The five-year-old Var (USA) mare Varnica clocked up her eighth victory in the 1200m Pinnacle Plate (85) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.
Apprentice Walter Shumba was in the irons and Varnica is trained by Debra Swanson who also saddled the winner – Manvir (Takawira) – of the 1000m Maiden Plate.
Varnica is owned by Messrs PD Gorringe, SP Gorringe, V Patel, DK Ward and G Carter.
Jarryd Penny was riding high at Borrowdale on Sunday – piloting three winners for the Stidolph yard in quick succession.
First up was Tradition in the 1200m MR 70 Handicap, then Emerald Floe who won the 1200m Middle Stakes, and finally Obscure in the 2000m Classified Stakes.
Well done Jarryd and everyone else concerned.
Photograph Zimbabwe Equine News: Emerald Floe with owner Rosie Dorward.
The 10-year-old Right Approach (GB) gelding, Finchatton, won the Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) at Borrowdale Park this afternoon. In a thrilling finish Holy Land, What A Dandy and Captain Of Tortuga chased him home.
Gengis Goksel owns the winner as well as having shares in the second horse across the line. Finchatton is trained by Gokhan Terzi, was bred by Wilgerbosdrift, and he has now won nine races. Raymond Danielson was in the irons today.
All things being equal the 1600m Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) to be run at Borrowdale Park on Sunday would be an exciting race – but they are not equal – which means super exciting in this case.
The four-year-old Futura filly, Dindingwe, is going for a hat-trick having won the 2000m Pioneers & Heroes Tankard on December 19, and the 1600m Pinnacle Plate 100 on January 23. She trounced Sunday’s runners Wantage, Finchatton and What A Dandy in the Tankard and sceptics said “Dindigwe went to the front and they were expecting her to come back to them and she didn’t. It won’t happen again”.
Then came the Pinnacle Plate where Dindingwe (57kgs) beat Holy Land (60 kgs) by a length, and Wantage (58 kgs) by two lengths. Wantage, with claiming apprentice Walter Shumba riding, will carry 56 kgs to Dindingwe’s 57.5 kgs on Sunday. Except for Bugatti Blue, who will have Apprentice Munashe Josi in the irons, all the other runners are set to carry 60 kgs and, make no mistake, they all have the credentials to win this on their day.
On paper, Dindingwe will have to dig deep to get the better of Wantage and Holy Land this time, and Captain of Tortuga will be having his third outing at Borrowdale Park. He broke the course record over 1200m in top company on November 6, but was 4.75 lengths off the winner, Coachella, in the Swift’ s Gold Cup, also 1200m.
By Captain Al and out of a Jet Master mare, Captain of Tortuga has won over 1600m at Turfffontein, so this will be interesting.
The going was heavy at the last Borrowdale meeting but there hasn’t been much rain since then. However, who knows what will have happened by Sunday. The weather seems unpredictable this year.
The 2022 Ipi Tombe runners are listed below. Of course, I would love to see the baby in this race, Dindingwe, win again – but I don’t think we can count on it.
1 Draw 7 CAPTAIN OF TORTUGA 60.0 (MR98) Penny – Bridget Stidolph – Captain Al – Ebony Flyer by Jet Master – 5 wins 1200m – 1600m
2 Draw 8 WHAT A DANDY 60.0 (MR97) Satombo – Debra Swanson – Just As Well (USA) – Leba (IRE) by King’s Best (USA) – 12 wins 1000m – 1800m
3 Draw 5 HOLY LAND 60.0 (MR96) Matsunyane – Vanessa Birketoft – Ideal World (USA) – Lalibela by Silvano (GER) – 7 wins 1450 – 1800m
4 Draw 1 FINCHATTON 60.0 (MR95) Danielson – Gokhan Terzi – Right Approach (GB) – Rose Lipped Maiden by Fort Wood (USA) – 8 wins 1400m- 1800m
Wantage won the 1600m Ipi Tombe Stakes last year, and Yarraman was the victor in 2020. Both have been nominated to run in the 2022 Ipi Tombe on February 20. Will they stand their ground?
Call The Wind, by Twice Over (GB), was a most convincing winner of the 1600m Fillies Classic at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.
The filly, trained by Vanessa Birketoft of V Racing, has now won all of her four starts. The Fillies Classic is the first leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Tiara, and Lady Sanza finished 3.50 lengths behind the winner, followed by Days Gone By and Keen Spirit. The going was heavy on Sunday and Call The Wind will be hard to beat, going forward.
The winning three-year-old is owned by Gengis Goksel and Calvin Habib was in the irons. This was the cherry on top for Calvin having already won on Oden, Fareeq and True Beauty earlier in the afternoon.
Mill Creek a 7-year-old mare, and Deposition, a 6-year-old gelding, are older, so presumably wiser, than the rest in the 1600m MR 60 Handicap at Borrowdale Park tomorrow. The tipsters agree this pair are in with a good chance, but results may depend on the going.
The racecourse had 35mm on Friday afternoon, and it wasn’t rock-hard before that. This year I have lost all belief in weather prophets, but right now it looks gloomy enough to rain again – significantly.
Deposition, by Rock Of Gibrantar (IRE), has won two and been placed 13 times from 37 starts. He should do well in heavy going having won over 2200m at Greyville in good going and over 1950 at Scottsville when very soft underfoot. He has yet to score at Borrowdale but finished a length off Enrapture over 1500m on January 9, in yielding going.
Mill Creek, a five-time winner and placed 17 times in 40 races, Is by Pathfork (USA) and apart from a maiden win at Borrowdale over 1600m in good going has only raced twice, since then, further than 1260m. On April 28, 2019, in a 1700m Novice Plate, Mill Creek finished last and the jockey told the Stipes he felt the filly was better suited over shorter trips. On16 August, 2020, Mill Creek tried the turn again in a 1450m MR 60 Handicap won by Rose Diamond. She was 3 lengths off the winner and Supa Memories, Bushman and Wee Doch ‘n Dorris were in front of Mill Creek – all quite accomplished over more ground.
Is that enough to justify most tipsters’ optimism? Time will tell. Wallaa, Hawi and Seattle Frost are possible dangers in what should be an interesting race. It is due off at 15 35.
The photograph of Mill Creek was taken by Zimbabwe Equine News at the last meeting. She is certainly pretty, and Norbert Takawira has the ride. Deposition will have Jarryd Penny aboard.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 