The Hachiman Sprint will be run over 1100m at Borrowdale Park on Sunday – the first race meeting in Zimbabwe in 2021.

All things being equal – but they are not – any one of the six runners could, on their day, win. The field includes two-time Gold Cup winner, Verdier, and Christofle who won the Hachiman Sprint in 2019.  Gladstone, a whisker behind Verdier in the 1200m Gold Cup on December 11, is also there, along with What A Dandy (placed in the Hachiman before), Love To Bluff and Golden Lion – who likes to surprise from time to time.

The answer might lie in the going and who can tell what that will be on Sunday?  On December 20 it was soft underfoot, penetrometer reading 29, but since then the course has had a chance to recover. However, this week Zimbabwe had been rife with flood warnings, but nothing has materialised in Harare, so far.

The first race on Sunday is at 12 15 and the Hachiman Sprint is due off at 15 55. The Borrowdale Tipsters have been asked to submit their predictions by this afternoon (Thursday) which is quite cruel in view of the uncertainty about the rain – but one must get the serious stuff out of the way early on New Year’s Eve.

The two races prior to the Hachiman are also rather mind-boggling, but once punters have recovered from their hangovers on Saturday, they will be better placed to make their selections with the help of the online Borrowdale card.

I hope every Borrowdale Park supporter enjoys the New Year celebrations and wish you all a happy and prosperous 2021.  We always know next year will be better – don’t we?  

Did you notice that this year the lead up to Christmas was somewhat muted – although I am sure it all came right on the day.

Possibly, in Zimbabwe, this was partly due to soaring prices because, for mean-spirited people like me, it is hard to feel festive when simple shopping leads to traumatic shock.

The next hurdle is New Year’s Eve when we are meant to be optimistic and brimming over with good cheer. Zimbos all know next year will be better – and in this case it better be – but I have found out how to be wildly happy, instantly, and bursting with plans for 2021.

The answer lies in imagined opulence. Take a few moments to imagine money is no object and it is amazing how quickly one adapts to this lovely idea. Then decide what you want to happen next year – after you have spread some of your boundless wealth around, buying horses and looking after the less fortunate, of course.

Personally, I want my old stamping ground back – the Ipi Tombe Room at Borrowdale Park with its easy access to the important parts of the racecourse. I miss that relaxed atmosphere with down to earth racing people, who get their kicks out of winning the odd quartet.

And before you say that is not going to happen remember money is no object so I can do what I like.

I have not checked up on what is left in the Ipi Tombe Room for several months. The devastation is too depressing and talked about plans never come to anything. Perhaps someone has leased these premises but so what. With my unlimited funds I can buy the lease, if any; buy tables and chairs, get tablecloths; refurbish the kitchen, stock the bar, replace everything that was summarily sent “upstairs”, order flowers, lavishly, and hire a with-it manager who will keep it clean, engage necessary staff and keep us supplied with delicious snacks.

We could be up and running in a couple of weeks, with all the help that would be forthcoming from other people who also miss the good old days in the Ipi Tombe Room. And there will be a grand re-opening, of course, when former Ipi Tombe patrons will be invited to fill a table with invited guests – drinks and snacks on the house.

Having got that off my chest I feel much better. This sense of empowerment will last several hours, at least – but back to earth and basics.

Racecourses need people, as well as owners, and worldwide the trend is aimed at attracting racegoers. Unfortunately, no-one is going to come racing if there is nowhere to have a drink and chat in between races and meet up with other people.

All credit to those who have kept Zimbabwe racing going during difficult times. However, COVID will not last forever and, hopefully, the powers that be will, in 2021, give some thought to improving the facilities on offer so that new, and former, racing fans come on to the course.

2020 has been memorable for unfortunate reasons but THE CENTAURIAN SAYS there have been achievements – “So, there you have it – bucket loads of crap heaped on us all for much of the year – but, despite the challenges, Zimbabwe and its racing community have achieved much.” Read all about it on this site – The Centaurian Takes Aim…

BELOW: Photograph by Scott Buchan – last look at Borrowdale Park in 2020.

The first race at Borrowdale Park today, Sunday, December 20, 2020, is off at 11 35.

COVID-19 protocols apply so racing is still behind closed doors.

The SandSport Livestream from Borrowdale will be on ClockingThe Gallop on UTube, with a link on this site..

In addition, the Borrowdale races will be on DSTV Tellytrack Channel 249.

Photograph by Andrew Philip

The Borrowdale Park Tipsters could be on a hiding to nothing tomorrow – and please don’t ask “What’s New?”

The going was soft at the December 11 meeting and there has been plenty of rain this week, with the possibility of more. At Borrowdale, the going is on top for most of the year so identifying mudlarks is somewhat hit and miss.

Surprisingly, the tipsters seem to have few doubts about the winners of three of the seven races on Sunday’s card.

Red Pollard has all the support in the 1450m MR 65 Handicap and Port Elizabeth jockey, Teaque Gould, has the ride. In the 1600m MR 85 Handicap three out of four tipsters have taken Mr Greenlight to win, with Nikki Sibanda in the irons.

Citrusdal, with Jarryd Penny up, is the unanimous choice for the 1700m MR 75 Handicap, and the son of Duke Of Marmalade (IRE) is hoping for a hat-trick here.

The get-out stakes are a 1900m Pinnacle Plate 100, but here the tipsters are evenly split between Peggson and Yarraman.

The first race is due off at 11 35 – and “closed doors” still applies.

True Beauty, the three-year-old daughter of the Jet Master sire Skitt Skizzle, won the 1600mTote Free Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Friday, adding another feature win to her tally.

She won the 1200m Jacaranda Free Handicap in October and has won three of her seven starts – so far – doing owners Ms S P Moyo and Mr G Tafeni proud. True Beauty is trained by Kirk Swanson and Apprentice Rodgers Satombo was in the irons. The filly was bred by Bosworth Farm Stud.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photograph Zimbabwe Equine News

Dindingwe has bowed out of the 1600m Tote Free Handicap for three-year-olds, leaving her stablemates, True Beauty and Magnus Maximus, very much in the running.

Trained by Kirk Swanson, True Beauty recently won the 1200m Jacaranda Free Handicap. She has dealt with all of Willfull Path, Mazikeen, Mind Master, Obscure and Suave Judge before, and with Apprentice Rodgers Satombo in the irons on Friday should only carry 56 kgs.

Magnus Maximus and True Beauty have yet to meet in a race and the lightly raced son of Jackson is harder to assess. He has won two of his three starts but has yet to go around the turn.

Although I summarily dismissed Obscure and Suave Judge earlier, maybe that was too hasty. This is a handicap, and this pair receive weight from the field.

Suave Judge from the Terzi yard is by Judpot (USA). Two of his three starts were in open company and he finished in front of subsequent winner Farm Yard Tractor in a 1600m Maiden Plate.

At the last meeting the well-connected Obscure won a 1450m Maiden Plate impressively – and if she really has her act together now, Bridget Stidolph’s charge could surprise.

Weather permitting, Borrowdale Park’s major sprint, the US$3 000 National Foods Gold Cup, will be run over 1200m on Friday afternoon.  This year the field of 8 runners includes three former Gold Cup winners – Coachella, Twilight Trip and Verdier.

Coachella won this race in 2017, carrying 61 kgs; Twilight Trip, set to carry 52 kgs and with a claiming apprentice in the irons, won the following year, and in 2019 Verdier (52 kgs) beat Coachella (63 kgs) by 0.05 lengths.

This time Coachella will ‘only’ carry 62 kgs, while Twilight Trip and Verdier come in at 52.5 and 52 kgs respectively. The chances are Coachella will have to settle for one of the minor places again, while one of the light weights comes skipping through.

Gladstone and White Winter were both set to carry the minimum weight but Gladstone, with Greyling up, will be 1 kg over. Fareeq, ridden by Takawira, will receive 5 kgs from Coachella, Christofle 5.5, and Armstrong 8kgs.

As it stands at present the going on Friday is likely to be on the soft side, which is an added imponderable.

On recent form, and taking weight into account, Christofle gets my vote, without much confidence. Armstrong, maybe, and White Winter is consistent. Who knows?

It will be an interesting race because, possibly, one of the previous winners can collect a Gold Cup double. 

The first race on Friday is due off at 12 10 and the Gold Cup will be run at 16 15.  This is the second feature race as the 1600m Tote Free Handicap is also part of the 8-race card.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

One must respect Coachella. At the last Borrowdale Park race meeting the seven-year-old son of Alado (GB) recorded his 11^th win in the 1100m Pinnacle Plate – and once again Coachella was giving plenty of weight to all his rivals.

The start of this race was farcical with two false starts being called. According to the Stipendiary Board Report:’ a) The Starter called a false start when COACHELLA (J Penny) starting stall gate opened slower than the rest of the field. COACHELLA (J Penny), CHRISTOFLE (R Satombo), ARMSTRONG (N Takawira), TWILIGHT TRIP (T Gould) and WHITE WINTER (N Sibanda) were returned to the start, checked by the Veterinary Surgeon, passed fit to race and reloaded. All runners were restrained with the exception of VERDIER (B McNaughton) which bolted and was subsequently scratched by the Veterinary Surgeon.

‘Another false start was called when COACHELLA (J Penny) starting stall gate opened slow again, all horses were restrained and checked by the Veterinary Surgeon, passed fit to race and reloaded.’

After that I felt anything could happen and 200m from the finish did not rate Coachella’s chances. However, the plucky campaigner beat Armstrong, receiving 6kgs, by three-parts of a lengths, with White Winter and Christofle in the minor places.

Congratulations to the winning connections, including owner John Koumides and trainer, Bridget Stidolph.

Coachella is among the 10 horses nominated for the 1200m National Foods Gold Cup (Gr3) due to be run on Friday, December 11. Whether or not he will stand his ground remains to be seen but he has a sparkling Gold Cup history, having won this race in 2017 when he beat Super Good giving away 6kgs.

Coachella won his first race, a 1260m Maiden Plate, on 2016 Gold Cup Day, when he got the better of Roberta’s Passion. The following year he won the Gold Cup, and since then has given a good account of himself in each Gold Cup despite the handicapper’s best efforts. 

Twilight Trip and What A Dandy finished in front of Coachella in 2018, both in receipt of at least 10 kgs. In 2019 this race was won by Verdier, who beat Coachella by 0.05 lengths when receiving 11 kgs.  

The weights and draws for the 2020 Gold Cup are out, with acceptances on Monday. Coachella is set to carry 62 kgs and Verdier 52 kgs…

At this stage one can but wonder.

Not to be outdone by her older sister, Lily Blue, Obscure got her act together at Borrowdale Park on Saturday and came with a storming finish to win the 1450 Maiden Plate.

Veseo, Tricky Business and Master Futura had to settle for the minor places.

Earlier in the week Lily Blue, Zimbabwe’s 2020 Champion Three-Year-Old, had won impressively at the Vaal.

In the post-race interview trainer Bridget Stidolph said Obscure was a big filly who was taking time to mature. However on Saturday the genes came through.

Both Obscure and Lily Blue were bred by Geoff Armitage (Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA)) – and going further back Henk Leyenaar bought Mammy Blue from Christopher Peech at the Zimbabwe Yearling Sales, raced her both in ZImbabwe and South Africa; never registered as a breeder but has been following the family with great interest ever since.

On Saturday Obscure was ridden by Port Elizabeth jockey Teague Gould, and the three-year-old filly is owned by the Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (nominee Kirsty Stidolph) and Betty Prosser.

Congratulations to the winning connections – I can’t wait to see how Obscure goes on from here.

Photographs Zimbabwe Equine News Below – Obscure (Teague Gould) then Veseo (Kevin Derere).

Futura Doro didn’t hang about, but Norbert Takawira and Moxie, came through to win the 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes when it counted.

Diamonds ‘n Rubies, Futura Doro and Milford Sound filled the minor places.

This is the five-year-old mare’s sixth victory. By Brave Tin Soldier (USA), and bred by Summerhill Stud, Moxie is trained by Gokhan Terzi’s satellite yard at Borrowdale Park, and owned by Gengiz Goksel.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon the Terzi/Takawira combo won the 1100m MR 80 Handicap with Gladstone.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News

The first race at Borrowdale Park today, Saturday, November 28, 2020, is off at 13 25.

COVID-19 protocols apply so racing is still behind closed doors.

View or download the Online Race Card and find Final Fields, Tips, Card Changes, Borrowdale Videos etc here.

The SandSport Livestream from Borrowdale will be on ClockingThe Gallop on UTube. Click the link on our Borrowdale Video page.

In addition, the Borrowdale races will be on DSTV Tellytrack Channel 249.

The 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes, last race of the day, is due off at 16 55.

Photograph by Gavin MacLeod.