Sixteen runners have stood their ground for the 2025 Castle Tankard (Grr1), which will take place on Saturday, the 10^th of May.

RIVER Power won the Zimbabwe Derby (GR3) at Borrowdale Park on Friday, the 25^th of April, as expected, but by an astonishing seven lengths ahead of She’s Everything.

This victory made the son of Global View (USA), out of Shirley Valentine by Ideal World (USA), the winner of Zimbabwe’s 2025 Triple Crown. The three-year-old colt was bred by  Riethuiskraal Stud and trained by Debra Swanson. Deryl Daniels, who also partnered River Power in both the Zimbabwe Guineas and the Zimbabwe 2000, was in the irons.

The Centaur Syndicate (nominee Craig Danckwerts) has been around for many years and won many prestigious events.  On Friday, Centaur members were out in force and delighted that River Power, their latest favourite son, had won.  

Congratulations to all the winning connections on another significant achievement.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

The 2400m Zimbabwe Derby (Gr3) is the feature at Borrowdale Park on Friday the 25th of April. This is the third leg of Zimbabwe’s 2025 Triple Crown, and River Power has so far won both the Zimbabwe Guineas and the Zimbabwe 2000.

Can he crack the biggest, best and most gruelling leg of all?

The filly She’s Everything (a close second in the Zimbabwe 2000) may be the main danger, and Magic Exists and Solartrip have also accepted the challenge. The Derby is due off at 15:55

The first race on Friday is at 13:00.

River Power won the Zimbabwe 2000 (Gr3) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday the 6th of April and he now has two legs of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown to his credit having already won the Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3).

The winner was trained by Debra Swanson and bred by Riethuiskraal Stud. Craig Danckwerts is the Centaur Syndicate’s nominee and Deryl Daniels was riding again. River Power, by Global View (USA), has now won five of his six starts. Next up, hopefully, will be the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby – the race everyone wants to win.

On Sunday a recent arrival at Borrowdale, She’s Everything (Mxoli), was only half a length behind River Power.  The Erupt (IRE) filly is out of a Right Approach (GB) mare and in January she won a 2000m Maiden Plate at the Vaal.

Congratulations everyone.

Photographs: Zimbabwe Equine News.

Ideal View (Daniels) won the 1600m 2025 Independence Trophy at Borrowdale Park on Sunday the 6th of April.

By Global View (USA) and out of an Ideal World (USA) mare the six-year-old gelding is trained by Debra Swanson and owned by Messrs C J Smith , P D Gorringe , S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward & M W Smith. He was bred by Riyo Stud and has now won 9 races.

My Secret Place finished two lengths back with Jet Mirage a whisker behind him.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

This Sunday, the 6^th of April 2025, the Independence Trophy will be run over 1600m at Borrowdale Park, but do you remember who won this feature race in 2015?

An excerpt from that racing review appears below:

“The main race of the day was the US$12 600 Independence Trophy over 1600m.  Most dogs were barking for Terzi’s charge, Glorious Jet, but down at the start the Jet Master gelding dumped Apprentice Wesley Marwing, slipped his bridle and bolted back to the 2800m mark.  Although Glorious Jet then made his way back, he managed to find the gap in the railings and went skipping through the trees before being caught.

“Before this, both Alula Borealis and Two Gun Kid had been withdrawn by the Course Veterinary Surgeon for not striding out.  Glorious Jet was also scratched for “blowing excessively”.

“The reduced field finally got away to a fair break with Bridget Stidolph’s remaining three runners coming to the fore.  Lucky Sam (Simons), having his second outing as a four-year-old, won with authority, heading stable mates Killa Man and Menacing by 1.00 and 1.25 lengths respectively.  Equina, victorious in the 2014 Castle Tankard (GR 1) and OK Grand Challenge (GR2), finished fourth.”

Last year Brianna (Brewer), shown below, won the Independence Trophy and her trainer Gavin Macleod fields Raining Again this year. Let’s hope there’s not quite so much drama on Sunday. The feature is the last race on the card and is due off at 15:20.

The next Borrowdale Park meeting is on Sunday the 6th of April 2025 and features the 1600m Independence Trophy. The Weights and Draws have been published.

Trustfall, shown here, is among the 1700m Progress Plate nominations. By Potala Palace, the three-year-old scored over 1600m on 23 March under Deryl Daniels. She has won two of her four starts, Debra Swanson trains her and Trustfall is owned by Messrs G M Littleford, S H Murray and P C Rugg.

Congratulations

Photograph: Zimbabwe Equine News.

The Parham yard saddled three winners at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, the 23rd of March 2025, and Mike Mallett was kept busy leading them in. Philisande Mxoli rode all the horses for Messrs R Robinson & T Brown.

Master Tik Tok won the main race, the 1600m Supreme Plate, finishing five lengths clear of Admirals Chance. Queen Of Fire triumphed in the 1200m Graduation Plate, while Force Eight was involved in an extremely tight finish with Tom’s Diner in the 1200m MR 84 Handicap.

Well done everyone!

The Centaur Syndicate has been prominent at Borrowdale Park for a long time and on Sunday they added to their laurels when River Power won the 2025 Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3), the first leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown.

The three-year-old Global View (USA) colt has now won four of his five starts and this time Deryl Daniels was riding when River Power finished 2.50 lengths ahead of King’s Crown. The winner was trained by Debra Swanson and bred by Riethuiskraal Stud. Craig Danckwerts is the Centaur Syndicate’s nominee and delighted Centaur members came out in force to welcome their winner after the race.

Congratulations everyone.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Jaeger Moon carried 60 kgs when winning the 2200m ProWeb Breeders Champions Cup at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. The heavy going was not a problem.

The seven-year-old gelding by Cape Town Noir finished 7 lengths clear of Ideal View and he was bred by Summerhill Stud and trained by Debra Swanson. Deryl Daniels was in the irons.

Jaeger Moon’s owners, Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward and M W Smith, also won the first race on Sunday with Magic Exists.  In fact, Debra Swanson and Daniels won four of the seven races on the card.  

Well done everyone!

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

The Borrowdale Park card for Sunday, March 9th, 2025, includes two feature races – the $3000 Proweb Breeders Champions Cup (L) and the Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3).

Proweb, in collaboration with Magitare Trust and the British Council, invites you to join them as they host a Women’s Day celebration in Park View this Sunday.

The first race is off at noon and it will also be business as usual in the Ipi Tombe Room where Jenny Stock and her team offer glazed ham with seasonal vegetables and salad.

Try not to miss this excitement plus some good racing.

King’s Crown, by Royal Mo (USA), won the 1700m Borrowdale D Stakes on the 9th of February 2025, his third win from only three starts. He is entered for the Zimbabwe Guineas this Saturday, but I have no information about the final Guineas field yet.

Bred by Stone Hill Stud and ridden by Jeffery Syster, the three-year-old colt is owned by Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel and D K Ward. Debra Swanson trains him and Jet Green was half a length behind King’s Crown at the finish.

Congratulations everyone.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.