King’s Wager, the first of two winners sent out by Penny Fisher at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, turned the1200m Maiden Plate into a procession, winning by 8.50 lengths.

Cabinda, Rebellious Queen and Cathayness filled the minor places.

The winner is a four-year-old gelding by King’s Chapel (AUS) out of a Kahal (GB) mare, and was  bred by Backworth Stud.  Ryan Munger was in the irons and King’s Wager is owned by Ken, Alistair and Alex Fisher.

The four-year-old gelding performed well in his previous two outings but this time looked spectacular.  One to keep an eye on in future.

GOOD DAY FOR FENCING MASTER (GB)

Don’tfencemein, a three-year-old Fencing Master filly out of a Century Stand (AUS) mare, placed in her three previous starts, won the 1600m Maiden Plate at Borrowdale on Sunday, beating Danger Dan by five lengths.

El Gallo, trained by Bridget Stidolph, and followed across the line by stable companion Coachella, won the 1200m MR 75 Handicap comfortably. Brendon McNaughton was riding on Sunday, and Gael and Dennis Evans of Newbury Racing were at Borrowdale Park to lead in their winner.

By Toreador (IRE) El Gallo has now won three races and he was bred by David Allan. Congratulations to the winning connections.

Windigo, with Sherman Brown in the irons, won the MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes for owner Colin Bird and the Swanson stable, at Borrowdale on Sunday.

Windigo, a five-year-old gelding, by Windrush (USA) out of a Goldkeeper (USA) mare,   was bred by The Alchemy. This was a back to back win for Windigo and he has now won six races.

From the official MTC race card for Sunday, February 19

Race 1: Cabinda (1), King’s Wager (3), Glorious Dawn (6), Cathayness (5).

Race 2: Cool Solution (1), Porterhouse (3), El Gallo (4), Coachella (6).

Race 3: Stirling Road (3), Valmont (6), Bullion Bay (7), Dictate (8).

Race 4: Don’tfencemein (4), Danger Dan (1), Master Stroke (3), Delta (6).

Race 5: Wylde Style (1), Solinski (6), Aloft (3), Golden Mystery (2).

Race 6: Windigo (3), Newton Power (4), Call Me Earl (6), Madigan (7).

Race 7: Detente (10), Supa Wonder (3), Tail Wind (8), Romantic Balladeer (5).

Mathematician, whose four wins include the Zimbabwe Derby and the Republic Cup.

The main race on Sunday’s Borrowdale Park card is the 1600m MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes – an event which should, in theory, favour the best rated runners as the entire field is set to carry 60 kgs.

This race – which takes place annually to commemorate Zimbabwe’s most famous equine export – is run under Weight-For-Age conditions and apprentice allowances may be claimed.

Staying races at Borrowdale Park are in short supply so when there is a 2400m event on the card it is quite exciting. Soon one is babbling about runners with 2000 m form – ignoring the fact that an extra 400m, especially in yielding going, is not to be taken lightly.

Of the nine horses carded for the 2400m MR 55 Handicap only Star Dance, Rawedge, Ladies First and Valmont have raced beyond 2000m. This is an opportunity for a genuine stayer to shine but, with little to go on, follow your heart or the breeding …or reach for a pin.

Star Dance

During a long career dating back to 2011 Star Dance has won three times over 2000m (twice at Borrowdale) and placed fourth over 2400m, behind Rawedge in soft going in 2014. Hasn’t been too prominent of late but may have been waiting for another chance to show his paces over more ground. By Jam Alley (AUS). Fanie Chambers rides, drawn 2, carrying 60 kgs. B. Stidolph.

Ladies First

Her two wins were over 1600m and 1700m but Ladies First ran sixth to Mathematician in the Zimbabwe Derby and fourth to Duffi’s Call in the 2000m Zimbabwe Oaks in 2016. Has staying credentials being by Silvano (GER), out of an Al Mufti (USA) mare. Randall Simons rides, drawn 1, carrying 59.5 kgs. A. Bronkhorst.

Stirling Road

A winner over 1700m at the last race meeting Stirling Road has only gone beyond 1800m once, finishing well behind Lucky Sam in the SA Bloodstock 2000 when they were three-year-olds. By Judpot (USA), Stirling Road has won four races. Callan Murray rides, drawn 4, carrying 59 kgs. K. Swanson.

Baumgartner

Two time winner over 1700m and 2000m. His 2000m win was on December 3 and that day Sunday’s runners Bullion Bay and Valmont were well held. When Star Dance won over 2000 m in June, Baumgartner, who was giving the winner 1.5 kgs, was more than 13 lengths behind. He receives 1.5 kgs from Star Dance on Sunday. Baumgartner has not raced over 2400m previously. By Black Minnaloushe (USA). Ryan Munger rides, drawn 5, 58.5 kgs. K. Swanson.

Rawedge

I often expect more from Rawedge than he actually delivers, however he has won over 1600m, beating Print The Pounds, and over Sunday’s trip! That was in a 2400m MR 70 Handicap in February 2014 when he finished ahead of River Waltz, Parade Prancer, Star Dance and Supa Challenge. His last outing was disappointing when 9.75 lengths behind Baumgartner over 2000m. He was giving the winner weight so might turn the tables here. By Ravishing out of a Jallad (USA) mare. Sherman Brown rides, drawn 7, carrying 58 kgs. K. Swanson.

Valmont

Valmont is a bit of a mystery. Has had 11 runs at Borrowdale to date, mainly over 1700m and 1800m, and is usually thereabouts. However has run over 2000m and 2400m at Greyville and wasn’t disgraced. On December 3 he was 4.25 lengths off Baumgartner over 2000m, receiving 4.5 kgs. This is cut to 2.5 now but perhaps still in with a chance. Right Approach (GB) out of a Fort Wood (USA) mare! Hennie Greyling rides, drawn 6, carrying 56 kgs. B. Stidolph.

Bullion Bay

I have been saying quite a lot about Baumgartner, maybe for no good reason, but Bullion Bay is one of Sunday’s runners that will be challenging him on better terms. The pair met in the 2000 m event won by Baumgartner and that day Bullion Bay was 2.25 lengths behind, receiving 1 kg. This time he receives 4kgs which should make a difference. The son of Bankable (IRE) has yet to run further than 2000m so this will be interesting. Brendon McNaughton, drawn 6, 54.5 kgs. B. Stidolph.

Dictate

When Apprentice Habib has claimed Dictate will carry 53 kgs and this filly is by Silvano (GER). She quit the maidens over 1950m at Scottsville in June 2016 and has had four starts at Borrowdale. Of these the third outing, where she finished third to Phantom Major over 1450m, was the most impressive. * C. Habib (1.5) rides, drawn 9, carrying 54.5 kgs. B. Stidolph.

Chum

I was not going to take Chum too seriously because he has not featured since his 1800m Maiden win in November…maybe he hates yielding going. Now I am having second thoughts. There is no way I will omit a son of Ideal World (USA) from my Quartet so in he will go, regardless. Kevin Derere rides, drawn 3, carrying 52 kgs. K. Swanson.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod. Bullion Bay (nearest camera) got up to beat Racey J.

Solinski – a bit of a dark horse – Seen here with Keagan de Melo in the irons. Callan Murray rides on Sunday

Weather willing the 1600m Fillies Classic, first leg of the Zimbabwe Triple Tiara, seems a race made in heaven for last season’s champion two-year-old filly, Wylde Style.  By West Man (USA), Wylde Style has won five of her nine starts and always been placed.  Her last start was in the 1100m Hachiman Sprint when third to Super Good when receiving 1 kg, and three lengths off Road To Dubai (second) when receiving 6 kgs.  An achievement for any three-year-old filly,  in that company.

With the exception of Aloft and Solinski, Wylde Style has beaten the rest of this Fillies Classic field and now meets them at level weights,  except for Golden Mystery.

On December 3 – in the 1600m Tote Free Handicap –  Wylde Style gave weight to the field and finished clear of Jameson Run, Haga Haga, Devil In Command and Kevin Barry.  Sunday’s runners Jinx Johnson and Golden Mystery were further back.

Wylde Style is owned and trained by Amy Bronkhorst and Randall Simons rides on Sunday.

Golden Mystery  will have to improve to beat Wylde Style but has her Breeders Fillies Mile victory on the 31 July to her credit, when narrowly beating Jinx Johnson with Lady Carina third.  That day Golden Mystery’s stable mate,  Aloft, was 11.25 lengths back but has improved subsequently.

Aloft’s last outing was in a 1700m Maiden Plate on January 8 when she finished well clear of Flasher On The Run and Danger Dan in yielding going.  This brings her into the reckoning.

Both Golden Mystery and Aloft are by Main Aim (GB) and trained by Gavin MacLeod.  Apprentice C Habib rides Golden Mystery and will claim 1.5 kgs. Kevin Derere  rides  Aloft again.

Jinx Johnson also has to improve to beat her stable mate Wylde Style. More often than not well placed in most of her 12 starts, she  has won once over 800m.  Jinx Johnson ran Golden Mystery to a 0.50 length second in the Breeders Fillies Mile.  Ryan Munger rides.

Lady  Carina – By Miesque’s Approval (USA).   Ran 9.75 lengths behind Coachella over 1200m, in heavy going, at the last meeting.  She won her first start over 1100m in April,  beating Megagram and Golden Mystery.  Hennie Greyling will ride for Penny Fisher.  One day Lady Carina is going to surprise us.

Solinski, by Fencing Master (GB) and  out of a Sobieski (USA) mare, this filly may be the dark horse here.  Trained by Kirk Swanson she won her second start over 1200m on January 8, after being slow away and losing a length.  Solinski is particularly hard to assess because not only is she lightly raced, this will be her first attempt at 1600m.  There is no way to predict whether she can make Wylde Style run for her money,  but it is possible.  Callan Murray will be in the irons.

All of Wylde Style, Jinx Johnson and Solinski were bred in ZImbabwe.

The Fillies Classic is the fifth race on the Borrowdale card and due off at 15.15. If you are wondering about the weather there was heavy rain in the Borrowdale area on Friday evening and 34 mm at the course on Monday.  Funny things have been happening in the Mozambique Channel with talk of cyclones and so forth.  Who knows what the rest of this week will bring.

The Bridget Stidolph-trained Coachella proved his first win was no fluke when he comfortably won the 1200m Graduation Plate at Borrowdale on Sunday. He was chased by stable mate El Gallo (McNaughton) – winning margin 6.75 lengths.

The Alado (GB) gelding is owned by John Koumides and Fanie Chambers had the ride.