This doesn’t happen often. Bridget Stidolph saddled the first four horses past the post in the 1200m MR 71 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Saturday. 

The winner was Just A Jag,  by AP Answer and bred by Patterson Racing.  Jarryd Penny was in the irons, and the five-year-old gelding is owned by Mrs A.J. Wynne and Messrs S.N. Buchan, N. Evans, D.C. Samuels and R. Sherwood.   Just A Jag finished 2.20 lengths clear of  Nimble Dancer, followed by Porterhouse and Romantic Balladeer.

The photograph (above) of all the happy people was taken by Rosie Dorward.  Just A Jag, now a three-time winner, is the horse on the right.  Nimble Dancer (second) was ridden by Morgan Nyamagwete.

Earlier in the afternoon the Stidolph yard scored with Simona (below) in the 1600m Novice Plate.  The Gimmethegreenlight (USA) filly is owned by Newbury Racing  (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr D.E. Evans).  She was bred by Nadeson Park and ridden by Apprentice Calvin Habib.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Penny Fisher saddled three winners at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, as well as Ashton Park  who finished a close second to Comanche Brave in the $40 000 Republic Cup.

First up was Eurozone in the 1000m MR 48 Handicap, followed by Jay Kay Two (above) in the 1700m MR 72 Handicap for three-year-olds.  Haga Haga was a hairbreadth behind him and then came Jameson Run and Rhythmical Reply.

By Century Stand (AUS) and bred by Sarahdane Stud,  Jay Kay Two has won his only three starts. Ryan Munger had the winning ride and the bay gelding is owned by Julie Zieve.

Muhannad (below), a son of Giant’s Causeway (USA), found his form again in the 1700m MR 50 Handicap, narrowly beating Aloft, Philanthropy and Viking Castle to the line (winning margins 0.10, 0.20 and 0.70 lengths).  The six-year-old gelding was ridden by Hennie Greyling and bred by Phalaris Breeding Ltd.  He is owned by Matt Charlton, Bruce McLaughlan, Alistair Fisher, Ken Fisher, Brian Watson, Murray Smith and Alan Smith.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Amy Bronkhorst saddled two of the first three horses past the post in the $40 000 Republic Cup (Gr3), including Comanche Brave, the winner.

By Kahal (GB), the four-year-old Comanche Brave won the $50 000 Castle Tankard in May and came good again in the 1900m event at Borrowdale Park on Saturday. Randall Simons was in the irons and the minor places went to Ashton Park, Life Is Good and Roman Discent.

The winning owners are Duncan Jones, Adrian Nydam, D.C. Samuels and Steve Shutt. Comanche Brave was bred by Summerhill Stud.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

The $40 000 Republic Cup (Gr3) – final leg of Borrowdale Park’s “big three” – takes place on Saturday afternoon over 1900m.  It has the makings of a competitive race and although several of the contestants took part in the 2000m Castle Tankard in May and the 1800m OK Grand Challenge in June, the result is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Turnover in weights, as well as the change in distance, have to be taken into account.

Comanche Brave won the $50 000 Castle Tankard (Gr1), carrying 52 kgs, but disappointed in the $40 000 OK Grand Challenge (Gr2), a month later. His supporters will expect Amy Bronkhorst’s charge to make amends this time but the handicapper may have caught up with him, so we shall see. The Bronkhorst yard also fields Life Is Good, a well bred three-year-old having his fifth start at Borrowdale, and Newton Power.

Bridget Stidolph trained Royal Honour, the winner of the OK Grand Challenge, but he is missing from this line-up.  She will saddle Super Good, third in the OK, and Roman Discent who showed signs of a return to form at the last race meeting.

Ashton Park and Lava Flow will represent Penny Fisher, while Kirk Swanson has a brace of runners, namely Windigo (fourth in the Tankard and second in the OK); Cool Solution (fifth in the Tankard and fourth in the OK); Fah Fee (fifth in the OK), and Light The Way, a newcomer to Borrowdale Park.

THE FIELD IN BRIEF

WINDIGO – 60 kgs drawn 2. Six wins from 1450m – 1800m. Five-year-old gelding by Windrush (USA).  Sherman Brown – Kirk Swanson. Ran fourth in the 2000m Castle Tankard and second in the 1800m OK Grand Challenge. A genuine sort and I hope he can handle top weight and 1900m.

ASHTON PARK – 59.5 kgs drawn 6. Ryan Munger – Penny Fisher. This will be his second start in Zimbabwe. Finished 8.25 lengths off Comanche Brave in the Castle Tankard. This seven-year-old gelding is by Battersea Park out of a Jet Master mare. Most of his 8 wins have been over 1400m. A bit of a dark horse.  At one time not disgraced behind the likes of Captain America and Legal Eagle over 1600m.

COMANCHE BRAVE – 59 kgs drawn 7.  Randall Simons – Amy Bronkhorst. Winner of the 2017 Castle Tankard over 2000m when carrying 52 kgs.  Disappointed his supporters in the 1800m OK Grand Challenge but rates another chance.  Five-time winner from 1200m – 2000m.  Four-year-old gelding by Kahal (GB).

SUPER GOOD – 57.5 kgs drawn 4.  Fanie Chambers – Bridget Stidolph. Winner of 4 races from 1100m to 1260m, but placed in good company up to 2400m. Four-year-old  gelding by Announce out of a Dynasty mare. Maybe he has more to do here but impressed in the OK Grand Challenge.

NEWTON POWER – 55.5 kgs drawn 11  Nicky Sibanda – Amy Bronkhorst. His 8 wins range from 1000m to 1600m but Newton Power has been best sprinting. At the last Borrowdale Park meeting he finished 3.50 lengths behind stable companion, Life Is Good, in a 1200m MR 85 Handicap when carrying top weight. This seven-year-old gelding is by Newton (IRE).

LAVA FLOW –  54 kgs drawn 5.  Hennie Greyling – Penny Fisher. Five-year-old gelding by Western Winter (USA) out of an Elliodor (FR) mare. Won two races in Gauteng, 1200m and 1800m, and repeated that at Borrowdale Park in 2016.  Raced over 1700m at the last Borrowdale meeting, finishing 3.25 lengths behind stable mate Barbarian. Roman Discent and Cool Solution finished in front of Lava Flow, receiving weight.

FAH FEE  – 53.5 kgs drawn 8. Morgan Nyamagwete – Kirk Swanson. Five-year-old gelding by Ideal World (USA) out of a Sadler’s Wells (USA) mare, and you don’t get much better than that. Since returning from a long layoff has had two starts, placing fifth in the OK Grand Challenge. Won four races over distances up to 1600m in South Africa.  Interesting.

LIFE IS GOOD – 52.5 kgs drawn 1.  Jarred Penny – Amy Bronkhorst. Three-year-old gelding, by Var (USA) out of Gracie Jones (USA). Moved to Borrowdale Park in May, having won two races in RSA over 1200m and 1400m.  Won his first start at Borrowdale over 1600m, then followed up with a second to Solinski in the Zimbabwe Derby.  Disappointed in the OK Grand Challenge but comes into this one fresh from his recent win in a 1200m MR 85 Handicap. Can’t ignore on breeding, and when carrying 52.5 kgs.

LIGHT THE WAY – 52 kgs drawn 9. * Mpumelelo Mjoka – Kirk Swanson. This five-year-old gelding by Miesque’s Approval (USA) won four races over 1400m and 1450m and then seemed to drop the ball. His last race at Turffontein was on February 14, and this will be his first start in Zimbabwe. In November 2015 Light The Way finished 5.50 lengths behind Ertijaal (AUS) in the 1800m Sea Cottage Stakes for three-year-olds – with Deputy Jud, Greek Legend, French Navy, Fah Fee and Cool Chardonnay ahead of him. Your guess will be as good as mine.

COOL SOLUTION – 52 kgs drawn 3. Brendon McNaughton  – Kirk Swanson. Four-year-old gelding by Mullins Bay (GB) out of a Tilden (IRE) mare.  Has won four races from 1200m to 1600m and placed fifth in the Castle Tankard and fourth in the OK Grand Challenge. One for the Exotics?

ROMAN DISCENT – 52 kgs drawn 10. *Calvin Habib – Bridget Stidolph. A four year-old Dynasty gelding with four wins up to 2400m to his credit.  His three starts at Borrowdale Park include the Castle Tankard and OK Grand Challenge – where he did not shape – but showed signs of a return to form, in the 1700m MR 84 Handicap won by Barbarian at the last race meeting. Worth some thought.

FLASHBACK to the 2016 Republic Cup won by Mathematician.  Morgan Nyamagwete was in the irons, and he teams up with Fah Fee on Saturday.

…THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Jackie Cocksedge has sent me the following information…and I quote:…

“This is to inform you that the Council of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association Of Zimbabwe have taken the decision to formally close the association. We no longer have a viable breeding industry in Zimbabwe and we see little point in maintaining an office.

With apologies to Margaret Mitchell, I have penned the following:”

” Here was a land of gentle folk and rolling pastures 
An equine Camelot
Here they bred and nurtured the athletes that graced our turf
Here in this productive world they took their last bow
Here was the last ever to be seen of stallions and their ladies fair
Of grooms and horses
Another casualty of our homeland Zimbabwe
Look for it only in books for it is no more than a dream remembered
The glory days, gone with the wind”

Included above is a photograph of Ip Tombe taken after her Dubai Duty Free win. Zimbabwe has produced hundreds of good racehorses but Ipi Tombe proved some could take on the best and win.

Once again the Kirk Swanson yard came up trumps with stayers at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. The lightly weighted Baumgartner won the 2200m MR 69 Handicap with stable companions Rawedge (56.5 kgs) and Solinski (60kgs) second and third.

Baumgartner was ridden by Apprentice Mpumelelo Mjoka who, within a matter of days, has won races in France, South Africa and Zimbabwe. I believe this was his first visit to Borrowdale Park. The promising apprentice won the recent Longines Future Racing Stars event at the annual Prix de Diane meeting at Chantilly, competing with apprentices from Australia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco and Turkey.

The four-year-old Black Minnaloushe (USA) gelding, Baumgartner, is owned by John Koumides and he was bred by the Haras Del Carmo Close Corporation. He has now won three races and been placed 7 times from 18 starts.

The son of Silvano (GER), Barbarian, bounced back to earlier form in the 1700m MR 84 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, finishing 1.50 lengths clear of his slightly more fancied stable companion, David’s Flower. Royal Discent and Cool Solution followed this pair across the line.

Owned by Tim Wilkes, trained by Penny Fisher and ridden by Hennie Greyling, Barbarian has now won 5 races and been placed 6 times from 15 starts. Both Barbarian and David’s Flower are due to run in the 1900m Republic Cup on July 8. The stable mates will carry 52 kgs….which could be interesting.

The Var (USA) gelding, Life Is Good (above), rounded off Sunday afternoon for Amy Bronkhorst and Randall Simons when beating El Gallo by a length over 1200m in the MR 85 Handicap.

This pair also won the first race on the Borrowdale Park card, a 1100m Maiden Plate, with Arial (below) .

Bridget Stidolph saddled four winners at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, including the cherry on top – Flanders – in the 1200m Champion Juvenile Stakes (Gr3).

The two-year-old gelding, owned by Newbury Racing (nominee Mr D.E. Evans), is by Gimmethegreeenlight (AUS) out of a Captain Al mare. He was bred by Zandfleit Stud and Fanie Chambers was in the irons. Flanders started at 12/10 on a day when most favourites failed. His stable companions Butchie Boy and Misterioso finished second and third.

The other winners from the Stidolph yard were long shot Nimble Dancer (Morgan Nyamagwete), winner of the 1200 MR 60 Handicap, Rhythmical Reply (*C. Habib) who scored in the 1450 m Graduation Plate,  and Philanthropy (Chambers) in the 1800m Maiden Plate.

The fancied Rawedge completed his hat-trick in the 2700m MR 60 Handicap.

Rawedge, and Sherman Brown, completed a hat-trick at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, when winning the 2700m MR 60 Handicap. His stable companions Baumgartner and Chum followed him across the line, with Baumgartner, who set the pace, holding on gamely…the winning margin being only 0.75 lengths.

The five year-old gelding, by Ravishing, was bred by Dr G. Biatz and Mr C. Baitz, and he is trained by Kirk Swanson, who was having a good afternoon, saddling three winners. The stable also scored with Sail From Sibaya in the Maiden Juvenile Plate, and Maid In The Moon.

A BRIDESMAID NO MORE

Maid In The Moon and some happy people.  The filly has won once and been placed 6 times from 8 starts.

Penny Fisher’s stable hit a purple patch at Borrowdale Park on OK Grand Challenge day, saddling four of the eight winners on the card.

Betula Uber (above) won the 1800m MR 59 Handicap for fillies and mares. Hardly surprising that the daughter of Ideal World (USA ) won…it was the way she did it – by an astonishing nine lengths. Placid Sea, Ladies First and Whatsnewpussycat filled the minor places.

Betula Uber is owned by Gengiz Goksel. Ryan Munger rode for Penny Fisher, having also scored on Jay Kay Two and Amas Amat , earlier in the afternoon.

ZIMBABWE BRED RUNNERS DOING FINE

Three of the eight winners on Saturday’s  Borrowdale Park card were bred in Zimbabwe – which is quite an achievement as so few of them are around.

First off was Jay Kay Two, winner of the 1200m Novice Plate, trained by Penny Fisher, owned by Julie Zieve and bred by Sarahdane Stud. Ryan Munger rode.

Next up was Maid In The Moon in the 1600m Maiden Plate. This Fencing Master (GB) filly was also bred by Sarahdane Stud. She is trained by Kirk Swanson and Karl Zechner was in the irons.

Kevin Barry (below) came back to his best in the 1600m MR 75 Handicap, getting the better of stable mate David’s Flower in the tightest of finishes. The Horse Chestnut colt was bred by the Spotted Pig Stud. Evert Pheiffer piloted the winner and and Kevin Barry is trained by Penny Fisher.

South African raider Royal Honour won the $40 000 OK Grand Challenge over 1800m at Borrowdale Park this afternoon. Formerly trained by Paul Matchett, the four-year-old son of Archipenko (USA) was saddled by Bridget Stidolph.

Jarryd Penny was in the irons and Royal Honour is owned by Mr Juan Taljaard.