How wrong can one be? The turnaround in weights made little difference in the 1600m Independence Trophy run at Borrowdale Park as the first three past the post finished within 0.80 lengths of each other, with Super Good (fourth) 2.80 lengths behind the winner.

This was an impressive display by Ashton Park, an eight-year-old Battersea Park gelding, who came from behind to catch Life Is Good and hold off Simona on the line. He carried 59 kgs on Sunday, Simona (second) was on 57.5, then came Life Is Good (60 kgs) and Super Good (55 kgs). Ryan Munger rode the winner for Penny Fisher and this duo had a good afternoon. They also scored with Pas de Deux in the 1000m Juvenile Plate, and Roy’s Sailor in a 2000m MR 55 Handicap.

Ashton Park is owned by Penny Fisher, Alex Fisher, Natalie Fisher and Messrs A C Fisher, K H Fisher, G. Goksel, E D Hatchett and R K White. He was bred by Mr Y Khan.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod: Ashton Park and Ryan Munger.

…or even part of one…

At most Borrowdale Park race meetings there is at least one mouth-watering Quartet payout.

As one has to be in it to win it, and you want to win big, choose the trickiest race on the card (one with a reasonably sized field) and do it. A winning ticket has to have the first four horses past the post, in the correct order. A single line of four horses will cost $1. If you win with that single line you are extremely talented (and lucky). Good luck with that.

Knowledgeable punters would be more likely to BOX the four chosen horses…which means they can finish in any order- as long as they finish in the first four places. This costs $24 which may be too expensive for those just having some fun. You can choose to take a percentage of this amount (with help from your friendly Tote operator), and when you win you will get a percentage of the payout.

For instance if you invested $3 on a boxed quartet costing $24 you would get 12.5% of the winning payout …which might run into hundreds or thousands.

You can also choose to have Roving Bankers, with some Boxed horses, in your Quartet, but now it’s getting complicated, and expensive, and this is better left until you are really hooked on Quartets.

On Sunday the third race on the Borrowdale Park card, a 2000m Merit Rated 55 Handicap, looks suitably tricky. There are 10 runners and Baumgartner is set to carry top weight. This five-year-old gelding likes this trip and although he may not like carrying 61.5 kgs he should run a place. Finlay on 52kgs is also worth considering, as are Wee Doch’n Dorris and the remaining seven runners.

Without stressing about it just pick four horses. You are doing this for fun….and an end result of four fancied, and most likely horses, will not give you the huge payout you are hoping for. And if you don’t succeed…better luck next time.

The next Borrowdale Park meeting is on Sunday 15 April, and the first race is due off at 12.40pm.

Baumgartner and Finlay heading for the finish of a 1700m Maiden Plate in January 2016.

Mathematician and Brendon McNaughton team up again this Sunday. FLASHBACK Zimbabwe Derby April 2016.

Bang in form runners – Life Is Good, Ashton Park, Simona and Super Good – have stood their ground for the 1600m Independence Trophy at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. However, the conditions of this race seem to favour those at the lower end of the weights – for a change.

The race is open to all three-year-olds (54 kgs) and older horses (54 kgs plus penalties). Penalties are incurred for the preceding year …2kgs for each feature win, and 1 kg for any other race, maximum penalty 6kgs. Not so good for the four horses mentioned above who will carry 60 kgs, 59 kgs, 57.5 kgs and 55 kgs respectively. Simona, a filly, has been granted a 2.5 kgs allowance.

Mathematician, son of Black Minnaloushe (USA), is set to heft 54 kgs – a far cry from the 60 kgs and 59 kgs he is used to. Master Switch and Windigo are also on 54 kgs, although Sherman Brown is expected to weigh in at 55 kgs on Windigo.

Belle Epoque (53.5 kgs), a five-year-old mare, is an interesting runner, and might surprise us. That said I still think this field will have their work cut out holding off Mathematician, and maybe Windigo, in this one.

The first race on Sunday is due off at 12.40 pm. The Independence Trophy will take place at 15.30.

Knuckleball, son of Curved Ball (USA), made every post a winning one at Borrowdale Park this afternoon – a worthy winner of the Zimbabwe 2000.

Trained by Penny Fisher and with Ryan Munger in the irons, the three-year-old gelding has now won four and been placed seven times from 11 starts. He was bred by Clifton Stud and is owned by Mr V. Gappah, Mr R H S and Mrs P Beattie, and Mr D H and Mrs J L Cocksedge.

Israel, Butchie Boy and Bugatti Blue filled the minor places. The going was soft – penetrometer reading 29.

Hearty congratulations to the winning connections.

Photographs by Gavin Macleod

Only one horse – Butchie Boy – has a shot at winning the 2018 Zimbabwe Triple Crown.

The Zimbabwe Guineas winner steps out at Borrowdale Park this Sunday (April 1) in the Zimbabwe 2000, hoping to successfully complete the second stage of his mission.

Eight three-year-old colts or geldings are carded for this race, the second leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown. They will all carry 58 kgs and the chances are the 2000m trip will be a step too far for some. It is an interesting line-up….

BUTCHIE BOY (3 g) 11 starts for 4 wins and 6 seconds (1200m -1600m). Won the Zimbabwe Guineas on March 11, beating Knuckleball. Also won the 1200m Jacaranda Free Handicap on November 5. Finished behind Edward The Seventh and Knuckleball in the 1600m Tote Free Handicap in December but has been in fine form since then. Sunday’s race is over 2000m and the question is will Butchie Boy stay? However this applies to all Sunday’s runners. Butchie Boy is by successful new sire, Crusade (USA), out of a Kahal (GB) mare. Fanie Chambers will be in the irons. Trained by Bridget Stidolph who also sends out Peggson and Canadian Champion. Drawn 2.

KNUCKLEBALL (3 g) 10 starts for 3 wins (1600m – 1700m) and 4 seconds. Finished behind Butchie Boy in the Guineas, his last outing, and in front of Edward The Seventh, who was conceding 1 kg, in the 1600m Guineas Trial in January. By Curved Ball (AUS) out of an Opera King (USA) mare. Trained by Penny Fisher and Ryan Munger has the ride. Drawn 7. Certainly in with a shout.

EDWARD THE SEVENTH (3 g) By Seventh Rock (AUS) out of a Kitalph (USA) mare and bred in Zimbabwe. Has won three of his four starts (1200m to 1600m), including the Tote Free Handicap in December. His last race was on the 28th January in the Guineas Trial where he ran second to Knuckleball. This classy horse was a victim of the virus that recently swept through the Swanson stable so he is short of a prep run. At his best he should be up there. Kirk Swanson also fields Israel, Bugatti Blue and Pirate Hunter. Francois Herholdt rides Edward The Seventh and he is drawn 3.

PEGGSON (3 c) by Judpot out of a Tara’s Hall (USA) mare. Has won two of his 8 starts (1600m to 1700m) and has beaten both Butchie Boy and Edward The Seventh but seems to have gone from boil to simmer more recently. In the Guineas Peggson ran third, 2.75 lengths behind Butchie Boy and well clear of stable mate Canadian Champion. Chase Maujean rides and Peggson has drawn 6. A competitive runner.

ISRAEL (3 g) Lightly raced son of Seventh Rock (AUS) out of a Kitalpha (USA) mare. Has won twice over 1260m and finished second to stable mate, Seven Kingdoms, in a 1700m MR 55 Handicap, in soft going, on February 25. Late Scratching from the Guineas so could be short of a race. Hard to judge, I think. Sherman Brown rides and Israel is drawn 6.

BUGATTI BLUE (3 c) by Traffic Guard (USA) out of a Brashee (GB) mare. Distinguished himself at the Guineas meeting, as a mudlark of note, when winning a 1700m Maiden Plate in heavy going – beating Tremendous by six lengths. This was his first race around the turn. Could be anything but do not ignore if the rain continues. Impossible to make predictions about the going at Borrowdale Park at present. The penetrometer reading was 32 on March 11, and 23 at the last race meeting on March 25. Hennie Greyling will be in the irons and Bugatti Blue is drawn 1.

PIRATE HUNTER (3 c) by Mullins Bay (GB) out of a Badger Land (USA) mare. I have more than a passing interest in this colt and hope a line can be drawn through his last outing, on March 25, in a 1800 MR 48 Handicap. Pirate Hunter was definitely not himself that day, probably due to a virus, but I can’t help wondering if he also disliked the going. Prior to that he was placed over 1200m and 1700m, and won over 1800m on February 25, finishing 1.25 lengths clear of Tremendous. Calvin Habib rides Pirate Hunter and he is drawn 5.

CANADIAN CHAMPION (3 g) by Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) out of an Arch (USA) mare. One win over 1600m from 8 starts. Finished 7.75 lengths off the winner, Butchie Boy, in the Zimbabwe Guineas. All the one-time winners – Bugatti Blue, Pirate Hunter and Canadian Champion – are difficult to assess in this company. We have to wait and see… Brendon McNaughton rides and Canadian Champion is drawn 8.

This is sure to be an exciting race and may the best horse win.

The first race on Sunday is due off at 12.35 and the Zimbabwe 2000 (Grade 3) at 15.25 pm.

You can’t keep a good horse down…
A handful of Zim-breds still flying the flag

There were 8 races on last Sunday’s Borrowdale Park card and only 6 Zimbabwe bred horses took part. However, the locals won two of the races and another came second. The demise of our breeding industry was a crushing blow.

Sadly it is human nature not to appreciate what we have – until it is taken away.

SILVER BUCK BOUNCES BACK

Silver Buck (above) bounced back to his best on Sunday, getting the better of the more fancied runners in the 1200m Novice Plate.

By Century Stand (AUS) the three-year-old colt has won twice and been placed once from 5 starts. Greg Cheyne rode for Kirk Swanson and Silver Buck was bred by Sarahdane Stud.

Congratulations to the winning owners Dave Ward. Gary Carter, Sean Gorringe, V. Patel, Paula Lewis and Ursula and Paul Gorringe.

HOME BRED FILLY SCORES

Pas de Deux (below), the only Zimbabwean bred filly in the 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate run at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, scored.

This was the daughter of Fencing Master (GB)’s first run for the Penny Fisher yard. She is owned and bred by Steve Tomlinson and Ryan Munger was in the irons.

Later in the afternoon Penny Fisher also sent out Magical Charm, winner of the 1600m Maiden Plate. Hennie Greyling was the pilot and the Judpot (USA) filly beat stable companion Sunrise Ruby by 2.50 lengths.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

It was a memorable day for the Stidolph yard at Borrowdale Park on Sunday  when the stable saddled five of the eight winners on the card.

Comanche Brave (above) won the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup for the second time, followed across the line by Ashton Park, half a length back, then his stable mates Leven Point and Mathematician.  The Kahal (GB) gelding has now won seven of his 24 starts and been placed 9 times.  He is owned by Messra Duncan Jones, A.P, Nydam, D.C.Samuels and S.W. Shutt, and Amy Bronkhorst.  Chase Maujean was in the irons and Comanche Brave was bred by Summerhill Stud.

Raven Girl (above) turned the tables on Fillies Classic winner Wild Imogen in the 1800m Silver Slipper, holding on to win by three lengths. Collen Storey had the ride and the Philanthropist (USA) filly is owned by Ryan Sherwood, Scott Buchan, Neil Evans and Bridget Stidolph. She was bred by Drakenstein Stud (nom. Mrs G.A.Rupert).

Dennis and Gael Evans (below) of the Newbury Racing Syndicate were at the course and led in their winner, Simona, after she triumphed in the 1600m MR 73 Handicap, carrying 60 kgs.  Calvin Habib rode for the Stidolph stable and Simona, by Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) was bred by Nadeson Park.

The two other Stidolph winners on Sunday were It’s A True Story (Brendon McNaughton) in the 1700m MR 55 Handicap, and Flanders (Storey) in the 1260m MR 80 Handicap.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

FLASHBACK to 2017 Breeders Champions Cup (L)…Comanche Brave then Mathematician.

There are two feature races on Sunday’s Borrowdale Park card, the 1800m Silver Slipper (L) and the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup (L). The first race is due off at 12.05.

With the exception of Master Switch and Roman Discent, the other runners in the Breeders Champions Cup met in the 1600m MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes on February 25. That day they all carried 60 kgs and the race was won by Ashton Park, closely followed by Mathematician, and then Amsterdam. Comanche Brave was 3.25 lengths off the winner while Leven Point trailed in.

The turnaround in weights here adds interest to a race likely to provide pointers to Borrowdale Park’s “big three” which are just around the corner.

Comanche Brave won the 2017 Breeders Champions Cup and Mathematician, who was giving the winner 6.5 kgs, was three-parts of a length behind him. At that time Comanche Brave was trained by Amy Bronkhorst and he went on to win the 2017 Castle Tankard in May, and the 1900m Republic Cup in July.

SECOND LEG OF THE TRIPLE TIARA

The Fillies Classic, raced over 1600m at Borrowdale on 25 February, resulted in the tightest of finishes between Wild Imogen and Raven Girl. This pair meet again in the 1800m Silver Slipper, second leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Tiara. Can Wild Imogen complete a hat-trick on Sunday?

This listed race, the second leg of the Triple Tiara, has attracted four runners and is worth $5600.

SOME ANIMALS MORE EQUAL

Ridiculous as it might seem the first race on Sunday’s card is a 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate with five runners, four from the same yard. This race is worth $7000!

The top division horses in the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup (L) will race for $8000, and in several other races, far more attractive from a punter’s point of view than a Maiden Juvenile Plate, the runners race for $5 600.

The management of Borrowdale Park should look at the varying discrepancies in stake money allotted for all races. Just because some stupid decisions were made, for whatever reason, in the past, this should not mean we are stuck with them forever.

It would also be good to give some thought to how many two-year-olds, and fillies, race at Borrowdale at present – and adjust the racing program accordingly. It would appear some animals are more equal than others, under existing conditions.

The Mashonaland Turf Club AGM takes place tomorrow (Thursday) evening at 5pm.

Butchie Boy, by Crusade and out of a Kahal (GB) mare, won the 2018 Zimbabwe Guineas (Grade 3) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, March 11.

The three-year-old gelding was bred by Mr R. Fitzgerald and is owned by the Sunmark Racing Syndicate (nominee: Mr R.E. Davenport.) Fanie Chambers rode Butchie Boy for Bridget Stidolph.

Only five runners faced the starter in a race marred by late scratchings on veterinary certificates. Butchie Boy finished 0.75 lengths clear of the Penny Fisher-trained Knuckleball, followed by Peggson and Canadian Champion both from the Stidolph yard.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

TRAINING HONOURS EVENLY SHARED

Despite the heavy going on Sunday, training honours were evenly shared. Roy’s Sailor (below) was the third winner from the Penny Fisher yard and the Sail From Seattle (CAN) gelding won the 1600m MR 60 Handicap – his second success from four starts in Harare.

Jarryd Penny was riding for the Fisher stable and he also scored with Roberta’s Passion in the 1200m Graduation Plate. Hennie Greyling was in the irons when White Russian won the 1000m Maiden Plate.

Roy’s Sailor has now won three races and he was bred by Ascot Stud. The six-year-old is owned by Penny, Alistair, Alex, Natalie and Ken Fisher and Messrs G. Goksel, E.D. Hatchett and R.K. White. Congratulations to the winning connections.

CENTAUR SYNDICATE BACK ON WINNING TRAIL

Bugatti Blue, a three-year-old Traffic Guard (USA) colt, having his fifth start, turned the 1700m Captain Tiger’s Maiden Plate into a procession, beating Tremendous by six lengths.

This was the first time Bugatti Blue ((below) had gone further than 1200m and he showed an interesting turn of foot bearing in mind the penetrometer reading was 32 on Sunday at Borrowdale Park.

Sherman Brown was riding for the Kirk Swanson yard and the Swanson/Brown duo won the previous race run over 1800m with Goose Green. Later in the day Francois Herholdt scored for the Swansons with Switchblade in the 1260m MR 44 Handicap.

Bugatti Blue was bred by Summerhill Stud in KZN and is out of Vintage Event by Brashee (GB). He is owned by the Centaur Syndicate (nominee: Craig Danckwerts).

Western Warrior (above) and Countess Varovski, both ex Amy Bronkhorst, have their first race for the Stidolph stable in the 1100m MR 55 Handicap, due off at 11.45 am on Sunday, February 25.

Bridget will also saddle Megagram and Arial.

Western Warrior, a son of Querari (USA) out of a Silvano (Ger) mare has had three starts at Borrowdale Park, finishing second last time out to Israel over 1260m.

This is a competitive field and most of the 12 acceptors could feature. Don’t miss this one.

STAYERS COME OUT TO PLAY

On 19 February 2017 stable mates Stirling Road (nearest the camera) and Rawedge fought out the finish of a MR 55 Handicap over 2400m.

They meet again at Borrowdale Park on Sunday in a 2400m MR 70 Handicap. This time Kirk Swanson will also saddle Perfect Grace and Baumgartner in a field of 10.

Mathematician and Ashton Park, more often than not set to carry top weight, get to meet former rivals on even terms in the 1600m MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, February 25.

This race takes place annually to commemorate the great race mare, Ipi Tombe, who was bred and began her racing career in Zimbabwe. It is open for all horses at Weight For Age which means Mathematician, Ashton Park, Comanche Brave, Life Is Good, Amsterdam, Road To Dubai, Leven Point and David’s Flower (AUS) will carry 60 kgs. Simona, the only filly entered, is on 57.5 kgs.

Most of these runners, with the exception of Amsterdam and Leven Point, need little or no introduction to Borrowdale Park punters. The seven horses Zimbabwean punters are most familiar with have won 57 races between them.

This will be Leven Point’s second outing at Borrowdale. On January 28 he finished 2.75 lengths behind Simona in a 1800m MR 83 Handicap. On that occasion the winner was receiving 5.5kgs. By Fort Wood (USA) out of a Jallad (USA) mare, this six-year-old gelding has won 3 times from 1400m to 1800m. Fanie Chambers rides for Bridget Stidolph.

Amsterdam, another six-year old gelding, by Windrush (USA) out of a Machiavellian (USA) mare, will be having his first race in Zimbabwe. His last outing was at Turffontein on January 27 when he won an 1800m MR 99 Handicap, beating Bankable Teddy. To date Amsterdam has won 6 races from 1600m to 2000m. Greg Cheyne will ride for Kirk Swanson.

I am sure this will be a great race. Life Is Good, owned and bred by Robin Bruss, is trying for a hat-trick, but with Formgrids still not completely up to date I won’t be making predictions. That’s my excuse anyway – at these weights it could be tricky.

The Stidolph yard is sending out five of the 9 runners – Mathematician (McNaughton), Comanche Brave (Habib), Life Is Good (Herholdt), Leven Point (Chambers) and Simona (Storey). Penny Fisher will saddle Ashton Park (Munger) and David’s Flower (AUS) (Penny). In addition to Amsterdam, Kirk Swanson has entered Road To Dubai who will be ridden by Sherman Brown.

Try a Quartet.

The first race at Borrowdale on Sunday – a 1100m MR 55 Handicap with 12 runners – is due off at 11.45 am. The Fillies Classic should start at 14.35 and the MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes at 15.10.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod: David’s Flower (AUS) winning a 1450m MR 70 Handicap in February 2016, followed by Goose Green. Penny Fisher’s charge takes on the big boys at level weights in the Ipi Tombe Stakes on Sunday. The seven-year-old gelding has won 8 races to date.

Before the February 11 race meeting, subsequently rained off, I said the field for the 1600m Fillies Classic, first leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Tiara, was not particularly exciting.

At that stage only four fillies had accepted, but now that this race has been carried forward to Sunday, February 25, and re-opened, there are two additional acceptors…Raven Girl and Hillah The Hun.

This will be Raven Girl’s first start at Borrowdale Park. The lightly raced daughter of Philanthropist (USA) won her first start over the Turffontein 1400m in September, followed by three unplaced runs over 1600m, 1160m and 1400m.  Her last race in Gauteng was on January 27, so definitely the mystery horse here. She is now trained by Bridget Stidolph and will be ridden by Collen Storey.

Hillah The Hun, on the other hand, has had two starts at Borrowdale, finishing second to Canadian Champion over 1600m, before going on to win a 1700m Maiden Plate on January 14. By Visionaire (USA) out of a Jet Master mare, she is trained by Penny Fisher and Hennie Greyling has the ride. I fancy her chances – more than likely because the name appeals.

Of the original four runners Bridget Stidolph’s pair, Sweet Tea and Hollywood On Set, are probably evenly matched, judging by their performance over the distance, behind Peggson, on October 22. They finished 5.75 and 6 lengths, respectively, behind the winner, and this was their last outing.

Both are one time winners over sprints but Sweet Tea did finish 3.50 lengths off Flanders over 1450m. If I had to choose between these stable mates Sweet Tea would get the edge.

Kirk Swanson’s duo, Dartagna and Wild Imogen, are lightly raced but have more recent form… up the straight. Dartagna, by Fencing Master (GB) out of a Dynasty mare., won her first start over 1100m, in November, beating Blue Label. Next time out on January 14 she ran 12.10 lengths behind her stable mate, Designer Pot, in a 1600m Novice Plate. With some experience around the turn perhaps she can do better than that.

Wild Imogen, also by Fencing Master (GB) but out of a Kitalpha (USA) mare, has not raced further than 1200m. She was unplaced in her first start on January 14, in a 1100m Maiden Plate won by Respectable Rock, but two weeks later won a similar event over 1200m, beating Bomber Pilot.

All the fillies will carry 58 kgs. Brendon McNaughton rides Sweet Tea and Caleb Habib will pilot Hollywood on Set. Francois Herholdt is on Dartagna while Sherman Brown takes Wild Imogen.

Things are looking up – we have an interesting event!

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News: Hillah The Hun with Hennie Greyling aboard.