Four of the six races at Borrowdale Park on Saturday were cliffhangers, with the leading two runners finishing within half a length of each other.

Zimbabwe Guineas winner Buster Barnes and the three-year-old filly, New Galaxy, were the exceptions.

Trained by Tom Mason and with Kaidan Brewer in the irons, New Galaxy won her third start, a 1200m Maiden Plate, by three lengths. The daughter of New Predator (AUS) out of a Judpot (USA) mare, is owned by Mesdames A G Mason, Edith Tapfuma, S P Moyo and Mr G Tafeni, Mr D T Machingaidze and Dr Ronald Mhizha. She was bred by Tawny Syndicate.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Bridget Stidolph saddled three winners at Borrowdale Park on Saturday the 24th of February 2024.

Kallipos (Daniels) won the 1200m Graduation Handicap for his owner Mrs Edith Tapfuma, and then Bruce’s Spirit, with Jeffery Syster in charge, won the 1800m MR 63 Handicap.

Bruce’s Spirit is owned by Messrs R S Dyer, S N Buchan, N Evans, M K Chant, G de Jong, A Dixon, R Morgan, R Sherwood and Bryn Ressell. The five-year-old Querari gelding was bred by Beaumont Stud and this was his fourth win.

Next, Regulate, by Ato and bred by Newbury Racing & Breeding Ltd, was first across the line in the 1700m Allowance Plate. Mathew Thackeray was riding and Regulate is owned by Kirsty Stidolph.

Congratulations everyone!

Photograph of Bruce’s Spirit by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Deryl Daniels was back at Borrowdale on Saturday 24^th February 2024, booting home three winners.

He was off the mark with Kallipos in the 1200m Graduation Handicap. Trained by Bridget Stidolph, Kallipos is owned by Edith Tapfuma, and the Oratorio (IRE) gelding bred by Clifton Stud has now won three races.

Deryl’s second success was when Var Aglow, owned by the ZimFun Racing Club (nominee CJ Smith), and bred by Vanessa Harrison, won the 1200m MR 92 Handicap Handicap, beating top-weighted Jubilee by half a length.

Var Aglow is trained by Debra Swanson and the Daniels/Swanson combo teamed up again to win the Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3) with the hot favourite, Buster Barnes.

Well done everyone.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Var Aglow for the ZimFun Racing Club with Deryl Daniels in the irons. Then came Jubilee, Tradition and Raining Again. Var Aglow now a six-time winner.

Buster Barnes, by Erupt (IRE), won the Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3) at Borrowdale Park on Saturday – as expected.

Congratulations to his owners, the Centaur Syndicate (nominee Craig Danckwerts), the trainer Debra Swanson, and the winning jockey Deryl Daniels. The three-year-old gelding has now won four of his six starts and this time he finished five lengths clear of Trust Me.

Buster Barnes was bred by Millstream Farm.

Photographs: Zimbabwe Equine News.

The three-year-old Erupt (IRE) gelding, Buster Barnes, has won three of his five starts and races in the 1600m Zimbabwe Guineas (Gr3) at Borrowdale Park this Saturday.

Daniels has the ride, and Syster will be on Debra Swanson’s other runner, Follow The Band.

Thomas Mason has entered Pair Of Aces (Klink) and the filly, Trust Me (Brewer).

Apart from Buster Barnes all are one-time winners.  Trust Me won her last start and seemed to thrive on the 1600m trip.  Maybe one for the notebook.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

BUSTER BARNES 3g – 3 wins from 5 starts. By Erupt (IRE) – Servilia by Caesour (USA).The one to beat.

FOLLOW THE BAND 3c – 1 win. By Vercingetorix – Jo Piper by Goldkeeper (USA). On previous form needs to improve to best Buster Barnes.

PAIR OF ACES 3g – 1 win. By Potala Palace – Lucky Hand by Tamburlaine (IRE). Began well, and beat Follow The Band in a close finish, but his last two outings were disappointing.

TRUST ME 3f – 1 win. By Mambo In Seattle (USA) – Would I Lie To You by A.P. Answer (USA). Has finished behind both Follow The Band and Pair of Aces but won her last start easily – her first trip over 1600m.

The 24th of February will be Jeffery Syster’s last meeting at Borrowdale Park, riding for Brumstock Stables, as he will be moving to the UK.

Trainer Debra Swanson said, “He joined the stables in May last season and shortly thereafter won our first OK Grand Challenge with my three-year-old pride and joy, Down To Business. Jeff has been a great asset to the yard and a pleasure to work with.

“We wish him all the best in his new adventure and hope his knowledge and expertise grow abundantly overseas. They are privileged to have him.”

Since becoming a regular visitor to Borrowdale, Syster has done extremely well and currently heads this season’s jockey statistics.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

The petite mare Cutback made light of 59.5 kgs and won the 1600m MR 67 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

Thomas Mason’s charge has now won four races, and this time Kaidan Brewer was in the irons. The daughter of Twice Over (GB) is owned by the Royal Flush Syndicate (nominee Gary de Jong). A number of her enthusiastic owners were on hand to lead Cutback in.  

Mr LMF Wiemars bred the consistent five-year-old, who in addition to four wins has been placed 20 times in 25 starts.

Well done everyone.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Bello Grosso (Syster) and When Evening Comes (Brewer) finished first and second in the 1600m Novice Plate at Borrowdale on Sunday – exactly as the MTC Tipstir predicted.

This was Bello Grosso’s second start and second win at Borrowdale Park, in the name of Matthew Moxon – and friends. By Erupt (IRE), Bello Grosso was bred by Piemonte Stud and the four-year-old gelding is trained by Debra Swanson.

Congratulations!

Photographs by Jenny Stock of Zimbabwe Equine News

Var Aglow, trained by Debra Swanson and with Jeffery Syster riding, was the first of the ZimFun Racing Club’s two Borrowdale Park winners on Sunday.

By Var (USA) and bred by Mrs Vanessa Harrison, Var Aglow has now won two races in quick succession since being acquired by ZimFun. On Sunday he won the 1100m MR 75 Handicap, beating Gypsy Express by 1.25 lengths.

This was a memorable day for ZimFunners. Later in the afternoon their other runner, Qunetra, won the 1700m MR 85 Handicap, trained by Bridget Stidolph and with Nathan Klink in the irons.

Congratulations everyone.

Photographs: Zimbabwe Equine News.

The son of Visionaire (USA), Jet Mirage, was a convincing winner of the MWOS Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, and this was his seventh visit to the Number One box.

Trainer Debra Swanson and jockey Jeffery Syster were in fine form, and this was their fourth winner on Sunday. Sadly, Syster will soon be moving to the United Kingdom.

Jet Mirage is owned by ‘C J Smith’, Grant Littleford, Spencer Murray, and Paul Rugg. The five-year-old gelding was bred by Lammerskraal Stud.

Congratulations everyone. It was a great race.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

It is a small field for the 1600m MWOS Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, but all the runners have won – often – and beaten each other, sometimes by a whisker.

On Sunday all except the mare, Brianna, will carry 60 kgs. Between them, they have won 35 races. Holy Land triumphed in this race in 2023, beating Wantage by 0.10 lengths at level weights.

The first race is off at noon. The Ipi Tombe Stakes at 14.55.

When available the links to the online card, card changes, and the Formgrids live stream, will be posted on this site.

NB: Wes Marwing who was carded to ride Wantage, and several other horses at Borrowdale on Sunday, unfortunately had a fall at Fairview yesterday. Waiting for an update.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Vercingetorix sired two of the six winners at Saturday’s Borrowdale Park race meeting, and Abayyaan was one of them.

The five-year-old gelding, trained by Debra Swanson and with Jeffery Syster up, won the 1600m BSA November Two-Year-Old Sales Advance Plate, carrying the top weight of 60 kgs.

Action Zone (Brewer) finished second, 1.75 lengths back, and then came Jacky Sparrow (Nyamagwete) and Regulate (Thackeray).

Abayyaan has now won seven races and he is owned by Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel and K Ward, G M Littleford, S H Murray, C Rugg, and M W Smith. The six-year-old gelding was bred by Mr M K Ahmed.

Well done everyone!

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News.