The six three-year-olds nominated to run in Sunday’s 2400m Zimbabwe Derby have all stood their ground so it’s all system’s go for Sygone. The son of ATO has already won the first two legs of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown.

C John Smith has been associated with two Zimbabwe Triple Crown winners – and he sends his thoughts and good wishes from Yorkshire:

“For the reasons most people know, I believe the Derby is the pinnacle of racing excellence. It takes a proper horse, an experienced and skilled trainer and a gifted and talented jockey to pull off a Derby win.

“I have been racing for over 40 years and through all that time, my mission has been to buy horses to win this Classic race. On four occasions I have been lucky enough to be associated with a winner – starting with The Toff in 1980 – in Centaur Syndicate colours, then came Glen Monarch in 2006 – also in Centaur colours.

“A year later it was the turn of Earl of Surrey in my own colours and then in 2017 Solinski came in for the Dixie Chicks and me.

“I can’t say one winner was any more exciting or satisfying than another – each was very special indeed – but on two occasions the wins also sealed the Triple Crown – Glen and The Earl.

“The Triple Crown adds a further dimension to any racing CV – there will always be a Derby winner each year but trying to win over 8, 10 and then 12 furlongs with one three-year-old takes a bit of doing.

“Perhaps my wins were not as difficult as would have been the case in the early 80s – but I take great pride in the Earl because he was a sprinter miler – 2400m was way beyond his compass really – but his success is down to Lisa (for President!) Harris and the great sense of pace shown by Dewi Williams. He knew precisely how much pedal to use, and when, in order to get his mount that far and win.

“And how do I take Lisa’s quip at the time? “The Earl is very far from good looking, he has a funny way of standing and a strange way of walking, he is arrogant, full of sh*t but he is highly talented —- mmm a lot like you cj !”

“Sygone has a chance to pull off a special feat in this year’s Derby and Triple Crown decider – and for me it would be entirely appropriate if he did.

“Gael and Dennis Evans have been very great supporters of Zim racing in recent years – they deserve to win it – and there are no finer exemplars of racehorse owners to be found.

“I will be shouting Sygone home from Yorkshire!”

Photograph – Earl Of Surrey – Zimbabwe Triple Crown Winner in 2007.

… Dewi Williams, a former Zimbabwe Champion Jockey who rode three Triple Crown winners, has some advice for you.

“I was very fortunate to ride three. Glen Monarch was the first super horse, and Earl Of Surrey – a top-class sprinter – managed to get a mile and half – a great feat. Then Rebecca’s Fleet – the filly who beat the boys, and was unbeaten in all her 10 starts in Zimbabwe. Great memories.

“Preparation is the key going into the Derby. The 2400m trip is an unknown for most of the 3-year-olds. My mindset was always the same – I’m on the best and they all have to beat me.

“You try to stay as calm as you can, but you know what’s at stake. The gates open and you get a good position front, back or midfield.

“Be positive as only you and your horse can do it now. When all goes to plan and you hit the line your first thought is relief, because you’ve done it. Then it starts to sink in what you’ve just achieved, and you are so proud.”

As most of you know Dewi had to retire all too early after a serious injury. He is now living in the UK and this photograph was taken when Ryan Skelton was on holiday a while back.

The Triple Crown winners mentioned above were all trained by Lisa Harris.

Thanks for the words of wisdom, Dewi.

Match Winner, trained by Sharon Patterson and ridden by Stanley Eyden, was Zimbabwe’s second Triple Crown winner – in 1986.

The Nissr (GB) colt was bred by Geoff Armitage of Sandown Stud, in Zimbabwe, and sold for Z$10 000.

Sharon describes Match Winner as a small horse (15.2hh) with the heart of a lion. “When Peter Moor first saw the colt, he said I had bought him a bush pony. I told him he wasn’t allowed to see him for three months.

“In December 1985, after Match Winner won his second start, I predicted to Peter that his colt would win the Triple Crown.”

Sharon took over Roy Magner’s yard in 1983 when Roy (whom Sharon has described as her mentor) headed south.

When Match Winner won the Triple Crown and the 1986 Tankard, Sharon was in her second season of training and had already tasted success, having won the 1984 Castle Tankard and the 1985 Schweppes Gold Cup.

Match Winner won 7 races for Sharon (including the Castle Tankard as a three-year-old). He then moved to Roy Magner at The Vaal and ran second to Enchanted Garden in the John Skeaping Trophy – his first South African start. A fourth to Model Man in the Barclays (Gr 1) followed.

“Unfortunately,” says Sharon, “Match Winner only had 6 starts in South Africa before the awful Equine Flu virus hit and racing was abandoned for several months. We brought him back to Zimbabwe but on the journey home ‘Matchie’ developed terrible travel sickness and we were lucky to pull him through! We weren’t sure what damage had been done to his heart, so the decision was taken not to race him again.”

Match Winner went to Peter Moor’s Golden Acres Stud where he sired several winners – “but none of his calibre.”

The next Triple Crown Winner was Stay Alert, trained by Ginger Halfpenny, in 1995, followed by the Michael Clements-trained Summer Silence in 1997.

After that Zimbabweans waited until 2006 for another Triple Crown winner.

Sygone, 2019 winner of the first two legs of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown – the 1600m Zimbabwe Guineas and the Zimbabwe 2000 – has been nominated to run in the last leg, the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby on Sunday, April 28.

Final Acceptances are due early next week, and only then will we know whether we are once again on the Triple Crown trail. However, we have a new generation of racing fans at Borrowdale Park who may not have been here before.

That said, I know for sure that one of the younger members of the present MTC Board of Stewards was on course when the Zimbabwe Triple Crown was won for the first time by Island Farewell in 1983. He was about five at that time – a manipulative child who knew his way around the racecourse and thought nothing of persuading total strangers to stand in the queue and place his illegal bets.

For the benefit of those better brought up this is part of the background story.

Worldwide the connections of three-year-old horses dream of winning one of the Classics or maybe two. To win three of the races that make up the Triple Crown is never easy – although Zimbabwe has, over the years, had its fair share of winners.

Inaugurated at Borrowdale Park in 1980, the Triple Crown was not won until 1983. The Toff was a three-year-old in 1980 and although beaten by Manawatu by 1.25 lengths in the Guineas, he won the next two legs. Often a horse that wins well over a mile – or even 2000m – cannot see out the 2400m trip – or vice versa. This is what makes the Triple Crown series a test of both speed and stamina – and gets most of us, on the day, behind a possible winner.

Since 1980 there have been eight Zimbabwe Triple Crown winners:

1983 Island Farewell – Trainer Robin Smith
1986 Match Winner – Trainer Sharon Patterson
1995 Stay Alert – Trainer Ginger Halfpenny
1997 Summer Silence – Trainer Michael Clements
2006 Glen Monarch – Trainer – Lisa Harris
2007 Earl Of Surrey – Trainer Lisa Harris
2009 Rebecca’s Fleet – Trainer -Lisa Harris
2012 Madigan – Trainer – Kirk Swanson

We must be due a winner soon and, hopefully, Sygone will have a go on the 28th of April.

In any event, several people have been helping piece together what we can of our Triple Crown saga.

Regrettably, there are gaps but also some worthwhile reminiscences from connections of Triple Crown winners who have been there and done it.

One way or another you are going to read more about this, later.

About three years ago Jackie Cocksedge and Sharon Paterson were in Kentucky and made a point of visiting Ipi Tombe at Denali Stud.

At the time Ipi Tombe had been covered by Scat Daddy but the groom could not confirm if she was in foal. She was born in Zimbabwe in 1998, so Jackie recently contacted Denali Stud to check on the 21-year-old mare and has received this reply:

“Yes, we still have Ipi, she’s doing well and has since been retired after her last foal in 2016, a colt named Strictly Biz. When you visited her, she was in foal to Scat Daddy, but according to records it says she slipped then, as well as in 2017. They decided to retire her then. She lives outside with her field mates now and is doing well!”

Kentucky is a world away from the scene of Ipi Tombe’s racing triumphs in South Africa and Dubai, and Borrowdale Park – where it all began.

Go well, Ipi Tombe. So far away but never forgotten by all your fans back home.

Congratulations to all the winning connections…

TOP LEFT: ASHTON PARK MAIDEN PLATE 1000m
LILY BLUE – Calvin Habib for Bridget Stidolph. Winning margin 4 lengths (Sweeft (ZIM). Owned by Ms Robyn Macleod & Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (Nom: Miss K Stidolph). Bred by Mr G J Armitage.

TOP RIGHT: DUFFI’S CALL MERIT RATED 65 HANDICAP 1260m
COOL SOLUTION – R Danielson for Kirk Swanson. Winning margin 1.75 lengths (Battle Cry). Owned by Dr Ronald Mhizha & Messrs G Carter, SP Gorringe, ZR Lusengo, Sterling M Miller, DK Ward, ML Wood, Mesdames PJ Lewis, AG Mason & UC Malan & Mr PD Mrs UA Gorringe. Bred by Summerhill

TOP LEFT: EURAKILON MERIT RATED 55 HANDICAP 2200m
BAUMGARTNER – Wes Marwing for Kirk Swanson. Winning margin 4 lengths (Pirate Hunter). Owned by Mr J. Koumides. Bred by Haras Del Carmo Close Corporation.

TOP RIGHT: CAPTAIN’S TIGER MAIDEN PLATE 1800m
DOUBLEOSEVENAGAIN – H Greyling for Penny Fisher. Winning Margin 0.75 lengths (Ineffable). Owned by Mr J Dardagan. Bred by Sarahdane Stud.

TOP LEFT: EARL OF SURREY GRADUATION PLATE 1600m
INNOVATION – B McNaughton for Penny Fisher. Winning margin 0.10 lengths (Hillah The Hun). Owned by Mr G. Goksel. Bred by Rosedean Stud.

TOP RIGHT: INDEPENDENCE TROPHY 1600m
AMSTERDAM – R Danielson for Kirk Swanson. Winning margin 1.0 lengths (Knuckleball). Owned by Mr R. Kieswetter. Bred by Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd.

BELOW LEFT: LUCKY SAM MERIT RATED 50 HANDICAP 1100m
CLASH CITY ROCKER – H Greyling for Penny Fisher. Winning margin 0.75 lengths (Mill Creek). Owned by Messrs G Goksel & D W Rosser. Bred by Rathmor Stud (nom: Mr M A McHardy).

BELOW RIGHT: SYGONE FROM ACTION JACKSON

Not strictly a winner on April 14 but now that meeting is wrapped up we are on the Triple Crown Trail with Sygone. The next Borrowdale Park race meeting is on April 28 and features the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby – third leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown

Amsterdam, winner of the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup on March 24, scored again in the 1600m Independence Trophy at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.

Knuckleball, Roman Discent and Fareeq also finished in the money.

Trained by Kirk Swanson and bred by Highlands Farms Stud, Amsterdam is owned by Mr R Kieswetter and Raymond Danielson was in the irons.

During the afternoon the Swanson yard and Penny Fisher Racing saddled three winners each.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

The first race at Borrowdale Park today is due off at 12 35 pm.

Nine of Zimbabwe’s top racehorses will line up for the 1600m Independence Trophy at 15 35. The prestigious Castle Tankard is on May 11 so take this opportunity to check out some of the likely Tankard runners.

Entry to the course is free. There is a playground for children – entry RTGS10.

Please bring your friends and show them what they have been missing.

It’s a funny old card for Borrowdale Park on Sunday. At first glance it might look easy – the fields are mainly small – and then you begin to wonder who is there to make up the field or having a run while preparing for better things.

In many cases these horses, well performed or otherwise, are not running over their best distances – I think.

The feature race is the 1600m Independence Trophy, won in 2018 by Ashton Park with Simona second. In 2017 Duffi’s Call beat Windigo to the line.

The 2019 Independence field is certainly not short on quality – trouble is most might prefer further.

Of the nine runners Heir Line, Knuckleball, Amsterdam and Bush Pilot caught my eye. Then I began to wonder how they would fancy the mile, which brought Butchie Boy into the equation, and Pampas has won over 1700m. Of course, the unexpected rain we had earlier in the week might continue and put a different perspective on things.

Assuming that will not happen, I am leaning towards Bush Pilot, with Knuckleball, Amsterdam and Butchie Boy in the line-up. I am prepared to be completely wrong – Roman Discent has made fools of us before, and Fareeq has only had one start in Zimbabwe.

In any event this is going to be a very interesting race, giving us the opportunity to inspect some likely Castle Tankard runners.

The first race on Sunday is due off at 12.35 pm.

Photographs: Andrew Philip, Gavin Macleod, Jenny Stocks.

INDEPENDENCE TROPHY RUNNERS

PAMPAS – Drawn 2, 59 kgs (MR81) C Habib for Bridget Stidolph. Pampas seen winning over 1700m.

HEIR LINE – Drawn 3, 58 kgs (MR92) Wes Marwing for Kirk Swanson.

KNUCKLEBALL – Drawn 6, 58 kgs (MR89) R Munger for Penny Fisher.

AMSTERDAM – Drawn 9, 56 kgs (MR89) R Danielson for Kirk Swanson.

BUSH PILOT – Drawn 1, 56 kgs (MR83) D Habib for Bridget Stidolph.

ROMAN DISCENT – Drawn 5, 56 kgs (MR 80) N Takawira +1 for Bridget Stidolph.

FAREEQ (AUS) – Drawn 4, 54 kgs (MR89) ——–for Penny Fisher. Regrettably no pic of Fareeq.

MASTER ‘N COMMANDER – Drawn 8, 54 kgs (MR82) H Greyling for Penny Fisher.

MASTER SWITCH – Drawn 10 – SCRATCHED

BUTCHIE BOY – Drawn 7, 54 kgs (MR77) B McNaughton for Bridget Stidolph.

Thanks to Gavin Macleod for these photographs of Sunday’s closest calls.

1800m MR 75 HANDICAP
In The Mood (nearest camera) was 0.10 lengths clear of Yarraman at the line.

1100m MR 80 HANDICAP
Oden (nearest camera) and What A Dandy – Oden scored by 0.25 lengths.

2000m ZIMBABWE 2000
Sygone passes long time leader Action Jackson – winning margin 0.75 lengths

1600m MR 65 HANDICAP
At the wire It’s A True Story finished 0.75 lengths in front of Lute Society (No. 5).

The next Borrowdale Park race meeting is on Sunday 14 April 2019. First race 12 35 pm.

Strongly fancied Sygone got up to beat Action Jackson in the closing stages of the Zimbabwe 2000 at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon.

This son of Ato won the Zimbabwe Guineas and is now on track to take Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown. The final leg, the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby, will be run on April 28.

Congratulations to the winning owners, the Newbury Racing Syndicate (Pty) Ltd (nominee Denis Evans), the winning jockey Hennie Greyling, and winning trainer, Bridget Stidolph.

This was an exciting finish and Three To Tango and Rain Spider also finished in the money.

It was quite an afternoon with several very close finishes and at the end of it all the chance of having a Zimbabwe Triple Crown winner.

The Stidolph yard saddled four winners and Raymond Danielson and Ryan Munger rode two winners each.

Congratulations to all of Sunday’s winning connections.

KNUCKLEBALL MAIDEN PLATE 1200m
Wantage – C Habib riding for Bridget Stidolph.
Owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee: Mr D E Evans).

SOLINSKI MERIT RATED 80 HANDICAP 1100m
Oden – R Munger riding for Penny Fisher.
Owned by Mr G Goksel.

LUCKY SAM MERIT RATED 65 HANDICAP 1600m
It’s A True Story – B McNaughton riding for Bridget Stidolph.
Owned by Mrs A L Bronkhorst & Mr A P Nydam.

MATHEMATICIAN GRADUATION HANDICAP 1600m
Rose Diamond – R Munger riding for Penny Fisher.
Owned by Mr K P Fallon.

MERHABA MERIT RATED 75 HANDICAP 1800m
In The Mood – R Danielson riding for Kirk Swanson.
Owned by Mr J Koumides.

ZIMBABWE 2000 (Grade 3) 2000m
Sygone – H Greyling riding for Bridget Stidolph.
Owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee: Mr D E Evans).

MADIGAN MERIT RATED 60 HANDICAP 1000m
Gemcutter – R Danielson riding for Bridget Stidolph.
Owned by Messrs A Dixon,S N Buchan, N Evans, G Carter, M K Chant,
R Sherwood & Mrs P J Lewis.