The connections of Ideal View were in fine form on Saturday when their Global View gelding won the prestigious 2000m Castle Tankard (GR1) at Borrowdale Park, beating stable companions, Dindingwe and Down To Business, to the wire.
The happy owners are Messrs C J Smith, P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward, G Carter& M W Smith. Debra Swanson was the successful trainer and Nathan Klink was in the irons. Ideal View was bred by Riyo Stud.
Borrowdale Park fans were devastated to learn that Grand Warrior will not take part in today’s Castle Tankard. Debra Swanson’s champion was lame yesterday morning… for the first time ever.
It is with bitter disappointment that Tomcat Racing has announced that True Beauty will not be back to defend her Tankard title. “We had a set back over this long weekend and under veterinary advice it was concluded that it was best not to run her. We aim to be back for the OK Grand Challenge.”
Fifteen horses have accepted to run in the 2023 Castle Tankard at Borrowdale Park on the 6th May. Betting on Grand Warrior opened at evens 1-1. and last year’s Tankard winner, True Beauty, was 8-1. Down To Business was also 8-1, and Only Him 7-1.
Winner of the INDEPENDENCE TROPHY-GRAND WARRIOR G PIETERSE-TRAINED BY: Mrs D Swanson OWNED BY: Centaur Syndicate( Nom:Mr C J Danckwerts)
Grand Warrior – three-year-old son of Global View (USA) – won the 2023 Independence Trophy at Borrowdale Park on Friday. Impressively!
He is trained by Debra Swanson, and Gabriell Pieterse was in the irons. The gelding has now won all his five starts. He is owned by the Centaur Syndicate and was bred by Ascot Stud Pty Ltd.
Only Him, Dindingwe and Mr Greenlight filled the minor places.
The 1600m Independence Trophy takes place at Borrowdale Park on Friday, 21 April 2023, and is due off at15 25 pm.
This is something of an acid test for the three-year-old, Grand Warrior. The son of Global View is unbeaten but will have to dig deeper in order to succeed here. It is a strong field, with Holy Land possibly the main danger.
Grand Warrior on the 19th November 2022 won the 1800m Classified Stakes by 5 lengths, beating Kursk who was receiving 2 kgs.
There is racing at Borrowdale Park this Friday, 21st April 2023, with the possibility of two features, but final declarations will only be made today.
So, with Weights & Draws on hand, let’s guess what might be going on. The dominant three-year-old, Grand Warrior, has been nominated for both the 1600m Independence Trophy and the Zimbabwe 2000, the second leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown. Grand Warrior was a late scratching from the first leg, the Zimbabwe Guineas won by his stable companion Jacky Sparrow.
The Independence Trophy would be tougher for the unbeaten Grand Warrior, where he could meet most of Borrowdale’s best. Personally, I hope his connections decide to take this route – just how good is this son of Global View – but if I had a share in the colt, I might prefer the easier option.
The only problem is that all but one of the six three-year-olds nominated for the Zimbabwe 2000 are trained by Debra Swanson, so will the Bridget Stidolph-trained Etsa Moralo stand his ground? If not, there will not be a race.
If Grand Warrior takes part in the Zimbabwe 2000 he is likely to be the hottest of favourites, and he should account for Jacky Sparrow and Down To Business – and the rest of the field.
If he runs in the Independence Trophy, he will have some weight on his side – and he has won in open company. On the 14th of January, he beat Raining Again in a 1500m Progress Plate, which was his last start.  However, it remains to be seen whether Grand Warrior can account for the likes of Holy Land, Wantage, Bugatti Blue etc etc – but it would be SO interesting. Â
The Mashonaland Turf Club is at it again… picking potatoes during the Easter break as the prices have risen slightly…and a further 13 hectares are planted.
Gary de Jong, always optimistic, says” If there are any owners or trainers who would like to assist with picking all the potatoes they would be welcome.”
Alistair McNaughton (aka Ali or Mr Mac) passed away in Harare on Thursday after an illness bravely borne, and our thoughts are with his sons, Brendan and Marc, at this very sad time.
Ali trained at Borrowdale Park for many years and then became involved with other things – at the start – with the apprentices. – and so much more. Always kind, helpful and a true gentleman, he will be missed by all who knew him.
Sad to say, the next Borrowdale Park race meeting has been cancelled.
The Mashonaland Turf Club has advised: “The meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 5th of April, 2023, had 2 races folding on Monday at the Nominations stage and we reopened under the same conditions and all trainers were called upon for additional horses to allow each race to hold. Each trainer advised the racing centre that they did not have any further horses to add to the meeting.
We therefore have only one option in accordance with our local conditions which is in regard to Rule 3F – ABANDONMENT OF A RACE : The racing operator reserves the right to cancel any race meeting should 6 races not stand after reopening each race on the same conditions.
As a result, this race meeting did not hold and we have no option but to cancel the meeting for WEDNESDAY 05 APRIL 2023.
Wantage won the 2023 Breeders Champions Cup run over 2000m at Borrowdale Park on Friday, 24 March.
This is the second time the son of Ato has triumphed in this race – he also won in 2021. The six-year-old was ridden by Wesley Marwing and is trained by Bridget Stidolph. The winning owners are Messrs RS Dyer, SN Buchan, N Evans, MK Chant, G de Jong, A Dixon, R Morgan, R Sherwood and Bryn Ressell. Wantage was bred by Newbury Racing & Breeding Ltd.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 