Karoo Winter steps out in the 1600m Maiden Plate in the colours of ZimFun Racing Club (Pty) Ltd – and will have far more owners rooting for her, across several continents, than any other horse racing at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

The daughter of Futura out of a Western Winter (USA) mare has had one start at Borrowdale when third behind Peaceable and Black Duke over 1800m. Prior to that she raced in the Cape, not in ZimFun silks, and placed over 1600m.

ZimFun has already had a winner – Tricky Business – and hope to have more – soon – and members -so they can buy more horses. It is not too late to join the fun, and this is the most economical way to become an owner as one share costs $100.

On Sunday Karoo Winter (57kgs) takes on Green Serenity, Hawi, Bold Idyll, Global Tree and Fendi Girl and all their owners will be hoping for some improvement. I had a quick glance at previous form and will definitely not be making any forecasts.

Green Serenity (60kgs) is by Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) out of a Western Winter (USA) mare. Has had seven runs in the Cape and one at Borrowdale when nearly 11 lengths behind first-timer Hedwig over 1200m. Hawi (60kgs) is by Vercingetorix out of an Al Mufti (USA) mare. He has placed in all his six starts from 1100m to 1700m. Randall Simons rides.

Bold Idyll is a son of Bold Silvano out of an Ideal World (USA) mare. Unimpressive over 1100m and 1700m – so far. He is set to carry 60 kgs but Apprentice Rodgers Satombo will claim 2.5 kgs. Global Tree (60kgs) is by Global View (USA) out of a Classic Flag mare. Didn’t shape in two sprints – his only outings – but may appreciate the longer trip.

Last but not least is Fendi Girl (57 kgs), by Fencing Master (GB) out of a Kitalpha (USA) mare. Has raced from 1100m to 1700m, and rather in and out, but with Calvin Habib in the irons might come right.

Why am I devoting so much time and space to a Maiden Plate? Intimidated, probably, by the thought of Karoo Winter’s owners who will be at Borrowdale Park – and the others who will be watching the live stream on Clocking The Gallop on U-Tube – like hawks.

Win or lose they will make sure they have a good time. This race is due off at 14 25.

Photograph by Jenny Stock of Zimbabwe Equine News

At this point in time Dindingwe is the only three-year-old in Zimbabwe who could win both the 2021 Zimbabwe Triple Tiara and the 2021 Zimbabwe Triple Crown.

Last time out the Swanson stable’s formidable filly won the 1800m Silver Slipper by a breathtaking 16 lengths – having previously won the 1600m Fillies Classic, the first leg of the Triple Tiara. She need only win the Zimbabwe Oaks to be assured of bagging the Tiara.

On Sunday Dindingwe lines up for the 2000m Zimbabwe 2000 (Gr 3) – the second leg of the Triple Crown. She won the first leg – the Zimbabwe Guineas – on 21 March, finishing a quarter of a length ahead of stablemate True Beauty.

These three-year-old Classics are designed to test both speed and stamina, and stamina will come into play when Sunday’s five runners meet over 2000m. Dindingwe handled the 1800m Silver Slipper trip with style. Suave Judge has finished 5.75 lengths off Prescott over 1800m, and the rest have still to prove themselves over more ground.

Apprentice Rodgers Satombo will ride Dindingwe as usual. The three fillies, Dindingwe, True Beauty and Mazikeen will carry 55.5 kgs, while Diesel And Dust and Suave Judge heft 58 kgs.

Let’s look at the field:

Race-7 (Turf) US$ 1,800 2000m 16:30
ZIMBABWE 2000 (Grade 3)
No Apprentice Allowance

1 (1) DIESEL AND DUST 58kgs (MR76) A – Derere – Kirk Swanson.
An interesting runner, Diesel and Dust is a stable companion of Dindingwe and True Beauty – and like Dindingwe his sire is Futura. He has only run once on February 24 in soft conditions, when he beat subsequent winner Ultra Edge by four lengths over 1200m. The dark horse without a doubt.

2 (5) SUAVE JUDGE 58kgs (MR67) A – Simons – Gokhan Terzi.
By Judpot (USA) and a two-time winner over 1600m. He finished 0.10 lengths in front of Haga Haga on 24 February when in receipt of 1.5 kgs, when the going was soft. Calvin Habib has the ride again and perhaps Suave Judge will surprise us.

3 (2) DINDINGWE 55.5kgs (MR90) A – *Satombo – Kirk Swanson.
Won 6 of 7 starts including the Champion Juvenile Stakes (Gr3), Breeders Fillies Mile (L), Fillies Classic, Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3) and the Silver Slipper (L). Only defeated by True Beauty in a close finish to the 1200m Jacaranda Free Handicap in October.

4 (3) TRUE BEAUTY 55.5kgs (MR88) A – Gates – Kirk Swanson.
Winner of three of her nine starts and on four occasions bridesmaid to Dindingwe. Mazikeen was matron of honour in the 1600m Fillies Classic when 3 lengths off Dindingwe, and that day True Beauty was behind her. True Beauty was a late scratching from the 1800m Silver Slipper so has yet to try further than 1600m. However, her dam is by Silvano (GER) which is a plus.

5 (4) MAZIKEEN 55.5kgs (MR75) AM – C Habib – Gokhan Terzi
By Twice Over (GB) out of a Black Minnaloushe (USA) mare, Mazikeen won her last start, a 1600m Novice Plate on March 7, beating Seattle Swift and Magic Mike by several lengths. Has yet to race further than the mile.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News and Andrew Philip

Racing at Borrowdale Park tomorrow (Sunday) includes two listed feature events, the 1800m Silver Slipper and the 2000m Breeders Champion Cup – small fields but a perfect opportunity for newcomers to memorise some colours (racing silks) which makes watching races far more interesting.

Commentators do a marvellous job – and need to know all the colours – but during a race it helps tremendously if one has memorised the silks of the horses one is particularly interested in. While listening to the commentary you can also keep tabs on “your” horses from start to finish.

Some oldtimers claim they know every owner’s and syndicate’s colours – and maybe they do – but memorising a few before each race is a good way to start. The colours are described in the race card and you can do your homework before every race when the horses are in the parade ring or on the way to the start.

The Silver Slipper (L), second leg of the Triple Tiara, includes Dindingwe (winner of the Fillies Classic, the first leg), and her long-time rival, True Beauty, winner of the Tote Free Handicap. Peaceable will race in the familiar colours of Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (think about Simona, Prescott and Wantage) and Rocquette sports those of her trainer, Kirk Swanson.

Only Peaceable has form over 1800m, but even so most punters will be expecting another duel between Dindingwe and True Beauty. Whichever way the cookie crumbles, after the race newbies should remember those colours.

The Breeders Champion Cup (L) is the next race on the card and luckily, of the five runners Three To Tango will race in the same colours as Dindingwe, and Wantage represents Newbury Racing. Mr Greenlight and Yarraman race in the colours of Gengiz Goksel (one of the jockeys will wear a different colour cap) and anyone who has watched Borrowdale racing should easily recognise those black and purple silks. So that leaves Greenwood Drive whose rider will wear white, with a blue band of diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap.

This is quite a formidable line-up, and anyone could win.

The first of the seven races is due off at 13 25, the Silver Slipper at 15 55 and the Breeders Champion Cup at 16 30. You will find tomorrow’s tips on this site – as well as the online race card.

Borrowdale Park training honours went to the Gokhan Terzi yard with three winners on Sunday, Mind Master (above), Double Dab and Hold The Biscuit.

The Master Of My Fate gelding, Mind Master, won the 1100m Graduation Plate, bringing his tally to three wins and five places in 11 outings. He was bred by Dr M Thomson, Ambience Stud, and Caleb Habib had the ride.

The winning owners are Gengiz Goksel, Mike Eaton, Gary Carter and Paula Lewis.

Congratulations everyone.

Photograph Zimbabwe Equine News

Double Dab, a winner over 1200m on January 17, scored again in the 1600m MR 65 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

The five-year-old Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) mare is trained by Gokhan Terzi and Calvin Habib was riding while regular jockey Brendon McNaughton, recovering from an injury, watched from the stands. Double Dab has now won four.

Gokhan Terzi was on course on Sunday having come back home to Borrowdale, and he paid tribute to his Assistant Trainer, Vanessa Birketoft, for managing everything so well.

Double Dab was bred by Eclipse Racing & Breeding and her proud owners are Gengiz Goksel and Bruce McLauchlan.

Congratulations.

Calvin Habib was in fine form at Borrowdale Park on Sunday where he had four rides for four winners.

He is seen here on Peacable, riding for Bridget Stidolph, and taken after the 1800m Maiden Plate. By Querari (GER) the three-year-old filly, bred by Maine Chance Farms, is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Mr D E Evans). This was Peacable’s second start at Borrowdale.

Habib also won on Mind Master, Double Dab and Hold The Biscuit – all trained by Gokhan Terzi.

The Stidolph yard had another winner earlier in the afternoon when Teaque Gould scored on Butchie Boy in the 1800m MR 90 Handicap.

Congratulations everyone.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Zimbabwe’s top two three-year-olds, Dindingwe (*Rodgers Satombo) and True Beauty (Kevin Derere), lived up to expectations in the 2021 Zimbabwe Guineas at Borrowdale Park yesterday.

Both fillies are based in Kirk Swanson’s yard and have clashed before. This time Dindingwe retained the upper hand but True Beauty, was gallant in defeat. Dindingwe has now won five of her six starts.

The Swanson stable also won the first race on Sunday, a 1200m Maiden Plate, with Over Sharing – Norbert Takawira in the irons.

Photograph by Laurent Viguie.

Dindingwe and True Beauty provided a thrilling finish to the Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3) at Borrowdale Park this afternoon (Sunday), and Dindingwe, held on to beat her stablemate who was closing fast.

Due to scratchings, this was a depleted field, but the two main players were there and that’s what counted.

Dindingwe, bred by Ndoro Stud, is by Futura out of a Jallad (USA) mare. She is trained by Swanson Racing, and Apprentice Rodgers Satombo was in the irons. Congratulations to the winning connections including owners Mr CM and Mrs EB Shepherd, Mrs K M Bonthrone, B Linnell, Mr G Carter and Mrs P J Lewis, C J Danckwerts, S P Gorringe, G M Littleford, S H Murray, V Patel, P C Rugg and D K Ward.

Jubilee from Tomcat Racing finished third and Magnus Maximus fourth.

The first race at Borrowdale Park this afternoon in due off at 12 40 and the feature is the Zimbabwe Guineas, first leg of the Zimbabwe Triple Crown, at 16 15.

There are several scratchings so be sure to check the card changes throughout this morning and if you are watching from home remember the live stream on Clocking The Gallop on UTube. A link will appear later on this site.

The back road into Borrowdale Park is now under control with the addition of a smart gate.

Sadly both Diesel And Dust and Mazikeen have been scratched from the Zimbabwe Guineas due to elevated temperatures.

Keep checking on the situation via Card Changes posted on this site.