Dave Rosser accepted the Ipi Tombe Stakes trophy on behalf of the owners, who couldn’t be there. The winner, Principled Man, is owned by Messrs G. Goksel and T. J. Shawe and Mrs J.L. Paterson.

Louise Moor did the honours. Her husband, Peter Moor, bred Ipi Tombe at Golden Acres Stud in Zimbabwe.

Congratulations Gokhan Terzi for saddling the first two horses past the post in the MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

Principled Man, with Andrew Fortune in the irons, finished 0.75 lengths clear of stable mate Eurakilon (Pagel), followed by Lucky Sam (Zechner) and Gentle Brook (Sibanda).

The Windrush (USA) gelding is owned by Messrs G.Goksel and T.J. Shawe, and Mrs J.L. Paterson.Terzi and Deon Mango appear with Principled Man (above). This was the five-year-old’s fifth win.

Lucky Sam won the 1600m Independence Trophy on April 5. He is followed by Killa Man.

We seldom have weight-for-age feature races at Borrowdale Park, but the $10 000 MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes, to be run over 1600m on Sunday, is one of them.

Eleven horses have stood their ground and this includes Super Trouper who won this race last year, and Madigan, the 2014 winner.

No three-year-olds were entered so Tallie Two, Equina and Gentle Brook will all carry 57,5 kgs, while the remainder of the field, all geldings, are allotted 60 kgs.

If you like to keep things simple, choose the horses with the highest Merit Ratings, namely Lucky Sam, Equina, Super Trouper, Atso’s Scheme and Eurakilon, and you should win the quartet – if the handicapping is on the ball.  However, this is racing, always a mind game, so let’s see what some of the trainers think.

Penny Fisher saddled three winners at the last race meeting and she says her charge, Tallie Two, is very well and “in with a big chance.  There are several horses that could win this race, such as Principled Man and Atso’s Scheme, and one can never leave out Equina.”

Tallie Two, a four-year-old daughter of Soar With Eagles (USA), has won 5 races and is drawn 2.  Her regular jockey Ryan Munger rides.

Kirk Swanson will be represented by Madigan and Road To Dubai.   He says although the weight conditions of the race don’t suit these horses, “We decided to give Road to Dubai a go at the 1600m. There are very few sprint races available for him so we want to see how he goes back round the turn. He did run second over further than 1600m as a three-year old, so he definitely can see out the trip. He has a good draw so I am hoping he can give them some cheek.”

Road to Dubai has covered himself with glory in sprints recently and has now won 7 races.  Francois Herholdt rides the four-year-old gelding again and he has drawn 3.

Of Madigan Kirk says “he loves the mile and normally runs well in the softer conditions, so he could be an outsider to consider, having won the race before. At the weights Lucky Sam and Equina are well in and would probably be the two horses to beat, but I think it will be an interesting race.”

Madigan, a Zimbabwe Triple Crown winner, has won 10 races and will be ridden by Norbert Takawira who knows the seven-year-old well. They jump from the number 7 starting stall.

Gokhan Terzi reports that his main race runners are doing very well.  “Eurakilon has a big chance but will find this 1600m a little on the short side, which is why I have decided to put blinkers on him. He should be in the top four.”

He says Super Trouper “can beat this field if he feels like it. He put up a very good grass gallop on Monday, so I’m expecting him to be competitive. “

“Principled Man is Andrew Fortune’s elect. He will be a big runner despite being out at the weights. He is distance suited and Andrew knows him well.  All three of my runners will be involved in the finish. I just hope one of them can put his head down when it matters

As for the possible dangers Gokhan says “Atso’s Scheme is now in good form.  Road To Dubai and Lucky Sam should also be thereabouts.”

Lance Pagel rides Eurakilon (a six-year-old) who showed his paces when finishing a very close second to Print The Pounds over 1800m on January 16.  This pair will be hoping for better luck this time and are drawn 4. The son of Classic Flag has won 5 races.

Super Trouper could be the one they all have to beat – and they won’t be sure he’s beaten until the very last stride because this eight-year-old, by West Man (USA),has a flying finish. Brendon McNaughton, who teams up well with this 12-time winner, will be in the irons and Super Trouper has drawn 11.

Principled Man by Windrush (USA) is a winner over the Ipi Tombe distance and it is significant that Fortune takes the ride. Drawn 9, the five-year-old has won four races, and will have supporters on Sunday.

Unfortunately I was unable to get comments from the Stidolph and Bronkhorst yards both of whom are fielding fancied runners. Bridget Stidolph will saddle Lucky Sam, Atso’s Scheme and Mica Point, while Amy Bronkhorst is responsible for Equina and Gentle Brook.

Zimbabwe’s top race mare Equina, needs no introduction.  Her 12 wins include the Castle Tankard and OK Grand Challenge, and she is always a force to be reckoned with. Now a six-year-old, the daughter of Silvano (GER) will be ridden by Apprentice Callan Murray and is drawn 5.

Gentle Brook, by Windrush (USA) is an 8-time winner at five years, unplaced lately but usually not far back. Nikki Sibanda rides on Sunday and Gentle Brook is drawn 8.

Lucky Sam runs off a merit rating of 97 and all eyes will be on this five-year-old gelding, by Imperial Stride(GB) out of a Jallad mare. He has won six races, including the 1900m Republic Cup and at his best can be formidable. Karl Zechner will be riding Lucky Sam who is drawn 1.

The four-year-old Atso’s Scheme ran second to Picalilly over 1300m at the last meeting and has won over the mile. This four-time winner is drawn 10 and will be ridden by Fanie Chambers.

This will be the second run after a break for Mica Point, a four-year-old son of West Man (USA) and winner of two races. Kevin Derere has the ride and Mica Point has drawn 6.

We are looking at a top-class field with many claims to fame, but don’t ask me to name the winner.

Photograph: Gavin Macleod.  Lucky Sam won the 1600m Independence Trophy in April 2015, followed by Killa Man.

Ipi Tombe going down to the start of the Vodacom Durban July Handicap

…and a chance to relive that dream

MOTA’s $10 000 Ipi Tombe Stakes will be run over 1600m at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, February 14. Fourteen horses have been nominated, including last year’s winner, Super Trouper, and if he stands his ground this people pleaser is quite capable  of doing it again.

The Fisher yard saddled three winners at Borrowdale Park on Sunday – which was Penny Fisher’s comeback meeting as a trainer in her own rignt.  Apprentice Callan Murray rode Setswana and Ryan Munger the others. 

Rank outsider Setswana won the 1900m Maiden Plate, and Arrowfield scored in the 1700m MR 55 Handicap – both these horses are owned by Julie Zieve and John Koumides.

The cherry on the top came when Picalilly (below) held off Atso’s Scheme, Approval Rating and Road To Dubai in the 1300m Open Handicap, last race of the day. The four-year-old Gharir (IRE) filly is owned and was bred by Sarah Lumsden, and has now won five races.

Picalilly won 1300m Open Handicap with Ryan Munger in the irons.

Duffi’s Call overtakes hot favourite Pacifica close to the finish. Hunyani and Second Guessing followed. Photograph Gavin MacLeod

Duffi’s Call, a daughter of AP Answer , won the Fillies Classic at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon.

Trained by Bridget Stidolph, Duffi’s Call is a full-sister to Print The Pounds, also in the Stidolph yard. Print The Pounds won the 2015 Fillies Classic and has gone on to do greater things.

Expect some excellent racing at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, the definition being a fistful of fields packed with likely horses.

The 1600m Fillies Classic, first leg of the Triple Tiara, and the main event on the card, has developed into a duel between the Terzi and Stidolph yards. They will saddle the 8 runners between them and the race is due off at 15 40.

Gokhan Terzi has a strong hand with Pacifica, Sky, Ladies First and Betula Uber, with Fashion World the pace setter, perhaps.

Bridget Stidolph sends out Duffi’s Call, Second Guessing and Hunyani – all interesting entries.

Hunyani, seen here with Ryan Munger up.

With Andrew Fortune in the irons the Lecture (USA) filly, Pacifica, is probably the Terzi yard’s elect. She finished a heartbeat behind Road To Dubai in the 1100m Hachiman Sprint, her only start in Harare. This three-year-old filly won three races in Gauteng ranging from 1200m to 1450m and she will jump from the number 8 stall on Sunday.

Betula Uber, by Ideal World (USA), hasn’t shown much since winning the Breeders Fillies Mile in 2015, when Second Guessing ran second. Last time out in the 1600m Guineas Trial she finished 4.20 lengths off the winner, Cool Solution, and was the only filly in the race. Drawn 4, Francois Herholdt rides Betula Uber for Terzi, and I don’t think we should give up on her just yet. Continue reading →

The AP Answer (USA) filly, Print The Pounds (yellow silks), and Eurakilon – a stride past the post in the 1800m MR 88 Handicap run at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

The National Horseracing Authority of South Africa, after an investigation, has established that the race was won by Print The Pounds and not Eurakilon.

We must try harder…

Two of the Quartets at Borrowdale on Sunday paid in excess of $20 000. In the 1700m MR 65 Handicap Lost Island (*Sawere) headed Jean’s Dancer (Danielson) while Arrowfield and Seven Kingdoms ran third and fourth.

The Gavin MacLeod trained Lost Island started at 25/1, Jean’s Dancer was 33/10, Arrowfield 10/1 and Seven Kingdoms 20/1. If only we had given this more thought.

Lost Island (nearest camera) and Jean’s Dancer

Al Cobalena of course

It was no surprise when the Alyson Wright trained Al Cobalena won the 1600m MR 49 Handicap – the shocks and big Quartet payout were brought about by those who finished behind her.

The Fort Beluga filly was 1.25 lengths clear of Hunyani (66/1), who was followed by Agnetha (8/1) and Lake Nakuru 16/1.

Al Cobalena is owned by Liana van Blerk, Nadia Barnwell and John Koumides. She was bred by Liana and Nadia and Ryan Munger was in the irons.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Al Cobalena with the winning connections

Racing at Borrowdale Park on Sunday will be remembered for the number of tight finishes. Stablemates Goose Green and Touching Base dead-heated in the 1300m MR 60 Handicap, only 0.25 lengths separated the winner Lost Island from Jean’s Dancer in the 1700m MR 65 Handicap, punters are still arguing about who actually won the 1800m MR 88 Handicap, and Copper Sky finished 0.05 lengths ahead of Domboshava in the last race, a 1200m Maiden Plate.

The four-year-old Royal Air Force colt, having his second race and starting at 5/10 was ridden by Lance Pagel and is trained by Gokhan Terzi. He is owned by Patricia Wakefield and Mike Eaton and Patricia was on course with David Wakefield to lead Copper Sky in. Dr I.R. Heyns is the winning breeder.

Copper Sky was ridden by Lance Pagel, and trained by Gokhan Terzi. Patricia and David Wakefield with the groom, Cuthbert Mangoma, were on hand to lead the colt in.

Cool Solution with some of his winning connections

The 1600m Guineas Trial run at Borrowdale Park on Sunday was won by the Mullins Bay (GB) colt, Cool Solution, who came through to beat Detente by 0.75 lengths. Slick and Tandava finished third and fourth.

Trained by Kirk Swanson and ridden by Francois Herholdt, Cool Solution is owned by Dr Ronald Mhizha and Messrs S.P. Gorringe,Z.R.Lusengo, Sterling M. Miller,D.K.Ward and M.L.Wood and Mr G. Carter and Mrs P.J.Lewis, and Mesdames U.C.Malan and A.G. Mason. He was bred by Summerhill Stud.