Ladies First, by Silvano (GER) out of an Al Mufti (USA) mare, won the 1700m MR 69 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, completing a double. The five-year-old, trained by Amy Bronkhorst, has now won six races. Randall Simons was in the irons.

Minor places went to Perfect Grace ( 1.25 lengths back), Jay Kay Two and Betula Uber.

Congratulations to the winning owners, Dave Rosser and Gengiz Goksel. Ladies First was bred by Varsfontein Stud.

I thought the Kirk Swanson stable might have a couple of winners at Borrowdale on Sunday – and they did – but I wasn’t expecting Ezekial to be one of them.

The five-year-year-old son of Soar With Eagles (USA) was coming off a 92 day rest. He stepped out smartly in the 1450m MR 53 Handicap, kept in touch with the early leader, made his move at about the 400m mark, then left the field for dead, winning by six lengths. Ryan Munger was riding.

Goose Green, also from the Swanson yard, ran second, followed by Detente and Megagram.

Ezekial is owned by John Koumides and Debra Swanson, and he was bred in Zimbabwe by Sunmark Thoroughbreds. Congratulations to everyone.

Borrowdale Park’s closest finish on Sunday came in the first race, the 1100m Merit Rated 67 Handicap, when Elegant Beauty got up to beat Belle Epoque by 0.50 lengths.

This four-year-old filly, by Main Aim (GB) out of a National Assembly (CAN) mare, was having her second start in Harare. Randall Simons was riding for Amy Bronkhorst and this pair scored a second time later in the day.

Phantom Major, coming back after 245 days, ran third, two lengths off the winner. Nimble Dancer finished fourth.

Elegant Beauty is owned by Paul Rugg, Grant Littleford and Spencer Murray, and was bred by Highlands Farms Stud. Congratulations to all concerned.

Hollywood On Set and Brendon McNaughton, riding for Bridget Stidolph, won the 1200m Maiden Plate, finishing in front of two first-timers, Holly Hunting and Coastal Attraction. Cathayness was fourth.

I wonder how many took a Hollywood On Set and Holly Hunting Swinger, just because?By Jay Peg, Hollywood On Set is a three-year-old filly owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Mr D.E. Evans). She was bred by Maine Chance Farms.
Congratulations to the winning connections

Earlier in the afternoon Penny Fisher’s charge, Rebellious Queen, completed a 1600m double when winning the MR 45 Handicap by three lengths, beating Delta, Racey J and Viking Castle to the wire.

By National Emblem out of a Badger Land (USA) mare, the four-year-old filly is owned by Genghiz Goksel, bred by Bruce le Roux and Jarryd Penny was in the irons. She has now won twice and been placed four times from 8 starts. Congratulations to the connections

Ashton Park, an eight-year-old Battersea Park gelding out of a Jet Master mare, gave the field masses of weight but won the 1800m MR 92 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. Ryan Munger was in the irons.

Penny Fisher saddled three of the first four past the post with Kevin Barry and Call Me Earl finishing second and fourth respectively. Roman Descent (third), trained by Bridget Stidolph, held off a Fisher Quartet.

Congratulations to the winning owners, Mrs S.H.Mackenzie and Messrs P. Bamford, F.C. Blomkamp, A.J. Brand, P.F.M. do Carmo, G. Goksel, M.A. Govender, M.G.Schoeman, Wehann Smith, and Zonke Ena Mushe Syndicate (Nominee Mrs N.J. Fisher). Ashton Park was bred by Mr Y. Khan.

…and more thoughts about Sunday…

I have always had a soft spot for Call Me Earl, but he hasn’t raced since July 17, so this is a “welcome back” rather than “think you might win” pic.

However, in that last outing he finished 5.30 lengths off stable companion Ashton Park over 1450m, both carrying 60 kgs. At Borrowdale Park on Sunday, in the 1800m MR 92 Handicap, Call Me Earl receives 6.5 kgs from his formidable, older stable companion.

Apologies to the Fisher yard if they were planning a few betting coups this weekend, because so many of my thoughts about Sunday seem to focus on this stable. (Please note that without Formgrids these thoughts are even more unreliable than usual).

In addition to Ashton Park, Penny Fisher will also saddle Kevin Barry, David’s Flower (AUS) and Lava Flow – all worth considering.

Amy Bronkhorst and Bridget Stidolph are fielding Newton Power and Roman Discent, respectively. Perhaps they will halt the Fisher charge to the wire.

FIRST LEG PICK 6!

This 1200m Maiden Plate is an awkward race for the first leg of the Pick 6,. The field is made up of three unraced runners, plus Cathayness, Hollywood On Set and Queen Of The River. All except Cathayness (60 kgs) are set to carry 59 kgs, but Holly Hunting with Apprentice Mpumelelo Mjoka in the irons will weigh in at 57.5 kgs. Probably wise to choose more experienced runners but this Rebel King filly is number 6 and also drawn 6…just saying.

CAN WE TRUST THE HANDICAPPER?

Five of the six three-year-olds in the 1200m MR 68 Handicap –the get-out stakes – are one-time winners and the weights range from 60 kgs (Butchie Boy) to Nedo Nadi on 52.5 kgs, before Apprentice Mjoka has claimed 1.5 kgs.

Knuckleball, who has yet to win but has placed four times from four starts, will heft 58 kgs.

If you trust the handicapping bank on Butchie Boy, he has run second to Flanders twice. If you feel you might still be in the Pick 6 at this late stage, maybe you should take the field.

The first race is due off at 12.20.

Photograph: Call Me Earl, by Century Stand (AUS) with Diz Buckler and Fiona Olivier.

Photograph: Jay Kay Two with Athandiwe Mgudlwa in the irons. Ryan Munger rides on Sunday.

The four-year-old Century Stand (AUS) gelding, Jay Kay Two, has won his only three starts to date and carries 55 kgs in the 1700m MR 69 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

He meets Ladies First and Placid Sea at level weights, and will be receiving 1 kg from Simona, a winner over 1600m at the last meeting. Jay Kay Two has beaten Simona previously over 1200m when giving the Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) filly 5kgs.

At the other end of the weight scale are Guineas winner Flasher On The Run (58.5 kgs when Apprentice M. Mjoka has claimed), Perfect Grace (58kgs), Crystalline and Betula Uber (57.5 kgs).

Burning Rock (56.5 kgs), a Count Dubois (GB) filly and one-time winner, is having her first start in Harare. This is a race where it is difficult to relate the allotted weights to number of actual wins.

Photograph: Megagram with Fanie Chambers in the irons. Brendon McNaughton rides on Sunday.

Stable companions Detente and Temple Run have reasonable recent form for the 1450m Merit Rated 53 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

Megagram and Al Salaam, also from the Stidolph yard, have not raced since July 22 and may need this outing. All of Maid In The Moon, Grey’s A Rocking, Goose Green and Muthaiga Club are having their second race this season so expect improvement.

Ezekial is having his first start July 8.

Photograph: Rebellious Queen (Penny), followed by Peggson (K. Derere) and
Cathayness (*C. Habib).

CAN REBELLIOUS QUEEN MAKE IT A DOUBLE?

Rebellious Queen beat subsequent winner Peggson over 1600m on September 9 and Penny Fisher’s charge steps out again on Sunday in the 1600m MR 45 Handicap.

The four-year-old daughter of National Emblem will have to work harder here as the possibilities in this field seem endless. Racey J and Muhannad (ARG), also trained by Penny Fisher, cannot be discounted.

Photograph Zimbabwe Equine News: Brendon McNaughton rides Nimble Dancer again on Sunday.

One needs thinking caps and crossed thumbs for Sunday’s Borrowdale Park race meeting. In the main these are competitive fields and expect improvement from several runners who came off particularly long breaks before their last outings.

The first race – a 1100m Merit Rated 67 Handicap – sets the scene.

This field includes Belle Epoque and Eurozone, both winners this season, as well as Nimble Dancer and Just A Jag, second and fourth, respectively, to Zita over 1200m on September 24. Just A Jag is now a kg better off with Nimble Dancer – and I would fancy Nimble Dancer more if he, rather than Just A Jag, had the outside draw.

Belle Epoque beat Elegant Beauty by 1.75 lengths in the 1260m Sable Flyers but there is quite a significant turnaround in weights here. Elegant Beauty will now receive 0.5 kgs from Belle Epoque – when they last met she was conceding 2 kgs.

Nimble Dancer has previously beaten Belle Epoque over Sunday’s distance, when receiving 3.5 kgs. With claiming Apprentice Mpumelelo Mjoka aboard on Sunday, Belle Epoque will receive 1 kg from Nimble Dancer….this is fascinating stuff.

Eurozone, going for the 1100m double, beat Sunday’s runner Big Chief, by 3.85 lengths when in receipt of 3.5 kgs. Big Chief will now receive 1 kg from Eurozone which should bring him closer. Both these runners are receiving weight from the rest of the field.

For sanity’s sake I am simply assuming Porterhouse could spring a surprise if he wants to. Phantom Major has not raced since February so surely he will need this run.

And having muddied the waters completely, I have no idea who might win.

This very interesting race is due off at 12.20 pm.

COMANCHE BRAVE – Winner Open Series 2016/17, Spey Bridge Champion Older Horse and Joint Spey Bridge Champion Horse Of The Year, with SOLINSKI.

Zimbabwe’s Racing Awards for the 2016/2017 Racing Season were announced at a function held at Borrowdale Park yesterday evening.

The MOTA/MTC/NHRA Awards are based on statistics, while the Spey Bridge Awards are decided on by the Spey Bridge Awards Panel.

Congratulations to all concerned.

MOTA/MTC/NHRA AWARDS

WINNER OPEN SERIES – COMANCHE BRAVE
WINNER SPRINTER SERIES – ROAD TO DUBAI
LEADING OWNER – JOHN KOUMIDES
LEADING TRAINER – BRIDGET STIDOLPH
CHAMPION BREEDER – SUMMERHILL STUD (PTY) LTD
CHAMPION JOCKEY – FANIE CHAMBERS
CHAMPION APPRENTICE – CALVIN HABIB

SPEY BRIDGE AWARDS

SPEY BRIDGE CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD – FLANDERS
SPEY BRIDGE CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD FEMALE – SOLINSKI
SPEY BRIDGE CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD MALE – KEVIN BARRY & FLASHER ON THE RUN
SPEY BRIDGE CHAMPION SPRINTER – ROAD TO DUBAI
SPEY BRIDGE CHAMPION OLDER HORSE – COMANCHE BRAVE
SPEY BRIDGE HORSE OF THE YEAR – COMANCHE BRAVE & SOLINSKI
SPEY BRIDGE PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR – JACKIE COCKSEDGE

SPEY BRIDGE SPECIAL AWARDS –
WYLDE STYLE
WINDIGO
NEWBURY RACING (PTY) LTD

MOTA AWARDS

SERVICES TO MOTA 2017 –  GYLES DORWARD

MOTA SYNDICATE OF THE YEAR 2017 – THE DUTCH MENSE

MOTA CHARACTER OF THE YEAR 2017 – TEAM GORRINGE

MOTA SPECIAL AWARD 2017 –SORRY FOR THAT SYNDICATE

SOLINSKI – 2016/17 Spey Bridge Champion Three-Year-Old Female, and Joint Spey Bridge Horse Of The Year, with COMANCHE BRAVE.

Nedo Nadi, by Fencing Master(GB) out of a Sobieski(USA) mare, won the 1200m Maiden Plate, after taking a few furlongs to find his stride. Epee (Munger) ran a close second, followed by the other Swanson first timer, Silver Buck (*Mjoka), and Business Jet (McNaughton).

The three-year-old winner is owned by Christopher Peech and bred in Zimbabwe at Rumbavu Stud. One for the notebook, perhaps?

Later on Sunday Christopher and Noelene Peech led in Belle Epoque, winner of the Sable Flyers (L), also from Kirk Swanson’s yard. Quite a good day!

STABLEMATES WRAPPED IT UP

Amy Bronkhorst saddled the first three horses past the post in the 1700m Maiden Plate on Sunday. Peggson (Simons) won by four lengths, trailed by stable companions Knuckleball (Derere) and Queen Of The River (Munger).

This was the second time the Bronkhorst yard scored during the afternoon.

Peggson, by Jay Peg, is owned by Messrs A. Ackhurst, G.S. Knowles, A.P. Nydam, S.W. Shutt and Amy Bronkhorst. Bred by Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud. Congratulations winning connections.

FINISHING ON A HIGH NOTE

The Fisher yard sent out the winners of the first and seventh races at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, last up being Eurozone (Greyling) in the 1100m MR 58 Handicap. Gateway Gamble (Derere) was 0.75 lengths behind the winner, then Temple Run (Chambers) and Detente (*Habib).

By Judpot (USA) out of a National Assembly (CAN) mare, Eurozone has won 4 races. The six-year-old is owned by Genghiz Goksel and Dave Rosser and was bred by Varsfontein Stud.

Congratulations.

The next Borrowdale Park race meeting is on Sunday, October 8, and features the ZNA Charity Handicap.