CongratulationsRosie Dorward, owner of Emerald Floe, winner of the 1260m Sable Flyers (LR) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon.
Now a six-time winner, Emerald Floe, by Oratorio (IRE), bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, is trained by Bridget Stidolph and Jarryd Penny was in the irons. Minor placings went to Varnica, Obscure and Ian’s Ferrari – winning margins 2.50, 5.0 and 5.0 lengths. Keen Spirit and Masaaken were scratched.
Stidolph and Penny won three races on Sunday afternoon, scoring earlier with Scala Dei Turchi in the 1000m Maiden Plate, and Only Him in the 1600m Pinnacle Plate 100.
Four of the six runners in the 1260m Sable Flyers (LR) raced at the Borrowdale Park meeting on 8 October, so they should be in fine fettle on Sunday.
Masaaken and Obscure are coming back from a long break but, as neither is distance-suited, it is probably safe to assume that for them this is a pipe opener.
(Famous last words, possibly.)
Bridget Stidolph fields Emerald Floe and Ian’s Ferrari, while Debra Swanson will saddle Varnica and Keen Spirit. At first glance, Emerald Floe and Varnica seem the pick, but the not-so-experienced Keen Spirit will have weight on her side and it will be interesting to see what she can make of this.
5m by Oratorio (IRE) – Emerald Beauty (ARG) by Equalize (USA)
Has won five races from 1100m – 1300m so is distance suited. Last outing on October 8 when a close second to Abayyaan over 1260m. The winner was receiving 8 kgs and Varnica was further back. A serious contender.
3 5 VARNICA 59.0 (MR82) T A Satombo – Debra Swanson
6m by Var (USA) – Muvango by Manshood (GB)
An 11-time winner from 1100m – 1260m and now 0.5 kg better off with Emerald Floe. Certainly, in with a shout.
4 6 OBSCURE 58.0 (MR80) A Shumba – Bridget Stidolph
5m by Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA)
Has won five from 1450m – 2200m so is likely to need further
5 3 KEEN SPIRIT53.5 (MR72) BA Derere – Debra Swanson
4 f by Skitt Skizzle – Caesour’s Spirit by Caesour (USA)
Has won three races from 1100m to 1260m and beat Ian’s Ferrari on 8 October by 2.50 lengths when giving her 2.5 kgs. Keen Spirit takes on tougher opposition on Sunday but I fancy her chances.
6 2 IAN’S FERRARI52.0 (MR61) Se Thackeray – Bridget Stidolph
4f by Wylie Hall (AUS) – Champagne ‘N Roses by Goldmark
This 2-time winner over 1500m and 1700m will have to dig deeper to best Keen Spirit over Sunday’s trip. Both these four-year-olds have a massive pull In the weights but will that be enough in this company?
On Saturday, John Koumides’ 8-year-old gelding, What A Dandy, won the 1000m Sunshine Cup at Borrowdale Park. Norbert Takawira was in the irons and the 16-time winner is trained by Debra Swanson. What A Dandy, by Just As Well (USA) was bred by Barton Hall Stud.
What A Dandy, trained by Debra Swanson and with Norbert Takawira up, won the 1000m Sunshine Cup at Borrowdale Park on Saturday – and then came Mr Greenlight, Coachella and LoveTo Bluff.
Thomas Mason trained the winner of the first race, first-timer Action Zone (Kevin Derere}, for Craig Danckwerts. After that, the Swanson yard saddled the winners of all the races.
The last race at Borrowdale on Saturday was the 2650m MTC Sunshine Cup – strictly a fun race and not part of the official card. Debra and Norbert won that also with the evergreen Cool Solution.
Congratulations everyone.
The Swanson winners:
WHY MADERA (Takawira) 1600m MR 65 Handicap. Owned by Messrs P C Rugg, G M Littleford, S H Murray.
KEEN SPIRIT (Takawira) 1100m MR 70 Handicap. Owned by The Swan & Donkey Syndicate (Nom: Richard Linnell).
TIGERS EAGLE (Gould) 1700m MR 85 Handicap. Owned by Mr C J Danckwerts.
ABAYYAAN (Gould) 1260m MR 82 Handicap. Owned by Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe ,V Patel, D K Ward &G Carter, G M Littleford,S H Murray,M Smith,& P C Rugg.
WHAT A DANDY (Takawira) 1000m Sunshine Cup. Owned by Mr J Koumides.
Photographs: Laurent Viguie
WHY MADERAKEEN SPIRITTIGERS EAGLECOURSE LOOKING GOOD
Borrowdale Park’s impressive veterans, Coachella and What A Dandy, will meet again in Saturday’s 1000m Sunshine Cup – and only the brave will want to oppose either of them.
Racing returns to Borrowdale Park after a 9-week break. This is the first meeting of our 2022/23 racing season. Fans will be delighted to be back at the course – and I suspect they will concentrate on fun rather than form this time.
Only four runners are due to take part in the Sunshine Cup – which has the makings of a match race between Coachella and What A Dandy – unless LoveTo Bluff, with his significant weight advantage, decides to come to the party.
This is a race where one can only assume the fittest horse, on the day, will win.
1 (1)COACHELLA (9g) 62 kgs (MR105) – 11 wins from 1000m – 1260m incl. the 2017 HRIB Gold Cup (GR3), and the 2021 Swift Gold Cup (GR 3).
Coachella’s last start was in an 1100m Pinnacle Plate 105 on 20 March in soft going. What A Dandy (58 kgs) won the race by 6 lengths from Mr Greenlight (58kgs), closely followed by Coachella (62kgs), then Love To Bluff (58kgs) a long way back. Considering the soft going and the turnaround in weights on Saturday we can’t read too much into that.
Owner: Mr J Koumides, Breeder: Prof I M Sanne, Trainer: Bridget Stidolph, Jockey T Gould.
Breeding: Alado (GB) – Festive Event by Camden Park (USA).
2 (2) WHAT A DANDY(8g) 62kgs (MR105) – 15 wins from 1000m – 1800m including the 2021 Hachiman Sprint over 1100m, the 2022 Independence Trophy over 1600m and the 1450m Breeders Sprint on 31 July. That day Mr Greenlight and Love To Bluff, meeting the winner at level weights, did not shine.
Owner: Mr J Koumides, Breeder: Barton Hall Stud, Trainer: Debra Swanson, Jockey N Takawira.
Breeding: Just As Well (USA) – Leba (IRE) by King’s Best (USA).
3 (4)LOVE TO BLUFF(6g) 56 kgs (MR93) – 8 wins from 1000m -1500m but a 1000m specialist who has beaten both Coachella and What A Dandy over this distance, with weight on his side.
Owners: Messrs R S Dyer, S N Buchan, N Evans, M K Chant, G de Jong, A Dixon, R Morgan, R Sherwood, G Carter & Mrs P J Lewis, Breeder: Millstream Farm, Trainer: Bridget Stidolph, Jockey M Thackeray.
Breeding: Judpot (USA) – Casa Nostra by Strike Smartly (CAN).
4 (3)MR GREENLIGHT(7g) 54 kgs (MR87) – 7 wins, 6 of which were over 1600m, but he won a 1000m Graduation Plate in August 2020. He carried 58 kgs then and beat Gladstone who was giving away 2 kgs.
Owner: Messrs G Goksel & B M McLauchlan, Breeder: Nadeson Park Stud, Trainer: Vanessa Birketoft. Jockey M Josi.
Breeding: Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Rakara by Rakeen (USA).
The maintenance team, with continued help from Gyles Dorward, is getting there. The trotting ring is completed, trainers’ collecting rings relocated, and a new road has been made to the Beach House.
The actual course is ‘looking great and ready for racing on 8 October’, Gary de Jong reports.
Borrowdale Park’s maintenance team has had plenty to do during this extended racing break. They haven’t been relaxing while watching the grass grow.
You have all heard about the potato crop, and another 1.2 hectares are expected to be ready for reaping in six weeks’ time. To ensure there is sufficient water for this exercise a new borehole has been drilled and the first water was found at 21 metres, which is encouraging.
To accommodate further crops graders were needed to remove boulders from the infield – and it didn’t end there. The trotting ring had to be relocated and this will now be in front of the grandstand.
“This has been a huge job”, Gary de Jong said, “as it involved plotting the size, and bringing in graders. Then applying quarry dust, followed by sand. The original trotting ring poles must also be relocated.”
It has been a race against the clock to ensure that the trainers are only inconvenienced for a few days. All going well the new ring should be up and running early this week.
Photographs of the Borrowdale course snapped between 4.30 and 5.30 pm on Thursday, 1st September. Thank you Rosie Dorward. The bottom picture was taken at the 2200m mark.
Even in its heyday,Borrowdale Park could not quite compare with Epsom and Churchill Downs, but so many who cut their racing teeth in Zimbabwe have moved on to other racing centres, worldwide, and succeeded.
I would be surprised if any other local ‘industry’ has exported a comparable number of trailblazers. For the record – and I know before I start that there will be errors and omissions – let’s mention some of them.
Currently, the stars of this show probably are Owen Heffer of HollywoodBets; Brian Finch, the recently appointed chairman of Epsom Downs; James Frank, winner of a Godolphin Award a couple of years back, and still employed on a stud in England, and Daniel Muscutt, busy booting home winners overseas, while his father, Peter, is saddling them in South Africa.
Nico Kritsiotis has also made his mark – initially as a commentator, and latterly with ClockingTheGallop on U-Tube.
With the help of some friends, I have been compiling lists – and losing them. I can’t keep on dithering so will put out what I have – hoping that when posted on Facebook readers will come to the party with updates and corrections.
For many South Africa was the obvious choice when deciding to move on, and former ZImbos have done well. Among the trainers are Paul Matchett, Roy Magner, Ashley Fortune, Stuart Pettigrew, Clint Binda, Brett Crawford, Peter Muscutt, Alyson and Kevin Wright, and Ivan and Darryl Moore. Sadly Neil Bruss, Colin Lee, George Uren and Ronnie Sheehan have passed on.
Sharon Patterson of Bayshore Barn has swelled the spelling ranks, while her son, Sean, assists Stidolph Racing at the Vaal.
And…we must not forget Michael J Clements Racing Stables in Singapore!
Geoff Armitage, formerly of Trelawney Stud in Zimbabwe, established Sandown Stud down south, with his son, James; Robin Bruss needs no introduction to anyone in South African breeding, and Annie Woodham, now deceased, also had a role here. Craig Carey is with Ridgemont Highlands, and Amanda Carey recently joined Maine Chance Farms. I am almost sure to be called on some omissions in this category.
The NHRA has also been invaded – starting at the top. Arnold Hyde, Racing Control Executive, hails from Gweru and comes from solid Rhodesian/Zimbabwean stock; former Zimbabwean jockey, Robert Moore, is Senior Academy Riding Master, and Martin Ball, previously a Borrowdale Park Stipendiary Steward, is also a South African Jockey Academy Riding Master.
Other members of the NHA Staff with Zimbabwean connections are Hazel Kayiya, Stud Book Manager (from Bulawayo), and Shan Rowe, who is the Central Provinces Inquiry Reporter, and she comes from Harare. Peter Patterson, who passed on recently, will be remembered as a Stipendiary Steward both in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Former jockeys are hard to keep track of. Taps Manxusw and Michael Mangwendeza are still in racing, but maybe not riding, while I understand Rogan Norval won a Gr1 in New Zealand as a jockey, but is training now. Brendon Fitzgerald is training in Australia, Reid Paterson, Gary and Russell Waterston, and Mark du Plessis are alive and kicking. Craig Wonnacott is far away and into Fine Art. Indeed, we are due for some updates here.
Some of you will remember Basil Thomas and Gary Lottering, both formerly part of Borrowdale Park’s administration team. Basil took control at Clairwood in KZN, and Gary is working hard in Tasmania, I hear.
Last, but certainly not least, are the handicappers – Michael Wanklin, Ryan Skelton, Alistair Pulford and Matthew Lipman. Ryan was the handicapper in Qatar for several years but is now handicapping in the United Kingdom. Matthew (better known as ‘Lips’) is in South Africa, and Mike Wanklin is doing great things as the Dubai Racing Club’s racing advisor, having worked all around the world to get there. Alistair Pulford left Zimbabwe, aged 21, and went to Australia. In due course, he became Darley’s Head Of Sales.
This is a very interesting quartet – and I hope to follow up with in-depth coverage of their exploits later.
In the meantime, thank you to everyone who helped with the lists – apologies to everyone who should have been included – and thanks, in anticipation, to those who are going to help put this record straight.
This will also be published on Facebook – on the group page LoveRacingZimbabwe.
Rosie Dorward was out with her camera early this morning – and the course is beginning to look good. Roll on the 8th of October and the first race meeting of 2022/23.
The Borrowdale potato crop is flourishing and, when available, pockets are being sold for around US$6 a pocket, depending on size.
Well worth making a trip to the course and finding the relevant shed!
Rosemary Dorward took these photographs yesterday. The first shows the day’s lifting being loaded into the shed; followed by the pockets being weighed – and then (below) 1,400 pockets being loaded into a truck.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 