The Penny Fisher yard saddled two winners on Castle Tankard day, scoring with first timer Jay Kay Two (Mgudlwa) in the 1000m Maiden Plate, and Barbarian (Greyling) in the the 1800m MR Handicap.

Bred at Sarahdane Stud in Zimbabwe, Jay Kay Two is owned by Julie Zieve and is a three-year-old Century Stand (AUS) gelding. He was followed across the line by Arial, Maid In The Moon and Mitzvah Rain.

Barbarian, by Silvano (GER) out of an Al Mufti (USA) mare, Alderry, has won his last three races,  totalling four wins and 6 places from 13 starts.  He is owned by Tim Wilkes and the four-year-old gelding was bred by Al Adiyaat.

On the same afternoon, at Turffontein, Barbarian’s full brother, Al Sahem, won the SA Derby (GR1).

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod.  Jay Kay Two with Athandiwe  Mgudlwa  in the irons.

Amy saddles three winners…

Comanche Brave and Evert Pheiffer made the most of their  moment in time when winning the 2000m Castle Tankard  at Borrowdale Park on Saturday afternoon. Amy Bronkhorst trained the winner of the $50 000 race and  Comanche Brave, by Kahal (GB), is owned by Messrs Duncan Jones, Adrian Nydam, Steve Shutt and D.C. Samuels. He was bred by Summerhill Stud.

Congratulations to all the connections on a great win. Royal Honour (Matchett/Penny), Mathematician (Stidolph/*Habib) and Windigo (Swanson/Brown) filled the minor places. Winning margins  0.75, 3.25, 3.50 lengths. There is fifth place stake money in the Tankard and this went to Cool Solution (Swanson/ McNaughton)..

The Bronkhorst yard saddled three winners on Tankard Day. First up was Newton Power, ridden by Mathew Thackeray, in the 1450m MR Handicap. This was the closest of finishes with El Gallo going down to Newton Power by 0.10 lengths.

Amy’s second winner was Muthaiga Club (Apprentice Serino Moodley) who was involved in another fairly tight finish with Delta in the 1700m Maiden Plate.

Sadly the afternoon was marred by a tragic incident in the seventh race when the promising colt, Cape Cod, broke down at the 200m mark. Our thoughts are with his connections.  Jockey Keagan de Melo was stood down but escaped injury.  In good times racing is what dreams are made of. When things go badly wrong one can only think of what might have been. The Tankard was the eighth race on the card.

The race everyone wants to win

How they finished in 2016 – Rock The Country, Mathematician and Windigo…

Here we are again – getting set for the $50 000 Castle Tankard (Gr1) to be run over 2000m at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.  This is a race everyone would like to win and the  2017 field of 12 runners includes Zimbabwe’s champions plus three “South African” contenders….which makes life a bit more difficult.

As usual I haven’t a clue who will win – apprentice allowances may not be claimed – but I am excited, in advance, about the eventual outcome.

There are 8 races on the Borrowdale card, the first due off at 11.50 am, and the main race will be run at 16.00 pm.

TANKARD RUNNERS

MATHEMATICIAN – Drawn  2.  60 kgs  *C. Habib – Bridget Stidolph. 4-year-old  gelding by Black Minnaloushe (USA). 16 starts for 4 wins and 6 places.  At three years he won the Bloodstock SA 2000, the Zimbabwe Derby and the Republic Cup over 1900m. Has raced four times this season and  in his last two outings ran second to Windigo in the 1600m Ipi Tombe Stakes, and second to Comanche Brave, who was receiving plenty of weight, in the 2000m Breeders Champion Cup. Few would dispute that Mathematician is a class act but can he concede  weight to the rest of this field?  Cannot claim the apprentice allowance here.
WINDIGO – Drawn  4. 56.5 kgs  S. Brown – Kirk Swanson. 5-year-old  gelding by Windrush (USA). 16 starts for 6 wins and 5 places. In the 2016 Tankard Rock The Country, Mathematician and Windigo finished within a length, all carrying 52 kgs, with Eurakilon (55.5 kgs) further back. Windigo will receive 3.5 kgs from Mathematician this time, while giving  Rock The Country 2 kgs. Windigo has won two of his three starts this season, over 1450m and the 1600m Ipi Tombe Stakes, and last time out in the 1600m Independence Trophy he went down by half a length to Duffi’s Call, conceding 1.5 kgs. At his best Windigo definitely in with a shout but may prefer slightly shorter.
ASHTON PARK  – Drawn 7.  56 kgs  A. Mgudlwa – Penny Fisher.  8-year-old  gelding by Battersea Park out of a Jetmaster mare. 8 wins and 18 places from 48 starts. Wins in Western Cape and Gauteng, all over 1400m.  In his day has run decent races over 1600m behind the likes of Futura, Legal Eagle and Legislate. Last start on July 31 at Greyville.  Ex C.L. Bass-Robinson.  First outing at Borrowdale Park.

DUFFI’S CALL – Drawn 12.  56 kgs  B. McNaughton –  Bridget Stidolph. 4-year-old  filly by AP Answer (USA). 7 wins and 5 places from 15 starts.  Zimbabwe’s Triple Tiara  winner at three, and also won the 1800m OK Grand Challenge, beating Windigo, who was conceding  2kgs, by one length.  On March 19 finished third behind Comanche Brave and Mathematician in the 2000m Breeders Champion Cup. That day Comanche Brave received 3.5 kgs from Duffi’s Call and gets 4 kgs from the filly on Saturday. Notwithstanding Duffi’s Call must be considered  formidable. She won the 1600m Independence Trophy last time out, beating Windigo and Eurakilon.

EURAKILON – Drawn 3.  54.5 kgs  M.Thackeray –  Amy Bronkhorst. 7-y-o gelding by Classic Flag. 34 starts for 7 wins and 15 places.  Experienced runner who has taken on the best both in South Africa and Zimbabwe and is more often than not thereabouts.  Well drawn on Sunday and will no doubt make the most of what is, for him, a relatively light weight. Last win came in the 2016 Independence Trophy but Eurakilon cannot be overlooked. One for the exotics.

ROCK THE COUNTRY – Drawn 10.  54.5 kgs  J. Greyling –  Penny Fisher. 8-y-o  gelding by Western Winter (USA). 47 starts for 7 wins and 15 places.  A veteran worthy of respect.  Ran fourth behind Yer-Maan in the 2015 Castle Tankard, then won this race in 2016. Back to back wins in the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup in 2014 and 2015, so 2000m is his game.  Has raced twice this season without distinction, but likely to strip fitter on Saturday.

LAVA FLOW – Drawn 11. 52.5 kgs C. Storey – Penny Fisher. 5-year-old gelding by Western Winter (USA out of an Elliodor (FR) mare. 4 wins and 9 places from 28 starts. Winner of two races over 1400m and 1800m in Gauteng, and two races over 1600m and 1800m at Borrowdale.  Recently returned from another sojourn in Gauteng. Last start on April 18 over 1700m when 7.60 lengths off Yer-Maan at the Vaal. Carries a good galloping weight here and has in the past run well over 2000m at Turffontein.

WYLDE STYLE (ZIM) – Drawn 6. 52 kgs *S. Moodley – Amy Bronkhorst. 3-year-old filly by West Man (USA). 7 wins and 5 places from 12 starts. Champion two-year-old  and winner of the 1600m Tote Free Handicap, the 1600m Fillies Classic and second to Flasher On The Run in the Zimbabwe Guineas.  Won her last start over 1100m on April 16, beating stable companion, Comanche Brave, by half a length.  Has not raced further than 1600m, but should be considered nevertheless.

ROYAL HONOUR – Drawn 1. 52 kgs  J. Penny – Paul Matchett. 4-year-old  gelding by Archipenko (USA). 5 wins and 7 places from 22 starts. Has won  races from 1600m to 2450m, including  a win over 2000m in MR 72 Handicap on February 18, beating Skynight.  This was followed by a win over 2450m when he narrowly beat Save The Rhino at Turffontein in very soft going. Last start, unplaced, was on April 1 in the 2850m Caradoc Gold Cup. No doubts about the Tankard distance. Royal Honour  is a newcomer to Borrowdale but his trainer is not.

COMANCHE BRAVE – Drawn 5. 52 kgs  S.Veale – Amy Bronkhorst. 4-year-old gelding by Kahal (GB). 4 wins and 7 places from 14 starts. On March 19 won the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup with all of Mathematician (0.75 lengths back), Duffi;s Call, Eurakilon and Rock The Country behind him.  Next time out a close second to Wylde Style over 1100m. Seems to defy weight and distance and a big runner here.  Tune in to Tellytrack on Saturday morning to hear what part-owner Adrian  Nydam says.

COOL SOLUTION – Drawn 9. 52 kgs.  K. de Melo – Kirk Swanson. 4-year-old gelding by Mullins Bay (GB) out of a Tilden (IRE) mare. 4 wins and 6 places from 12 starts. From in form stable but Cool Solution is stepping into the big league here. Has won from 1100m to 1600m and on April 2, carrying 61 kgs, finished third to Barbarian in a 1800m MR 75 Handicap. Hard to assess but I will be holding thumbs.

ROMAN  DISCENT – Drawn 8. 52 kgs S. Chambers +1.5  – Bridget Stidolph. 4-year-old gelding by Dynasty. 3 wins and 4 places from 25 starts. Ex G. W. Ennion and winner over 1600m, 2000m and 2400m in the Western Cape. Last start, unplaced, was over 2000m at Kenilworth on April 18.  Distance suited and  a son of Dynasty  deserves respect.

Cabinda shows them the way.  Winning margin 3.50 lengths.

It was another worthwhile trip to Zimbabwe for Apprentice Calvin Habib, who rode Cabinda, winner of the last race at Borrowdale on Sunday, the 1100m MR 65 Handicap.

Habib was riding for trainer Bridget Stidolph, who scored earlier in the afternoon when recent import, Flanders, was the oh-so-easy winner of the 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate.  Both Cabinda and Flanders are owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd.  Fanie Chambers was on Flanders, a Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) colt, out of a Captain Al mare, and bred by Zandvleit Stud.

Cabinda, a three-year-old gelding by Seventh Rock (AUS) bred by Klawervlei Stud, has now won three of his four starts at Borrowdale Park.  Jameson Run, coming back from a long break ran second, followed by Supa Wonder and Romantic Balladeer.

Solinski won the Zimbabwe Derby in fine style, leading from start to finish over 2400m. Karl Zechner rode for Kirk Swanson.
Minor places went to Life Is Good, Flasher On The Run and Crystalline. Great race and congrats to all involved.

… the  Zimbabwe Derby takes place on Sunday

Kirk Swanson’s charges, Solinski, Flasher On The Run and Haga Haga, have featured prominently in the 2017 Classics, so far. This is how they finished in the Bloodstock 2000 won by Solinski.  Can they keep it up in the third leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown on Sunday? Photograph Zimbabwe Equine News.

It is Zimbabwe’s Derby Day at Borrowdale Park this Sunday  – first race due off at 12.30 pm. Once again we have managed to field enough runners to make a race of it over the traditional 2400m Derby distance.

Only six three-year-olds have stood their ground for this ultimate test of speed and stamina, but all deserve a place in this, the final leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown.  Flasher On The Run, won the Guineas, the first leg, and the second leg, the Bloodstock SA 2000, went to the filly, Solinski.  Both step out again on Sunday and, as always, the question is, who will best see out that extra 400m?

None of the 2017 runners have yet gone further than 2000m, and all except the fillies, Crystalline and Solinski, will carry 58 kgs.  The Derby will be run at 15.20 and whatever you do, don’t miss it.

LIFE IS GOOD – Drawn 3 – R. Simons – Amy Bronkhorst. By Var (USA) out of Gracie Jones (USA). 7 start for 3 wins and 2 places. Won over 1200m and 1400m at Scottsville and the Vaal, and narrowly beat Cape Cod over 1600m at Borrowdale on April 16 in soft going.  Carried 59 kgs to Cape Cod’s 60 kgs that day, winning margin half a length.  An interesting runner.

FLASHER ON THE RUN – Drawn 2  – S. Brown – Kirk Swanson. 7 starts 2 wins 5 places. By Bold Silvano out of a National Assembly (CAN) mare.  Zimbabwe Guineas winner and second to Solinski in Bloodstock SA 2000. Won 1700m Maiden Plate on February 5, beating subsequent winner  Don’tfencemein by 4.25 lengths in heavy going.  Should stay the distance on breeding.

HAGA HAGA – Drawn 5 – R. Munger – Kirk Swanson. 11 starts 2 wins 7 places. By Mullins Bay (GB) out of Brashee (GB) mare.  Third to Wylde Style in the 1600m Tote Free Handicap, receiving weight, and won his next outing over 1600m.  To date has shown improvement over ground. Third in the Guineas behind Flasher On The Run and Wilde Style  5.50 lengths behind the winner. Next time out ran third in the Bloodstock SA 2000, 2.75 lengths off Solinski.

MEGAGRAM. Drawn  6 – Brendon McNaughton -Bridget Stidolph. 11 starts 1 win 8 places. By Tamburlaine (IRE) out  of a Sobieski (USA) mare. Won 1800m Maiden Plate on December 18, beating In The Oven, Danger Dan and Aloft. Second to Haga Haga over 1600m on February 5.  Finished fourth in the Guineas, 6.75 lengths off the winner, and fourth to Solinski in Bloodstock SA 2000. Bred in Zimbabwe, often thereabouts.  Could this be the race he has waited for?

CRYSTALLINE – Drawn 1 – F. Chambers – Bridget Stidolph.  7 starts for 1 win and 3 places. By Biarritz out of a Goldkeeper mare. This recent arrival in Zimbabwe won her second start here on April 2, in a 2000m Maiden Plate, beating subsequent winner Whatsnewpussycat by 8 lengths.  Prior to that she came second to Solinski in the 1800m TBA Silver Slipper, 1.25 lengths back.  Her previous races were in Gauteng and KZN. Hard to assess but looked good when winning over 2000m.

SOLINSKI – Drawn 4  – K. Zechner – Kirk Swanson. 5 starts 3 wins 2 places. By Fencing Master (GB) out of a Sobieski (USA) mare. Winner of the SA Bloodstock 2000 and the 1800m TBA Silver Slipper. Prior to that she finished within 0.75 lengths of Wylde Style in the 1600m Fillies Classic.  The daughter of Fencing Master (GB)  has also won over 1200m, beating King’s Wager and The Catcher. I would like to see this locally bred filly do well.

RACE MEETING: Sunday 16 April 2017 7 Races

TRACK CONDITION: Good to soft PENETROMETER READING: 25

WEATHER FORECAST FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON: 16/04/2017@ 08h50 BBC weather
Wind Speed: 12mph Wind Direction: SE Humidity: 76% Visibility: Very Good

WEEK’S RAINFALL: 16mm IRRIGATION: 18mm WEATHER: Sunny
RAINFALL 24hrs: 16mm

FALSE RAIL : 4 metres from the 1800m mark to the spillway

SPILLWAY : 4 metres

DATE AND TIME OF ISSUE: Sunday 16 April 2017 @ 09h00

SCRATCHINGS

Race No Horse No Name of Horse Date Adv. Time Adv. Reason Scratched By

6 6 Madigan 16/04/17 08h50 Swollen left front joint Vet-certificate
7 6 Princeton Tiger 16/04/17 08h48 Sold Trainer
7 7 Devil in Command 16/04/17 08h48 Sold Trainer

ADDITIONAL CHANGES
Race No Horse No Name of Horse Changes

2 4 Amas Amat Now to race with Alumites on
4 4 Avaricious Now to race in steels and blinkers on

From the official MTC race card

Race 1: (3) Fearless Heart, (5) Queen Of The River, (2) Knuckleball, (4) Hollywood On Set.

Race 2: (5) The Catcher, (7) Detente, (3) Temple Run, (2) Romantic Balladeer.

Race 3: (1) Quick Glance, (3) Baumgartner, (2) Star Dance, (8) Bullion Bay.

Race 4:  (1) Cape Cod, (5) Tierce, (2) Life Is Good, (8) Golden Mystery.

Race 5: (4) Whatsnewpussycat, (3) Switchblade, (5) Delta, (6) Naturalinga.

Race 6: (1) Windigo, (2) Duffi’s Call, (4) Eurakilon, (5) Newton Power.

Race 7: (4) Wylde Style, (3) El Gallo, (2) Comanche Brave, (1) Sheik’s Brashee.