Cutback made light of 59.5 kgs and won the 1600m MR 67 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.
Thomas Mason’s charge has now won four races, and this time Kaidan Brewer was in the irons. The daughter of Twice Over (GB) is owned by the Royal Flush Syndicate (nominee Gary de Jong). A number of her enthusiastic owners were on hand to lead Cutback in.
Mr LMF Wiemars bred the consistent five-year-old, who in addition to four wins has been placed 20 times in 25 starts.
Bello Grosso (Syster) and When Evening Comes (Brewer) finished first and second in the 1600m Novice Plate at Borrowdale on Sunday – exactly as the MTC Tipstir predicted.
This was Bello Grosso’s second start and second win at Borrowdale Park, in the name of Matthew Moxon – and friends. By Erupt (IRE), Bello Grosso was bred by Piemonte Stud and the four-year-old gelding is trained by Debra Swanson.
Congratulations!
Photographs by Jenny Stock of Zimbabwe Equine News
Bello Grosso (Syster) then When Evening Comes (Brewer) 1600m Novice Plate.
Var Aglow, trained by Debra Swanson and with Jeffery Syster riding, was the first of the ZimFun Racing Club’s two Borrowdale Park winners on Sunday.
By Var (USA) and bred by Mrs Vanessa Harrison, Var Aglow has now won two races in quick succession since being acquired by ZimFun. On Sunday he won the 1100m MR 75 Handicap, beating Gypsy Express by 1.25 lengths.
This was a memorable day for ZimFunners. Later in the afternoon their other runner, Qunetra, won the 1700m MR 85 Handicap, trained by Bridget Stidolph and with Nathan Klink in the irons.
The son of Visionaire (USA), Jet Mirage, was a convincing winner of the MWOS Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, and this was his seventh visit to the Number One box.
Trainer Debra Swanson and jockey Jeffery Syster were in fine form, and this was their fourth winner on Sunday. Sadly, Syster will soon be moving to the United Kingdom.
Jet Mirage is owned by ‘C J Smith’, Grant Littleford, Spencer Murray, and Paul Rugg. The five-year-old gelding was bred by Lammerskraal Stud.
It is a small field for the 1600m MWOS Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, but all the runners have won – often – and beaten each other, sometimes by a whisker.
On Sunday all except the mare, Brianna, will carry 60 kgs. Between them, they have won 35 races. Holy Land triumphed in this race in 2023, beating Wantage by 0.10 lengths at level weights.
The first race is off at noon. The Ipi Tombe Stakes at 14.55.
When available the links to the online card, card changes, and the Formgrids live stream, will be posted on this site.
NB: Wes Marwing who was carded to ride Wantage, and several other horses at Borrowdale on Sunday, unfortunately had a fall at Fairview yesterday. Waiting for an update.
Vercingetorix sired two of the six winners at Saturday’s Borrowdale Park race meeting, and Abayyaan was one of them.
The five-year-old gelding, trained by Debra Swanson and with Jeffery Syster up, won the 1600m BSA November Two-Year-Old Sales Advance Plate, carrying the top weight of 60 kgs.
Action Zone (Brewer) finished second, 1.75 lengths back, and then came Jacky Sparrow (Nyamagwete) and Regulate (Thackeray).
Abayyaan has now won seven races and he is owned by Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel and K Ward, G M Littleford, S H Murray, C Rugg, and M W Smith. The six-year-old gelding was bred by Mr M K Ahmed.
My Secret Place teamed up with Morgen Nyamagwete and came into her own in the 2200m BSA August Two-Year-Old Sales MR 76 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.
The daughter of Vercingetorix who raced in the colours of the Brumby Syndicate and Gengiz Goksel, finished three lengths clear of Obscure (Thackeray) who was giving the winner 8 kgs. Bred by Mr T D Andrews and trained by Amy Parham, this four-year-old filly has now won two races and been placed 15 times from 18 starts.
Stable companions Power Ranger and Red Top, at level weights, finished first and second in the 1260m BSA KZN Sale MR 69 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.
Wes Marwing was riding the winner, Power Ranger, who is now a force to be reckoned with, and Red Top, with Morgen Nyamagwete up, also impressed. Forgotten Time (Brewer) came third.
By Silvano (GER) and out of a Captain Al mare, Power Ranger has now won four races – three of these while owned by Mesdames C E Charsley, D Herbst, A F Stead, C F von Rosen, and Mr W P Nel, in Zimbabwe. He was bred by the Maine Chance & Coolmore Partnership and is trained by Debra Swanson who added three winners to her score during the afternoon.
Buster Barnes won the 1600m BSA Cape Yearling Sales Progress Plate at Borrowdale Park on Saturday by six lengths having kept his cool during the most hectic of starts.
What with gates bursting open repeatedly, and runners breaking through, it’s a wonder the race eventually took place. Full marks to the jockeys for managing to restrain their mounts.
By Erupt (IRE), three-year-old Buster Barnes has now won three of his five starts, and once again Jeffery Syster was in the irons. The gelding is trained by Debra Swanson for the Centaur Syndicate (nominee Craig Danckwerts), and he was bred by Millstream Farm.
Aerial Display (Brewer) ran second, then came Duchess Of War (Marwing) and Walking Through Time (Nyamagwete).
Well done everyone.
Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.
Buster Barnes -1600m BSA National Yearling Sales Progress Plate.
…to win the 1100m BSA Hachiman Sprint at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, 27 January 2024.
Trained by Thomas Mason, and with Kaidan Brewer riding, the son of Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) gave weight to the field, held off a strong challenge from Admirals Chance when it mattered, and won by a length.
The six-year-old gelding is owned by Messrs D T Machingaidze, M K Chant, R Morgan & Mesdames A Follet -Smith, A S Chant, A G Mason, C M de Jong and S Ziehl, and was bred by Wilgersbosdrift and Mauritzfontein. This was his seventh victory.
Mason and Brewer scored earlier in the 1600m BSA Cape Yearling Sale Maiden Plate which was won by Trust Me by 8 lengths!
Trust Me ( a 3yo f) has now had four starts. She is by Mambo In Seattle (USA), is owned by Craig Danckwerts, and bred by Clifton Stud.
Only five are due to line up for the 1100m BSA Hachiman Sprint at Borrowdale Park on Saturday but it is not that easy to choose a winner.
Jubilee will be giving weight to the field – but not so much to Admirals Chance, Emerald Floe, and Tradition – all of whom will carry 58.5 kgs. Star Aglow will receive 5 kgs from Jubilee and has the outside draw for what that’s worth in a small field.
Come what may it will be interesting.
This can be said for several races on Saturday’s card. Rising stars Buster Barnes and Jacky Sparrow fluffed their lines in their last outings but could make amends on Saturday.
The first race is off at 12 45 and the Hachiman Sprint at 15 40. Entry to the course is free and hopefully the sun will be shining.
The Hachiman Sprint field:
1 3 JUBILEE 6g 60 kgs (MR87) – Brewer – T Mason. Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Lucy Would by Fort Wood (USA). 6 wins from 1000 to 1700m.
2 2 ADMIRALS CHANCE 4c 58.5kgs (MR84) – Syster – D Swanson. Admiral Kitten (USA) – Chancane by Captain Al. 4 wins from 1200m to 1600m.
3 1 EMERALD FLOE 6m 58.5 kgs (MR84) – Nyamagwete -B Stidolph. Oratorio (IRE) – Emerald Beauty (ARG) by Equalize (USA). 6 wins from 1100m to 1300m.
4 4 TRADITION 6g 58.5 kgs (MR84) – W Marwing – B Stidolph. Legislate – Starring Emma by Daylami (IRE). 7 wins from 1100m to 1600m.
5 5 STAR AGLOW 5m 55 kgs (MR77) – Thackeray – D Swanson. Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Jet Aglow by Jet Master. 5 wins from 1000m to 1450m
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 