Bugatti Blue, completing a winning double, romped away with the 1600m MR 75 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday – winning margin 5 lengths.
Owned by the Centaur Syndicate (nominee Craig Danckwerts), the three-year-old colt, by Traffic Guard (USA), was bred by Summerhill Stud. He is trained by Kirk Swanson and Francois Herholdt had the ride.
Congratulations.
Peggson carried 60 kgs and won the 1200m Graduation Plate, last race of the day at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. White Winter was only 0.10 lengths behind him.
The son of Jay Peg is among the 11 runners entered for the 1900m Republic Cup – now Zimbabwe’s richest race with stakes of $60 000. Brendon McNaughton was in the irons and will team up with Peggson again on July 14.
In addition to Peggson Bridget Stidolph will also send out Comanche Brave, Simona, Roman Discent and newcomer Bush Pilot for the Republic Cup.
Peggson was bred by Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud. Congratulations to the winning connections.
Rose Diamond, by Fencing Master (GB) and bred by the Spotted Pig Stud in Zimbabwe, was a comfortable winner of the 1600m Maiden Plate at Borrowdale on Sunday.
The three-year-old filly is owned by Kevin Fallon, and Ryan Munger was riding for Penny Fisher. Previously Rose Diamond was placed in three of her six starts.
Well done everyone.
Seven-year-old Wee Doch ‘n Dorris proved age is just a number when storming through to beat Rebellious Queen by 0.05 lengths in the 1700m MR 50 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.
By Kildonan and bred by Dr I.R. Heyns, the game gelding is owned by the Dixie Chicks Syndicate (nominee Miss.V.E. Bruce, a.k.a. Vanessa Gunning) and Mark Wood.
Wee Doch ‘n Dorris is trained by Kirk Swanson and Sherman Brown had the ride.
Congratulations.
FINAL FIELD FOR REPUBLIC CUP
BORROWDALE – Saturday 14 July 2018
Race-1 (Turf) $ 60,000 1900m 00:00 Ref-0
1st $36,000, 2nd $12,000, 3rd $7,200, 4th $3,600, 5th $1,200
THE REPUBLIC CUP (Grade 3)
Open
WFA: 2yrs-10.5kgs 3yrs-1.5kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
1 4 COMANCHE BRAVE 60.0 95 A C Maujean Bridget Stidolph
2 8 MASTER SWITCH 57.5 90 T A J Penny Penny Fisher
3 9 AMSTERDAM 56.0 87 T A …………… Kirk Swanson
4 1 SIMONA 56.0 87 A C Habib Bridget Stidolph
5 3 ROMAN DISCENT 54.5 84 A M Thackeray Bridget Stido
6 11 PEGGSON 53.0 84 A B McNaughton Bridget Stidolph
7 2 KEVIN BARRY 52.5 80 A E Pheiffer Penny Fisher
8 7 KNUCKLEBALL 52.0 81 A R Munger Penny Fisher
9 10 HEIR LINE 52.0 74 T A …………… Kirk Swanson
10 5 BUSH PILOT 52.0 71 A …………… Bridget Stidolph
11 6 LAVA FLOW 52.0 68 A J Greyling Penny Fisher
TOTAL RUNNERS: 11
First-timer, Born To Shine, won the 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate at Borrowdale Park on Sunday by an impressive five lengths.
Owned by Grant Littleford, Spencer Murray, Paul Rugg, Steve Shutt and Amy Bronkhorst, the Windrush (USA) filly is out of a Badger Land (USA) mare and was bred by Waboomsvallei Stud.
Bridget Stidolph trains the winner, ridden by Brendon McNaughton – a combination that scored again later in the day.
Definitely one for the notebook.
Lady Carina, with Hennie Greyling in the irons, was the first of two winners from the Penny Fisher yard on Sunday afternoon.
In this race, a 1260m MR 70 Handicap, the stable saddled the first three past the post… Zita and Jay Kay Two being in close contention.
The winner, a daughter of Miesque’s Approval (USA), is owned by Matt Charlton, Bruce McClauchlan, and Alistair, Ken, Penny, Alex and Natalie Fisher.
Bred by Scott Bros, this four-year-old is now a five-time winner. Congratulations everyone.
Designer Pot was the cherry on top for the Swanson stable at Borrowdale Park on Sunday as the yard had already sent out two winners.
The four-year-old Judpot colt, with Francie Herholdt up, came up trumps in the main race of the day, a 1600m MR 80 Handicap, finishing clear of Lava Flow, Knuckleball and Kevin Barry. Winning margins 1.00, 2.50 and 3.00 lengths.
Congratulations to the winning owners, Dr R. Mhizha, Messrs D. Marandura and T.P.B. Mpofu, and Ms S.N. Mehlomakhulu.
Designer Pot was bred by Varsfontein Stud and has now won four races.
Designer Pot, a four-year-old colt by Judpot, won the 1600m MR 80 Handicap at Borrowdale Park this afternoon, chased by Lava Flow.
The favourite, Knuckleball, went onto the pace, followed by stable companion Kevin Barry. At one stage it seemed this would be a Fisher Exacta, but Designer Pot finished strongly. The third Fisher runner, Lava Flow, charged from the back but failed to catch the winner. Knuckleball and Kevin Barry settled for third and fourth.
Trained by Kirk Swanson and with Francois Herholdt in the irons, Designer Pot was bred by Varsfontein Stud. He has won four races and is owned by Dr R Mhizha, Messrs D. Marandure and T.P.B. Mpofu, and Ms S.N. Mehlomakhulu.
Congratulations – your boy did you proud.
The Swanson team sent out to other winners earlier in the afternoon. Wee Doch’n Dorris (Brown) was involved in a tight finish with Rebellious Queen (Munger) in the 1700m MR 50 Handicap. Bugatti Blue (Herholdt) triumphed in the 1600m MR 75 Handicap.
Penny Fisher and Bridget Stidolph saddled two winners each. Lady Carina (Greyling) won the 1260m MR 70 Handicap, and Rose Diamond (Munger) scored for the Fisher yard in the 1600m Maiden Plate.
Bridget saddled Born To Shine (McNaughton), winner of the 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate – and this duo scored again with Peggson in the 1200m Graduation Plate.
Many of us thought this trip was too short for Peggson, but we were wrong.
Well done everyone.
Photograph: Designer Pot.
After Sunday’s race meeting there are only two more to look forward to before the annual racing break. When racing returns to Borrowdale Park on September 8 the current crop of three-year-olds will have turned four, with the Classics behind them.
Looking back on the season, so far, it is encouraging to note the number of well-performed three-year-olds which have emerged from Zimbabwe’s very small pool of horses. Several could make their presence felt on Sunday.
Main race on the card is a 1600m MR 80 Handicap where Knuckleball is set to take on older horses, including his stable companions Kevin Barry and Lava Flow. The field includes Last Outlaw, whose last start was at Greyville in July 2017, when he beat Where You (previously known as Gasoline) over 1600m. Haga Haga and Designer Pot also step out here.
Kevin Barry with an MR of 80 carries 60 kgs and Knuckleball (MR 81) is on 59,5 kgs. He will meet Last Outlaw on equal terms, while giving Lava Flow 5.5 kgs and Designer Pot and Haga Haga 7.5 kgs. Quite a tall ask over 1600m when the drag effect of an extra 1 kg is said to be one length over 1600m.
Of course Knuckleball has earned his Merit Rating. His five wins from 12 starts include victories in the Bloodstock SA2000 and the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby. He was second to Butchie Boy in the Zimbabwe Guineas and has won over 1600m and 1700m. This son of Curved Ball (USA) has the ability, and this is his chance to prove that, beyond a shadow of doubt.
Earlier in the afternoon there is a 1600m MR 75 Handicap for three-year-olds where Bugatti Blue, Wild Imogen and maybe Shakespeare InLove look the pick. However, once again weight could count, making Magical Charm a danger.
Another three-year-old, Peggson, makes life interesting in the get-out stakes, a 1200m Graduation Plate restricted to maidens and one and two-time winners. In his last outing, Peggson was a surprising second to Simona in the 1800m OK Grand Challenge when carrying 52 kgs.
He went into that race with an MR of 68 and has now shot up to MR 84. Not that Merit Ratings count in Graduation Plates, but The Catcher and Peggson, as two-time winners, both carry 60 kgs here.
To date 1200m has not been Peggson’s game – he won over 1600m and 1700m – so White Winter, The Catcher and Silver Buck (with blinkers) are probably better bets.
The first race on Sunday is due off at 12.35.
Photograph: FLASHBACK to December 2017 when Knuckleball won a 1700m Progress Plate, followed across the line by Flasher On The Run, Roman Discent and Rebellious Queen.
Rain Spider came from the clouds to deny hotly fancied Pas de Deux a victory in the 1200m Champion Juvenile Stakes at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.
The son of Byword (GB), out of a Fort Wood (USA) mare, was having his second start and came third to Party In The Park in his first outing. He is trained by Bridget Stidolph, bred by Wilgersbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, and owned by Ashley Dixon, Scott Buchan, Neil Evans, Gary Carter, Merlyn Chant, Ryan Sherwood and Paula Lewis. Brendon McNaughton was in the irons.
Training honours during the rest of the meeting were shared by Penny Fisher and Kirk Swanson, with three winners each.
Congratulations to all the winning connections.
Simona won the 30th running of the $40 000 OK Grand Challenge (GR2) at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.
The four-year-old Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) filly (second in the recent Castle Tankard) came with a tremendous finish just when the commentator was predicting another shock result…”Peggson of all things!”
Both Simona and Peggson (second) are trained by Bridget Stidolph. Calvin Habib was aboard the winner who is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd – Congratulations Gael and Denis Evans. Simona was bred by Nadeson Park and is out of a Western Winter (USA) mare.
Comanche Brave made the pace, tracked by Life Is Good. Close to home it looked as though Comanche Brave was going to hold on – Peggson pushed through – and just in time Simona saved the day.
I think Master Switch, trained by Penny Fisher, was third …thanks Tellytrack for cutting off our commentator but what’s new…and I don’t know who came fourth.
It was an exciting scramble at the finish. Very well done to everyone concerned.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 