As you can see some people are working hard at Borrowdale Park, transforming a hitherto unsightly and underused area into something vibrant and interesting. Why are they doing this?
Watch this space.
Photographs by George Fleet.
AND NOW?
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Author Archives: zimracing
THE FILLIES CLASSIC – HO HUM …and it didn’t have to be…
Only four fillies are nominated for the 2020 Fillies Classic – first leg of the Zimbabwe Triple Tiara – and to make matters worse they are all from one stable. In 2019 there were five runners but at least they represented three yards.
In my opinion, for what it’s not worth, it would be better to put the fillies’ Classic races in mothballs until the situation improves, rather than downgrade Classic races and put off punters. Let the good fillies compete with the colts and geldings in the Triple Crown races.
Sadly, this year should have been better. There are more three-year-old fillies in training who could have made a race of it. In these hard times the people whose livelihood depends on the continuation and improvement of racing at Borrowdale Park should be striving to make the best of things for the good of racing. After all you can’t win them all – and probably shouldn’t.
Be that as it may, the 2020 Fillies Classic is going ahead with, if all goes well, four runners. Lily Blue is sure to start favourite and I will be shocked if she doesn’t triumph in this 1600m event. Last time out she won the 1800m ZNA Champion Fillies Stakes over 1800m and prior to that the Breeders Fillies Mile (L), beating Wijdaan by two lengths. This daughter of Black Minnaloushe (USA) is out of a Kitalpha (USA) mare and appears to be a class act.
On Sunday February 2 Lily Blue takes on Gimmethegreenback, Prescott and newcomer to Borrowdale, Infinity Blue. The last-mentioned is an Oratorio (IRE) filly who won her last start at Flamingo Park over 1800m.
May the best horse win – and I mean that. The four runners and the single trainer involved can’t be blamed for the entries not living up to expectations.
Final Acceptances for the February 2 meeting are due later today (Monday).
Photograph: Wijdaan chasing Lily Blue in the Breeders Fillies Mile (L).
DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW
Mathew Thackeray sees something funny. O Lucky Man not so amused…
Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News
A GOOD DAY FOR VEE RACING
| Vee Racing finished on top of the board at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, winning four of the seven races on the card. First up was Yarraman (above) in the third race, a 1800m MR 89 Handicap. Owned by Gengiz Goksel, the son of Await The Dawn (USA), with Brendon McNaughton up, finished well clear of Two To Tango, Bugatti Blue and stable companion Fareeq. Armstrong, by Var (USA) made short work of the 1700m Progress Plate, winning margin 6 lengths. Deon Sampson was in the irons and the winning owners were Messrs G Goksel, A P Nydam and F Vahab. The Brave Tin Soldier (USA) filly, Moxie, won the 1600m MR 50 Handicap – a second winner for the Sampson and Gengiz Goksel combo. And this duo scored again in the 1260m MR 60 Handicap when White Winter beat stable companion Lunar Dancer by three lengths. The five-year-old mare by Warm White Night has now won five races. Congratulations to assistant trainer Vanessa Birketoft and all the winning connections. Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News |
WELL DONE WANTAGE
What a pity Gael and Dennis Evans were unable to be at Borrowdale Park on Sunday to see their home bred colt, Wantage, carry 60 kgs and win the 1600m Guineas Trial by three lengths.
The son of Ato out of the Tamburlaine (IRE) mare, Angora, is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd and has now won three and placed six times from 10 starts.
Trained by Bridget Stidolph, Wantage was ridden by Mathew Thackeray. Tree Of Wisdom, Lil Miss Gee and Donegal Glen filled the minor places.
Congratulations to the winning connections.
Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News
KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS
Tomcat Racing’s Farm Yard Tractor, fourth in the 1200m Maiden Plate won by Zambezi Rapids at Borrowdale on Sunday, was caught keeping a close eye on happenings in the parade ring.
Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.
double tap scores with takawira
The first two races at Borrowdale Park on Sunday went Kirk Swanson’s way, with Zambezi Rapids winning the 1200m Maiden Plate, and Double Tap (pictured) beating stablemate Ineffable to the line in the 1900m MR 61 Handicap.
By Twice Over (GB) and bred by Cheveley Stud, Double Tap is now a four-time winner. The five-year-old gelding is owned by Dr Ronald Mhizha, Mr N Chiminya and Ms S N Mehlomakhulu. In form jockey, Norbert Takawira was riding.
Well done everyone.
Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.
WANTAGE SHOWS HIS CLASS
So, it wasn’t a bad Guineas Trial after all. Top weighted Wantage played a waiting game in the 1600m feature at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon and showed the field a clean pair of heels about 300m from the finish.
Donegal Glen led them into the home straight but had to settle for fourth behind Tree Of Wisdom (second) and rank outsider Lil Miss Gee.
By Ato and owned and bred by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Mr D E Evans), Wantage is trained by Bridget Stidolph and Mathew Thackeray was in the irons.
Congratulations to the winning connections. The three-year-old colt has now won three and been placed six times from 10 starts – bring on the Zimbabwe Guineas.
Photograph by Jenny Stock: Wantage earlier in his career with Mathew Thackeray aboard.
TOO GOOD TO MISS
On October 20 in a 1800m MR 80 Handicap, Wolves Among Sheep held off Bugatti Blue in a close finish. That day Bugatti Blue was receiving half a kg from Wolves Among Sheep. This afternoon at Borrowdale Park he will give the son of Philanthropist 2 kgs.
The pair should make a race of it in today’s 1800m event, but every one of the other five runners also has the credentials to shine. This field includes Fareeq, Three To Tango, In The Mood, Yarraman and Arte.
The 1800m Merit Rated 89 Handicap is the third race on the card and is due off at 13 10. Be there.
Photograph by Gavin MacLeod. Wolves Among Sheep and Bugatti Blue.
A GUINEAS TRIAL WHERE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN
WANTAGE 
TREE OF WISDOM
| In 2019 Opaque carrying 52 kgs, starting price 44/1, won the Guineas Trial and the more fancied Action Jackson (59 kgs) was second – and that tends to happen in the Guineas Trial which is now run under the conditions of a Plate race, based on number of wins. On Sunday Wantage, the only two-time winner in the 2020 Guineas Trial, concedes weight to the rest of the field and it will be interesting to see if he can manage this over 1600m. When the three-year-olds finally meet up in the actual Zimbabwe Guineas colts and geldings will carry 58 kgs, and fillies 55.5 kgs. This Guineas Trial is likely to be quite exciting but don’t place too much faith in the outcome – unless Wantage wins. Bridget Stidolph will saddle Wantage and Jericho, while Kirk Swanson fields Tree Of Wisdom and Donegal Glen. Gokhan Terzi’s satellite yard is pinning its hopes on the two fillies, Widjaan and Little Miss Gee. This race is due off at 14.55. The first race at Borrowdale Park on Sunday is scheduled for 12 noon. 2020 GUINEAS TRIAL RUNNERS 1 WANTAGE (R:9 W:2 P:6) Draw 1 – 60 kgs (MR 75) M Thackeray – B Stidolph 3 B c Ato – Angora by Tamburlaine (IRE) Won first start in April 2019, beating Lily Blue by two lengths but since then Lily Blue has turned the tables. On December 15 Wantage won the 1600m Tote Free Handicap – his first attempt at this trip. He carried 52kgs and Sunday’s runner Tree Of Wisdom (56.5) was 3.55 lengths back. Tree Of Wisdom receives 2.5 kgs from Wantage this time. Wantage is the only two-time winner in the race. 2 TREE OF WISDOM (R:8 W:1 P:2) Draw 3 – 57.5 kgs (MR 73) N Takawira – K Swanson 3 B g Soft Falling Rain – Minerva by Western Winter (USA) Has raced three times at Borrowdale over 1600m, winning the first one (beating Moxie) and finishing behind Wantage and Bam Bam Pebbles subsequently. When Wantage won, Tree Of Wisdom conceded 4.5 kgs. He will receive 2,5 kgs from Wantage on Sunday. Jericho was in the Bam Bam Pebbles race and was well held by Tree Of Wisdom then, but meets him on better terms now. 3 DONEGAL GLEN (R:2 W:1 P:1) Draw 6 – 57.5 kgs (MR 69) Wes Marwing – K Swanson 3 Ch c Biarritz – Yakety Yak by Silvino (USA) Only two starts to date. Went down by 0.10 lengths to Jericho over 1100m at level weights on November 30. Won a 1600m Maiden Plate on December 15 beating Seattle Frost by 2.50 lengths at level weights. Not much to go on but I fancy his chances. 4 JERICHO (R:4 W:1 P:2) Draw 4 – 57.5 kgs (MR 66) K Steyn – B Stidolph 3 B c Master Of My Fate – Ze Evah (IRE) by Amadeus Wolf (GB) Has finished in front of Donegal Bay and Lil Miss Gee up the straight. He was nine lengths behind Bam Bam Pebbles over 1600m on November 30, having won his previous start over 1100m. Hard to assess. 5 WIJDAAN (R:8 W:1 P:5) Draw 2 – 55kgs (MR 63) D Sampson – G Terzi 3 Ch f What A Winter – Cha Cha Queen by National Assembly (CAN) After three seconds to Lily Blue, Moxie and Double Dab, Wijdaan won over 1100m on January 5, beating Tequila Man. Likely to once again have supporters. 6 LIL MISS GEE (R:8 W:1 P:3) Draw 5 – 55 kgs (MR 60) B McNaughton – G Terzi 3 B f Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – More Than Words by Latino Magic (IRE) Won her last start over 1700m beating Seattle Frost by 2.50 lengths. Probably has more to do here. On November 30 in a 1700m Maiden won by Moxie, Wijdaan and Lil Miss Gee met at level weights and Wijdaan finished a quarter of a length ahead. These two fillies appear to be well-matched, but time will tell. |
DONEGAL GLEN 
JERICHO 
WIJDAAN 
LIL MISS GEE
Congratulations Christofle
Christofle, with Mathew Thackeray in the irons and riding for Bridget Stidolph, won the 1100m Hachiman Sprint at Borrowdale Park.
Silver Coin was second, then What A Dandy and fourth Coastal Torrent,
By Tiger Ridge (USA), Christofle is owned by Messrs SH Murray, C Davenport, K Hatendi, Duncan Jones, GM Littleford, G Martell, HD Parbhoo,, CM Rambo, PC Rugg, DC Samuels and SW Shutt. Congratulations. He was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein.
The afternoon’s training honours went to Vee Racing, the Gokhan Terzi satellite yard managed by Vanessa Birketoft, with four of the winners on the 8-race card. Hennie Greyling rode three of them.
The Swanson yard saddled three winners.
Well done everyone.
A GOOD DAY FOR TAKAWIRA
Borrowdale Park jockey Norbert Takawira was riding high on Sunday afternoon scoring with Supa Memories, Ezekial and Perfect Grace for trainer Kirk Swanson. This was Perfect Grace’s 10th victory.
Norbert is seen here on Bugatti Blue. Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 