Strongly fancied Sygone got up to beat Action Jackson in the closing stages of the Zimbabwe 2000 at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.
By Ato, Sygone 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.
It was an exciting finish and Three To Tango and Rain Spider also finished in the money.
The Stidolph yard saddled four winners during the afternoon and Raymond Danielson and Ryan Munger had two winners each.
Road to Dubai, one of Borrowdale Park’s super troopers, crossed over the rainbow bridge on Friday, and he will be missed. Our thoughts are with his owner John Koumides, and Kirk and Debra Swanson.
The seven-year-old gelding by The Sheik achieved his tenth win on March 24 2019 – a 1260m MR 80 Handicap. He won his first start on November 16, 2014, and his victories included the HRIB Gold Cup in 2015 and 2017, and the Hachiman Sprint in 2016.
The end came after a prolonged battle with colic, and a decision had to be made, putting the horse first. Racing has its glorious moments and it can also break your heart.
The last two legs of the Triple Crown are a true test of stamina and Sunday’s runners in Borrowdale Park’s Zimbabwe 2000 have not yet been tested over these distances. JACKIE COCKSEDGE, formerly of the Zimbabwe Thoroughbred Breeders Association, has taken an in-depth look at Sunday’s field – and the breeding is there.
The Zimbabwe 2000 is the middle leg of the three 3-year-old
Classic races that forms the Triple Crown. In my youth many moons ago, JACKIE
writes, all three legs were sponsored, and I remember well the CABS Golden
Guineas, The Bunny Cairns Stakes and the Rothmans Derby.
It takes a versatile horse to capture all the legs as the
distance varies from 1600 metres to a gruelling 2400 metres. A true test of
speed, ability and stamina that is rarely achieved, which makes winning it very
memorable. The 2019 first leg over 1600 metres was won by Sygone by 3.5 lengths
and the balance of the field were well beaten. I have been asked to look at the
pedigrees of the six Zimbabwe 2000 contestants. I note that only four from the
original Guineas field go forward to this race, and the only filly who ran in
the Guineas and finished 3rd will seeks her fortunes elsewhere
SYGONE is by Ato,
a son of world champion Royal Academy. Ato raced in Singapore where he clocked
up 9 victories up to 1600 metres including 2 Grade 1 events. His performances
indicate speed. Sygone’s dam Sky Pirate by Victory Moon descends from a stamina
orientated female line. She herself won 3 races up to 2200 metres and finished
2nd in The Betting World Oaks (Gr2), and her half-sister Star Safari
(by Jallad) also was effective up to 2000 metres with a 2nd in the
Grade 2 SA Oaks. On this basis Sygone should have no problem seeing out the
extra 400 metres provided he inherits a fair dose of his mother’s genes.
ACTION JACKSON is from
the first crop of Jackson (by Dynasty). Jackson cost a million Rand as a yearling
and trained by Brett Crawford he started his racing career at three years,
clocking up 6 wins including the Cape Investec Derby (Gr1), and stamping
himself as one of the top horses of his generation. Action Jackson’s dam Action
Replay won a single race over 1000 metres but she is a daughter of Jet Master
and she comes from an imported French female line that boasts the immortal
Allez France as the 5th dam. I generally find French breeding leans
towards stamina as that is the foundation of their racing. Although Action
Jackson was beaten by 3.5 lengths in the Guineas, he only really got going 200
metres from home and was flying. I am confident he will see out the trip and
rate him a serious contender.
THREE TO TANGO is by Grey’s Inn (sire famous for Legal Eagle) out of the Joshua Dancer mare Danseuse. Grey’s Inn won up to 2400 metres in South Africa and was rated Champion 3-year-old Male. He hails from the tail male of Sir Tristram so absolutely no stamina limitations. Danseuse won 5 races and placed 8 times from 19 starts. She won from 1200 to 1600 metres and raced until she was a 5-year-old, which is good solid performance. As Three To Tango is her first foal, it is hard at this stage to see what type of runner she will produce. It is a bit of a mixed pedigree with the majority of performers only getting up to 1600 metres until you get to the 3rd dam who produced the mighty Gatecrasher, who needs no introduction. On breeding Three To Tango should see out the 2000 metres and more.
RAIN SPIDER by Byword
out of Money Spider. Byword won up to 2000 metres and was rated Top
Weighted Older Horse in France 2010. A grandson of Nureyev out of the French
Broodmare of The Year, he ticks all the boxes. Money Spider is a beautifully
bred daughter of Fort Wood. She won at 3 years over 1800 metres and is an own
sister to Forest Path and Reef Road. This is the immediate family of Dawson’s
Trail and Spanish Galliard, both outstanding stayers. There are no stamina
limitations in this pedigree. As Rain Spider did not take his place in the
Guineas, it is hard to get a form line. On previous runs over 1600 metres he is
held by Action Jackson and Three To Tango, but maybe he will relish the extra
400 metres.
RED POLLARD by Gitano
Hernando out of Rosy Blush. Gitano Hernando won 7 races from 1700 to 2100
metres including the Group 1 Goodwood Stakes and the Grade 1 Singapore International
Cup. A real global traveller, he raced in six countries and on three
continents. His sire Hernando was Champion 3-year-old in France and is a highly
rated sire. Racegoers to Borrowdale may
remember Rosy Blush. Trained by Lisa Harris and owned by Robin Bruss, she won 3
races and was a very speedy daughter of Jallad. Her class against the same sex
got her the 1800 metres Silver Slipper and she ran 2nd to Captain’s
Tiger by three-quarters of a head in the Guineas. Her previous foal Buster Posy only managed a
win over 1000 metres, but Red Pollard seems more effective over 1600 metres. Hard
to say whether he will enjoy the extra 400 metres.
CROWN BREWED by Ideal World out of Innactualfact by National Emblem. Ideal World won 4 races in France from 2000- 2600 metres. He is a son of Kingmambo, and has already in his stud career sired a number of top class campaigners such as Smart Call and Rainbow Bridge to mention a few. Innactualfact only raced 4 times, but her dam won 4 and was 2nd in the Caradoc Gold Cup (Gr2), so plenty of stamina there. The female line has depth and there are some solid performers in it with no stamina limitations. Again Crown Brewed is one of the entries that did not contest the Guineas, so it is hard to assess how he would fare against the opposition. His only victory has been over 1200 metres but he has recently been knocking on the door over 1600 to 1800 metres.
Sygone looked every
inch a champion when winning the Zimbabwe Guineas at Borrowdale Park on March
10. He ran as he pleased and a repeat
performance in the Zimbabwe 2000 on Sunday might be on the cards.
However – one must not ignore the extra 400m as none of Sunday’s runners have tried this
trip.
The 1600m Zimbabwe Guineas is the first leg of our Triple Crown, then comes Sunday’s feature over 2000m, followed by the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby on April 28. Traditionally this is the ultimate test of speed and stamina for three-year-olds – qualities which appeared to be lacking in the 2019 Guineas field. There is plenty of room for redemption and I hope we will see a more competitive race come Sunday.
Of course, I am aware that we are short of horses, and owners and trainers must be commended for providing a field. Notwithstanding, I defend my right to defend the honour of the Triple Crown.
Fortunately, Jackie Cocksedge has agreed to provide in-depth and probably more rational details about the breeding of the runners in Sunday’s Zimbabwe 2000m. In both the Zimbabwe 2000 and the Zimbabwe Derby stamina genes will count. Jackie’s summary will be published tomorrow, and it will be worth waiting for.
ZIMBABWE 2000 (Grade 3) 2000m 2nd Leg Triple Crown
No Apprentice Allowance
SYGONE (3g) by Ato – Sky Pirate by Victory Moon 58kgs (MR78) Drawn 4 C Storey riding for Bridget Stidolph
Sygone won the 1600m Zimbabwe Guineas on March 10 beating
Action Jackson (3.50 back), Mia Finola (5.00), Three To Tango (6.25), Red
Pollard (11.25), and then came Born To Shine and Opaque. In December Sygone (conceding 5kgs) finished
third, three lengths behind Three To Tango in the 1600m Tote Free Handicap.
Judging by his performance in the Guineas this son of Ato looks hard to beat at
level weights – providing he enjoys a longer journey.
ACTION JACKSON (3g) by Jackson – Action Replay by Jet Master 58kgs (MR71) Drawn 6. R Munger riding for Penny Fisher.
Has won twice from five starts. Came second to Sygone in the
Guineas, second to Opaque in the Guineas Trial and second to Three To Tango in
the Tote Free. Like the rest of the field Action Jackson has yet to show his
paces over 2000m. He won a 1600m Novice
Plate in February, beating Prairie Sky and Rose Diamond (both receiving 3 kgs).
Rain Spider, running at level weights with Action Jackson then, finished two
lengths off the winner.
THREE TO TANGO (3c) by Grey’s Inn (USA)– Danseuse by Joshua Dancer (USA) 58kgs (MR71) Drawn 2. R Danielson riding for Kirk Swanson.
Having always respected Three To Tango it irks me to admit
he fluffed it in the Guineas and I hope he will do better here. The son of Grey’s Inn has won two races, over
1200m and 1600m, from five starts, and it will be interesting to see if he can
pull something out of the hat this time.
RAIN SPIDER (3g) by Byword (GB)- Money Spider by Fort Wood (USA) 58kgs (MR55) Drawn 1. B McNaughton riding for Bridget Stidolph.
To date Rain Spider has not lived up to expectations since
winning the 1200m Champion Juvenile Stakes in June 2018. He has been placed
over 1600m but did not run in the Guineas so can’t be castigated for that. Rain
Spider is hard to read but over 2000m and with Fort Wood prominent on his dam’s
side he could surprise us.
RED POLLARD (3c) by Gitano Hernando (GB) – Rosy Blush by Jallad (USA) 58kgs (MR48) Drawn 5. C Habib riding for Bridget Stidolph.
Red Pollard did not enhance his reputation in the Zimbabwe
Guineas when beaten 11.25 lengths by Sygone, however last time out over the
same distance he finished 2.80 lengths off the tied winners Peapack and Supa
Memories. Previously he has narrowly beaten Peapack over 1600m at level
weights. Perhaps an extra 400m is what he has been waiting for.
CROWN BREWED (3g) by Ideal World (USA) – Innactual Fact by National Emblem 58kgs (MR41) Drawn 3. Wes Marwing riding for Bridget Stidolph.
Mauritzfontein’s stallion Ideal World is making headlines right now so Crown Brewed can’t be dismissed. He has won once over 1200m from 8 starts but recently finished close behind Supa Memories over the mile. On March 10 in a 1800m MR 48 Handicap he was 2.05 lengths behind the winner Rose Diamond – also beaten on that occasion by Sunrise Ruby, Supa Memories and Baumgartner. Crown Brewed should be distance suited.
Rain Spider
Red Pollard
Crown Brewed
The first race at Borrowdale Park on Sunday April 7, is due off at 12.40 pm, and the Zimbabwe 2000 at 15.35.
It’s approaching that time of the year again when Borrowdale Park gears up for the big three.
The MTC Board of Stewards have announced that this year’s Castle Tankard Day will take place on May 11, and the Tankard itself will be run for a stake of RTGS 100 000.
Continued support from sponsors of Borrowdale Park’s main events is appreciated – these are the races we all want to win.
Thanks to Gavin Macleod for capturing two cliff-hanging moments at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon.
PENNY FROM HEAVEN and YARRAMAN made punters very anxious in the closing stages of the first leg of the Pick 6, the 1700m Allowance Plate. Penny From Heaven (nearest camera) got the verdict by 0.05 lengths on the line. Butchie Boy and Bush Pilot also finished in the money.
PEAPACK and SUPA MEMORIES (nearest camera) fought out the finish of the 1600m MR 48 Handicap and it ended in a dead heat. Wee Doch’n Dorris (0.50 lengths behind) came third, and Shakespeare In Love was only a length off the winners.
I am hoping for more close finish pics – there were others.
Well done Amsterdam – winner of the 2019 Breeders Champions Cup (L)
It was a day of great racing at Borrowdale Park on Sunday with several cliff-hanger finishes (including a dead-heat) and impressive wins. Thank God the buzz was back – in my opinion, at least, it has been missing for a while.
Congratulations to all the winning owners, jockeys and trainers
ODEN 3 b g by Oratorio (IRE) ridden by Ryan Munger, trained by Penny Fisher. Owned by Mr G Goksel and bred by Mr A C Dickerson. Winner of the 1200m Comanche Brave Novice Plate.
PENNY FROM HEAVEN 4 b f by Silvano (GER) ridden by Wesley Marwing, trained by Kirk Swanson. Owned by Messrs D K Ward, G Carter, S P Gorringe and V Patel and Mrs P J Lewis, Mr PD and Mrs U A Gorringe, and bred by Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd. Winner of the 1700m Rock The Country Allowance Plate.
SUNRISE RUBY 4 b f by King of Kings (IRE) ridden by Ryan Munger, trained by Penny Fisher. Owned by Messrs D W Rosser and G Goksel and bred by Bosworth Farm Stud. Winner of the 1700m Macchiato MR 55 Handicap.
YAQUEEN 4 b g ridden by Wesley Marwing, trained by Kirk Swanson. Owned by Messrs D K Ward, G Carter, S P Gorringe and V Patel and Mrs P J Lewis, Mr PD and Mrs U A Gorringe, and bred by Al Adiyaat (Sheik Mohammed Ben Khalifa Al Maktoum). Winner of the 1600m Captain’s Tiger Maiden Plate.
PEAPACK 3 ch g by Byword (GB) ridden by Hennie Greyling and trained by Penny Fisher. Owned by Messrs D W Rosser and G Goksel and bred by Wilgersbosdrift and Mauritzfontein. Joint winner with SUPA MEMORIES (Danielson and Swanson) of the 1600m Eurakilon MR 48 Handicap.
AMSTERDAM 7 b g by Windrush (USA) ridden by Raymond Danielson, trained by Kirk Swanson. Owned by Mr R Kieswetter and bred by Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd. Winner of the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup (L).
ROAD TO DUBAI 7 b g by The Sheik ridden by Raymond Danielson, trained by Kirk Swanson. Owned by Mr J Koumides and bred by Scott Bros. Winner of the 1200m Chill Out MR 80 Handicap – HIS 10TH WIN!
Amsterdam with Raymond Danielson up won the 2000m Breeders Champion Cup (L) at Borrowdale Park this afternoon. Knuckleball was a gallant second, followed by Simona and Pampas. By Windrush (USA) and trained by Kirk Swanson, Amsterdam is owned by Mr R Kieswetter and was bred by Highlands Farm Stud. Congratulations.
Fortunately I have never had illusions about being a tipster – how could any semi-sane person believe they can accurately predict the outcome of a race? Sometimes one might strike it lucky – more by luck than good judgement – and this makes life interesting.
Unfortunately I have spent more time than usual studying Sunday’s Borrowdale Park card, so am now totally confused but continue to live in hopes of winning a decent Quartet.
The main race on Sunday is the 2000m Breeders Champion Cup (L) which has attracted a smallish but star-studded field. It includes a Castle Tankard winner, the winner of the 2018 Zimbabwe 2000 and the Zimbabwe Derby, as well as the Republic Cup winner, the recent Ipi Tombe Stakes winner, and Simona, who won the OK Grand Challenge and who keeps on winning most of the time.
I didn’t expect Simona to triumph in the recent Ipi Tombe Stakes but wouldn’t be surprised to see her back in the Number One box here. All of Knuckleball, Heir Line, Peggson and Amsterdam could upset this applecart – and give some thought to Pampas who has won four on the trot since moving to Harare.
This six-year-old Silvano (GER) gelding should be distance suited on Sunday and although stepping up in class might give some cheek.
Once one starts delving into weights, distances and previous form (we do have some in and out runners) most of Sunday’s racing appears tricky.
Perhaps the most difficult race on the card is the fifth – a 1600m MR 50 Handicap – where I am thinking about Wee Doch ‘n Dorris, Rebellious Queen, Crown Brewed and Supa Memories for a Quartet. But how can one leave out Baumgartner, and so on and so forth. Am I completely mad? There are 9 runners in this race.
It is a fairly late start for Borrowdale on Sunday with the first race due off at 12 45 pm. The Breeders Champion Cup takes place at 15 40.
BUTCHIE BOY MAIDEN PLATE 1000m Clash City Rocker 3 b g by Seventh Rock (AUS) (H Greyling) 60 kgs 17/10 TRAINED BY: Penny Fisher. OWNED BY: Messrs G Goksel & D W Rosser.
PACIFICA MERIT RATED 68 HANDICAP 1450m Kilowatt Kid 4 b g by Kildonan (C Habib) 59.5 kgs 5/1 TRAINED BY: Bridget Stidolph. OWNED BY: Messrs S W Shutt, K Hatendi, Duncan Jones, H D Parbhoo, D C Samuels, C M Rambo, S N Buchan & N Evans.
FLASHER ON THE RUN MERIT RATED 48 HANDICAP 1800m Rose Diamond 4 ch f by Fencing Master (GB) (C Habib) 54.5 kgs+0.5 9/1 TRAINED BY: Penny Fisher. OWNED BY: Mr K P Fallon.
MINA SALAAM MERIT RATED 60 HANDICAP 1600m Lute Society 5 ch g by New Approach (IRE) (C Habib) 54 kgs 61/20 TRAINED BY: Bridget Stidolph. OWNED BY: Miss B H Stidolph.
PRINT THE POUNDS PROGRESS PLATE 1600m In The Mood 4 b f by Bold Silvano (R Danielson) 57 kgs 27/4 TRAINED BY: Kirk Swanson. OWNED BY: Mr J Koumides.
ZIMBABWE GUINEAS (GR 3) 1600m Sygone 3 b g by Ato (C Storey) 58 kgs 113/20 TRAINED BY: Ms B Stidolph. OWNED BY: Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr D E Evans).
MADIGAN MERIT RATED 50 HANDICAP 1260m Lunar Dancer 4 ch f by Philanthropist (USA) (H Greyling) 60 kgs 57/20 TRAINED BY: Penny Fisher. OWNED BY: Mr G Goksel.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 