2022 TANKARD RUNNER

2 Drawn 13 60.0 LILY BLUE 5-year-old mare

Owner:  Ms Robyn Macleod & Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (Nom: Miss K Stidolph) – Breeder:Mr G J Armitage – Trainer: Bridget Stidolph

Breeding: Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA)

Colours: Pink, pink sleeves, turquoise armbands and cap

Half the crowd at Borrowdale Park could well be screaming for Lily Blue on Castle Tankard Day – and if she is in with a shout turning into the home straight, I will be screaming with them.

However, it is a tough ask.  Joint top weight with Finchatton and not the best of draws., but if Lily Blue and jockey Jarryd Penny prove me wrong, I will be delighted. This gallant mare has won 12 races and was quoted at 4/1 when betting opened.

Lily Blue won the Champion Juvenile Stakes, and as a three-year-old was formidable, winning 7 races in succession including the Breeders Fillies Mile (L), and the ZNA Charity Champion Fillies Stakes before collecting the Triple Tiara (Fillies Classic, the Silver Slipper and the Zimbabwe Oaks) and two legs of the Zimbabwe Triple Crown (the Zimbabwe Guineas and the Zimbabwe Derby).  When it comes to the 2000m Castle Tankard this girl is distance suited.

She campaigned in Gauteng winning two races for fillies and mares over 1800m before returning to Zimbabwe to contest the Champion Fillies Stakes in November 2021. This 1600m event was won by Seven Seas and Lily Blue was two lengths back, conceding 6 kgs to the winner. Her next outing was on March 20 when she won the 2000m Breeders Champion Cup (L) and Heir Line, Bugatti Blue, Finchatton and Wantage were behind her.

Lily Blue’s last start was in the 1600m Independence Trophy on April 13 where she finished a disappointing 9 lengths back and all of Bugatti Blue, True Beauty, Finchatton, Holy Land and Mr Greenlight did better, but I am prepared to draw a line through that.  The going was yielding then and if Lily Blue wasn’t ready for the Tankard her connections wouldn’t dream of running her.

Viva Lily Blue.

Photograph: Gavin Macleod.

2022 TANKARD RUNNERS

1 Drawn 6 60.0 FINCHATTON 10 g

Owner:  Mr G Goksel – Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift -Trainer:   Gokhan Terzi

Breeding: Right Approach (GB) – Rose Lipped Maiden by Fort Wood (USA)

Colours: Black, purple crossed sashes, black sleeves, purple cap

Finchatton will carry 60 kgs in the 2000m Castle Tankard (Gr1) to be run at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, May 7. Diego de Gouveia will be in the irons, and he has teamed up successfully with Finchatton before. 

Finchatton’s six victories from 1400m to 2000m include the 2021 OK Grand Challenge (Gr2) over 1800m, and the 1600m Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) in February. In the 2021 Tankard, which is over 2000m, Finchatton ran fourth to Dindingwe who was receiving 3.5 kgs, but he won over the distance at the Vaal in January 2020 – and De Gouveia was riding that day.

On March 3 Finchatton finished 11.25 lengths off Lily Blue in the 200Om Breeders Champions Cup, in soft going while conceding 4.5 kgs to the winner.  Heir Line and Bugatti Blue were ahead of Finchatton, while Wantage was close behind him – all receiving weight from Gokhan Terzi’s charge.

In his last outing Finchatton was fourth in the 1600m Independence Trophy won by What A Dandy. Bugatti Blue and True Beauty were placed second and third, with weight on their side, and Holy Land, Mr Greenlight and Lily Blue were further back. The going was yielding.

Finchatton is a worthy contender and was 33/10 when the 2022 Tankard betting opened on Monday. Lily Blue, who will also carry 60 kgs, was at 4/1.  This is beginning to look like a pretty open race, and good going would be helpful.

More later.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

The Castle Tankard – Zimbabwe’s biggest and best racing event inaugurated in 1960 – returns to Borrowdale Park on Saturday, May 7, and Final Acceptors were announced at a function today.

When the stakes are high more people than usual think about having a flutter, and ‘Nick In Newmarket’, writing in an International Racing Club newsletter, recently gave good advice for first-time punters:

“There are no hard and fast rules for betting on racing. Everyone’s got their own system. Some take hours studying form and analysing times. Others follow stable form, wait for horses to start running well and then strike while the iron is hot. Your casual racegoer often goes on names, recognised jockeys, and the fashionistas seem to pick on the design of the silks. Each to their own.

 “But if I was to offer advice to anyone new to the game it would be this. Don’t believe everything you hear. Find a few trusted sources and stick to those. If you believed every person attached to a yard, you’d be heading for the poor house very quickly.

 “There are exceptions to this. For example, when something is absolutely scorching up the Al Bahathri usually in the John Gosden or William Haggas string, and there are plenty of witnesses who can back up the version of events. But on the whole, I’ve learnt very quickly that most of the time there’s no such thing as a certainty.

 “I failed to heed my own advice yesterday when I received a text message, totally out of the blue with three horses. All at Doncaster. Given the random nature of the text I opted to lay out a small amount of my SkyBet account to test the waters and see how this source went. A small investment on a treble for the afternoon.

 “Bang. The first one went in. Bang. The second one got home. By a nose. But the number was in the frame. Suddenly the cash out became appealing but what the hell. Let it ride. A small outlay for a 14/1 return seemed appealing. And besides, the random nature of the text message suggested that someone knew something.

 “It came down to the final leg. A two-mile contest at Doncaster in the spring sunshine. The field set off and in the early part things were looking OK. The tipped horse smuggled into the race having opted to bide its time near the rear. And then came the moment that the realisation hit. Never listen to unsolicited advice.

 “The horse foundered four furlongs from home and hit a massive flat spot. That’s it. The fun was over. But then as the front runners grew weary after the stamina sapping contest, suddenly the tip was bearing down on them, the leader crying for the line. The fancy making ground but leaving it late. The line came. Too late! Second. The losing margin was a head. Almost.

 “Enough to suggest that perhaps I give the source one more try.”

Borrowdale Park is a far cry from Newmarket in England where residents are constantly exposed to all that is happening in their racing world. However, in our small way, we do have tipsters and those who believe in racing certainties, so I will only add…

Take a bet when you get the urge but NEVER put on more than you can afford to lose. Racing is supposed to be fun so let’s keep it that way – and carry on smiling.

Photograph by Andrew Philip. FLASHBACK TO 2018 when 66/1 shot Roman Discent (Thackeray) won the Castle Tankard, beating Simona (SP 20/1) by a whisker, and then came Kilrain (13/10) and Mathematician (18/1). The winning owners were beside themselves with glee but some, in saner moments, admitted to being slightly surprised. Actually, it was a great day and a fantastic race – regardless.

Catch up with the 2022 Castle Tankard Acceptors and Opening Betting on this site on:

https://zimracing.com/2022-castle-tankard-field/

The first race at Borrowdale Park tomorrow (Sunday, April 24) is off at 12 25 and the feature, the Zimbabwe Derby, third leg of the Triple Crown, is at 15 54.

The meeting can be viewed on DSTV Channel 240 – and the Borrowdale Park Livestream will be on Clocking The Gallop on UTube.

Tips, Final Fields, Online Card, Card Changes appear on this site.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod: The 2020 Zimbabwe Derby was won by Lily Blue -Morgan Nyamagwete was riding and was trained by Bridget Stidolph. Then came Wantage, Zambezi Rapids and Seattle Frost.

The Zimbabwe Derby (Gr3) run over 2400m is the ultimate stamina test for our three-year-olds and, if the unseasonal weather we have experienced during the last two days continues, it will definitely be that.

None of the runners have raced beyond 2000m but in most cases the breeding is there, and Regulate, Cutback and Tigers Eagle will each have supporters.

Hopefully, the sun will return soon so that by Sunday all the runners can put their best hooves forward.

The acceptors for the Zimbabwe Derby are listed below.

No Apprentice Allowance

1 (4) REGULATE (3G) 58.0 (MR75) (Ato – Dictate by Silvano (GER)) – T Gould – Bridget Stidolph. Ran second to Call The Wind in the Zimbabwe Guineas and to Cutback in the Zimbabwe 2000. Placed in four of his five starts and a winner over 1100m. Interesting runner.

2 (1) MASTER MING (3C) 58.0 (MR48) (Toreador (IRE) – Madame Ming by Overlord (AUS)) – K Derere – Thomas Mason. A winner of his first start over 1000m in February and the front runner in the Zimbabwe 2000 but ran out of steam. Best performance around the turn was in the 1600m Tote Free in December when 9 lengths off Tigers Eagle.

3 (5) CUTBACK (3F) 54.5 (MR73) (Twice Over (GB) – Suedette by Dynasty) – D Schwarz – Thomas Mason. Winner of the 1600m Guineas Trial and the Zimbabwe 2000 (Gr3). Has form.

4 (2) TIGERS EAGLE (3F) 54.5 (MR67) (Flying The Flag (IRE) – Neck Of The Woods by Al Mufti (USA)) – R Satombo – Debra Swanson. Winner of the 1600m Tote Free Handicap beating stablemate Days Gone By by two lengths. Well placed in the Silver Slipper and the Zimbabwe 2000 and certainly one to consider here.

5 (6) MIDFIELD GIRL (3F) 54.5 (MR62) (Alado (GB) – Midfield Scortcher by Sportsworld (USA)) – J Penny -Bridget Stidolph. Won 1900m Maiden Plate on 3 April. This will be her third race in Zimbabwe, and she was well beaten by Call The Wind and Tigers Eagle in the 1800m Silver Slipper (L) on March 20. The going was soft that day. A bit of a mystery.

6 (3) DAYS GONE BY (3F) 54.5 (MR55) (Byword (GB) – Rememberance by Fort Wood (USA) * W Shumba -Debra Swanson. Shed maiden certificate over 1800m in December. Has been held by Cutback and Tigers Eagle before but I continue to expect Days Gone By to do better.

Photographs By Zimbabwe Equine News.

Most winners at Borrowdale Park on April 13 went up in the Merit Ratings.

Albar Warning, who won the first race, a 1000m Maiden Plate, will now race off 50. Assume (1000m Novice Plate) has been raised from 55 MRs to 59.

Oden (1100m Middle Stakes) from 75 to 80 and Enrapture (1600m MR 65 Handicap) from 73 to 78.

Kursk won the 1800m MR 64 Handicap – previously on 64 and now 68. Tulip Way (1600m Classified Stakes) remains on 77 MRs.

What A Dandy, winner of the 2023 Independence Trophy is now on 105 – he was previously rated 101.

Photograph Zimbabwe Equine News. Kursk (K Matsunyane) and Centre Stage (*W Shumba).

Sometimes the pictures tell the story.

What A Dandy won the 2022 Independence trophy at Borrowdale Park on Wednesday. Very well done trainer Debra Swanson, jockey Rodgers Satombo, owner John Koumides, and everyone else involved.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Debra Swanson saddled the first two past the post in the 2022 Independence Trophy at Borrowdale Park run over 1600m this afternoon. What A Dandy (Satombo) played catch me if you can and they could not. Bugatti Blue was second and then came True Beauty and Finchatton.

What A Dandy by Just As Well (USA), is owned by John Koumides and bred by Barton Hall Stud. He is now a 14-time winner.

Unfortunately, the start was delayed considerably and Yarraman was withdrawn by the starter. I will wait for the Stipendiary Board Report about that.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photograph Zimbabwe Equine News

By now everyone should know there is racing at Borrowdale Park today (Wednesday), and the first race is off at 12 20.

The feature is the 2022 Independence Trophy scheduled for 15 48 – and if you can’t make it to the course the races will be on DSTV Channel 240. If the Live Stream is available on ClockingTheGallop (U-Tube) I will post a link on this site. Tips, Card Changes etc will be posted as usual.

Have a great day.

We are racing at Borrowdale Park on Wednesday and the feature is the 2022 Independence Trophy. There are nine acceptors and deciding who is most likely to succeed is extremely difficult – I think.

Holy Land won this 1600m event in 2020, carrying 54 kgs, but on Wednesday will heft 60 kgs while Finchatton, who headed Holy Land in the 2022 Ipi Tombe Stakes, also over 1600m, will be receiving 6 kgs from Holy Land on Wednesday. They met at level weights in the Ipi Tombe.

Claiming Apprentice Munashe Josi rides Finchatton and the more experienced Kabelo Matsunyane will be on Holy Land. However, * Josi has ridden Finchatton before when second to Fareeq over 1260m.

What A Dandy and Captain Of Tortuga, both carrying 60 kgs, ran third and fourth in the 2022 Ipi Tombe Stakes. This time they meet Holy Land on much better terms but will give weight to Finchatton.

On paper it seems Finchatton looks home and dry and I am going to stick my neck out and say that Yarraman, Bugatti Blue and Mr Greenlight will also find him hard to beat, although Yarraman will only carry 52,5 kgs when *Shumba has claimed.

But what about Lily Blue and True Beauty? Both girls are set to carry 53 kgs and have won well recently.

True Beauty moves up in class here, but Lily Blue recently scored in the Changa Champions Breeders Cup over 2000m and Bugatti Blue, Yarraman and Finchatton finished well behind her. Finchatton will probably prefer Wednesday’s shorter trip, but Lily Blue has won 12 races from 1200m to 2400m, and it is hard to ignore that.

The first race on Wednesday is off at 12 20 and the Independence Trophy is at 15 48.

Photographs By Zimbabwe Equine News

Apprentice Munashe Josi teamed up with Armstrong in the 1600m MR 85 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday and every post was a winning one. Heir Line had to settle for second place, half a length back.

Trained by Vanessa Birketoft, Armstrong is owned by Messrs G Goksel, A P Nydam & F Vahab, and the Var (USA) gelding was bred by Aarde Stud.

Congratulations to the winning connections. This was the six-year-old’s seventh victory.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News

Tulip Way won the 1500m MR 75 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, with Tradition close behind her.

By Captain Al, Tulip Way is trained by Debra Swanson and owned by Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward and G Carter. Teaque Gould was riding and the five-year-old mare was bred by Klavervlei Stud.

Well done everyone.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.