Simona seems set to be all the rage in the 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

Although this is a small field it doesn’t lack interest. I wonder what the opening betting will be?

CHAMPION FILLIES STAKES due off at 15.15 pm

SIMONA – 5 -year-old mare by Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Drawn 3 – 60 kgs – MR 90 – Caleb Habib – Bridget Stidolph.

Simona won this race last year, beating Belle Epoque by 1.25 lengths. There were 8 runners in 2017 but of these only Simona is lining up for a repeat performance. She ran off a Merit Rating of 63, last year and carried 54 kgs. Since then a flood has passed under the bridge. Simona has now won 8 races and been placed 9 times from 23 starts. She is the reigning Spey Bridge Champion Older Horse and Horse Of The Year for the 2017/18 season. On Sunday Simona gives away oodles of weight to the other three runners but remains the horse they need to beat.

SOLINSKI – 5-year-old-mare by Fencing Master (GB) – Drawn 4 – 52kgs – MR 70 – Jarryd Penny – Kirk Swanson.

Solinski won five of her seven previous starts, including the 1800m Silver Slipper, the Bloodstock SA 2000, the Zimbabwe Derby and the Zimbabwe Oaks, but has not raced since June 2017. She is coming back from an injury which resulted in this gallant girl missing out on the whole of her four-year-old career and she has not met Simona before. It is a tall ask to expect Solinski to score in this one but…you never know.

IN THE MOOD – 4-year-old filly by Bold Silvano – Drawn 2 -50 kgs – MR 62 – Stalone Sawere – Kirk Swanson.

In The Mood recently won the 1260m Sable Flyers and is an improving sort. Dead-heated with Magical Charm in a 1600m Novice Plate, and finished third to Raven Girl in the 2000m Zimbabwe Oaks. Altogether has won three and placed six times from 9 starts. She has raced against Simona before – on the 29th July over 1600m, finishing four lengths back when in receipt of 4 kgs. Much better off in the weights this time.

MIA FINOLA – 3-year-old-filly by Var (USA) – Drawn 1 – 50 kgs – MR 81 – Brendon McNaughton – Bridget Stidolph.

Mia Finola has hardly put a foot wrong, to date, winning four and being placed four times from 8 starts. Has recently completed a hat-trick but this a different ball game. We will have to wait and see how she fares in this company.

Photograph: Champion Fillies Stakes 2017 won by Simona with Jarryd Penny in the irons.

The Zimbabwe-bred star, Solinski, last raced at Borrowdale Park on June 25, 2017, as a three-year-old, racing for the first time in open company in a 2200m Borrowdale Handicap.

The Fencing Master (GB) filly had won five of her seven previous starts, including the 1800m Silver Slipper, the Bloodstock SA 2000, the Zimbabwe Derby and the Zimbabwe Oaks.

Now a five-year-old mare, Solinski has been nominated to run in the 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes on Sunday, November 18. Final acceptances for this event are due tomorrow (Monday) – she may or may not be among the acceptors, but it really doesn’t matter. The fact that Solinski has been nominated is newsworthy, and proof that she has completed her long walk back to recovery from a serious injury.

Full marks to her patient owners, and Swanson Racing, for being with her every step of the way.

Solinsky didn’t win the last time she raced in 2017 but, carrying top weight, ran third, 1.75 lengths behind Baumgartner who was receiving 10.5 kgs. Rawedge, second, was 3.5 kgs better off with Solinski, and Ladies First, Betula Uber, Stirling Road and Viking Castle made up this field.

It was a magnificent effort and I sincerely hope Solinski will be back to her best sooner rather than later. We must remember, however, that miracles sometimes take a bit longer.

If Solinski does come out next Sunday, the most important thing is for her to enjoy the race.

Photograph by Andrew Philip Equine Photography

With the few drops of paint the Friends of Borrowdale Park have left in the paint tins, they are touching up and brightening the saddling area.

Onwards and upwards…

Visiting apprentice jockey Serino Moodley won the 1800m MR 49 Handicap on Sunrise Ruby at Borrowdale on Saturday, along with several places during the afternoon.

Sunrise Ruby, trained by Penny Fisher, also won her previous start. A daughter of King Of Kings (IRE), bred by Bosworth Farm Stud, Sunrise Ruby is owned by Dave Rosser and Gengiz Goksel.

The Fisher yard also saddled two other winners on Saturday – Hyper Jet and Innovation. Both with Hennie Greyling in the irons.

Congratulations everyone

The Stidolph stable sent out four winners at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, including Sygone, easy winner of the ZPCS Goodwill Trust Charity Jacaranda Free Handicap.

This feature event is run over 1200m and there was never much doubt that Sygone, owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Mr D.E. Evans) would take the honours. The son of Ato won by two lengths, Three to Tango was second and then came Madonna’s Flame and Opaque.

Bred by Maine Chance Farms and with Wesley Marwing in the irons on this occasion, Sygone has now won two races.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Saturday’s race meeting at Borrowdale Park get’s off to an early start at 11.35 am. The feature event, the ZPCS Goodwill Trust Charity Jacaranda Free Handicap for all three-year-olds, is due off at 15.10 pm.

The Jacaranda Free Handicap and the 1600m Tote Free Handicap are part of the lead up to the three-year-old Classics in 2019. Six runners will face the starter on Saturday – four of whom have been meeting and beating each other as two-year-olds.

It’s hard to say whose turn it will be on Saturday but maybe the 1200m Champion Juvenile Stakes, won by Rain Spider on June 17, is as good a pointer as any.

That race is run at set weights – colts and geldings carrying 58 kgs and fillies 55.5 kgs. Pas de Deux, who was receiving 2.5 kgs from the winner finished a quarter of a length behind him. She meets Rain Spider on similar terms this time.

Mia Finola (not racing on Saturday) was 0.50 lengths back, while Sygone (now 0.5 kgs worse off with Rain Spider) was one and a half lengths off the pace. Opaque trailed in 4.50 lengths back and now receives 8 kgs from Sygone, and 7.5 kgs from Rain Spider.

Both Three To Tango and Madonna’s Flame are lightly raced – both having had two starts for 1 win and 1 place each, in open company. It will be interesting to see how they measure up against their peers.

JACARANDA FREE RUNNERS

SYGONE (draw 2) 60 kgs (MR71) – Wesley Marwing… Bridget Stidolph
6 starts for1 win 3 places – (g) by Ato.

RAIN SPIDER (draw 5) 59.5 kgs (MR70) – Brendon McNaughton… Bridget Stidolph
4 starts for 1 win 2 places – (g) by Byword (GB) out of Fort Wood (USA) mare.

PAS DE DEUX (ZIM) (draw 1) 57 kgs (MR65) – Hennie Greyling… Penny Fisher
8 starts for 2 wins 3 places – (f) by Fencing Master (GB).

THREE TO TANGO (draw 6) 56 kgs (MR63) – Deon Sampson… Kirk Swanson

2 starts for 1 win 1 place – (c) by Grey’s Inn (USA) out of a Joshua Dancer (USA) mare.
Won 1200m Maiden Plate on September 23. This is the first time she meets up with her age group.

MADONNA’S FLAME (draw 3) 53kgs (MR57) – Collen Storey… Bridget Stidolph
2 starts for 1win 1 place – (f) by Irish Flame.
Won 1200m Maiden Plate on October 6 and came fourth in the Fillies Mile at the last meeting.

OPAQUE (draw 4) 52kgs (MR55) – *S Moodley… Bridget Stidolph

7 starts for 1 win – (c) by Ato.

PHOTOGRAPH: Flashback to 2017 when Butchie Boy, with Brendon McNaughton in the irons, won the Jacaranda Free Handicap.  He went on to win the 2018 Zimbabwe Guineas.

Congratulations Craig Danckwerts, Debra Swanson, Gary Carter, Paula Lewis and Paul and Ursula Gorringe on Perfect Grace’s perfect performance on Sunday when the seven-year-old gelding won the 1800m MR 75 Handicap at Borrowdale Park.

It is always pleasing when an older horse proves to still have what it takes in a competitive field.  By Antonius Pius (USA) and bred by Highlands Farms Stud, Perfect Grace (4/1) held off Where You (AUS), the same age as the winner, by a quarter of a length, with Lava Flow (also a seven-year-old) and Designer Pot in the other placings. Francois Herhold was riding for Kirk Swanson.

Seems like some ‘youngsters’ should look to their laurels.

This was a Quartet I would not have won, being quite confident that Haga Haga and Philanthropy would finish somewhere in the money. It paid $3963.40.

Well done if you won this and as for the rest of us – better luck next time.

Gengiz Goksel and Dave Rosser are loyal supporters of racing in Zimbabwe and two of their horses, Cotton Rock and Sunrise Ruby, graced the Winners Enclosure at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

Jarryd Penny was riding for Penny Fisher, so congratulations all around.

Cotton Rock (above) was first off the mark in a 1000m MR 50 Handicap where she was two lengths in front of Switchblade. Then came Penny’s other charge, Adrenalina, and Supa Memories. Cotton Rock (11/10) is a five-year-old mare by Rock of Rochelle (USA) out of an Al Mufti (USA) mare, and seems a consistent sort, winning twice and being placed in her four runs in Harare. She was bred by Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud and has been lightly raced having only raced 12 times to date.

Sunrise Ruby (nearest the camera), by King of Kings (IRE), has been knocking on the door for a while and came right in a 1600m Maiden Plate, finishing 1.50 lengths ahead of stablemate Innovation. She is a four-year-old filly bred by Bosworth Farm Stud and has now won once and been placed 6 times in 14 starts.

Wolves Among Sheep was another impressive winner from the Stidolph stable on Sunday, and this time Calvin Habib was aboard.

The son of Philanthropist (USA) finished four lengths clear of Borrowdale first-timer Double Tap, in the 1800m Novice Handicap. Then came Bomber Pilot and Kye Kelly.

Wolves Among Sheep is owned by Gary Carter, Paula Lewis, Scott Buchan, Neil Evans, Merlyn Chant, Ash Dixon, Richard Morgan and Ryan Sherwood, and has now won two of his four outings in Harare. Bred by Drakenstein Stud. He was giving weight to the rest of the field so add this four-year-old gelding to the notebook. There’s sure to be more to come.

The somewhat unfancied Christofle (above), having his third start at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, and back over a shorter trip, won the 1200m MR 65 Handicap, beating Cool Solution by half a length.

By Tiger Ridge (USA) the four-year-old is trained by Bridget Stidolph and was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein. Collen Storey was in the irons and the gelding is owned by Messrs S.H. Murray, C. Davenport, K. Hatendi, Duncan Jones, G.M. Littleford, G. Martell, H.D. Parbhoo, C.M. Rambo, P.C. Rugg, D.C. Samuels and S.W Shutt.

These owners triumphed again when Coastal Torrent (below) having his first start in Harare, turned the 1260m Maiden Plate into a procession, beating stable companion Akon Cagua by five lengths. The son of Great Britain (GB) is trained by Bridget Stidolph, was bred by Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd, and Collen Storey had the ride.

Congratulations everyone.

Bridget Stidolph, leading Zimbabwe trainer for the 2017-18 racing season, hit most of the high notes on Sunday afternoon, saddling four of the winners on the seven-race Borrowdale Park card.

The strongly fancied three-year-old Var (USA) filly, Mia Finola, recorded her fourth win from eight starts in the ZRP Fillies Mile. She is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Mr D. E. Evans) and was bred by Piemonte Stud. Regular jockey Calvin Habib was in the irons.

Hearty congratulations to all concerned.

The wow factor came in the third race where Stidolph scored with Coastal Torrent. This Great Britain (GB) gelding was having his first outing at Borrowdale in the 1260m Maiden Plate. Ridden by Collen Storey, Coastal Torrent demolished this field and is definitely one to look out for in future.

The newcomer is owned by Messrs S.H. Murray, C. Davenport, K. Hatendi, Duncan Jones, G.M. Littleford, G. Martell, H.D. Parbhoo, C.M. Rambo, P.C. Rugg, D.C. Samuels and S.W. Shutt, and was bred by Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd.

Well done everyone – exciting times.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News: Mia Finola and Calvin Habib.

The first race at Borrowdale Park this afternoon is due off at 12.40, and main race of the day is the ZRP Fillies Mile at 16.10.

Haga Haga and Philanthropy meet again in an MR 75 Handicap over 1800m at 15.00. On September 23 Haga Haga, completing a hat-trick, finished three-parts of a length clear of Philanthropy, who was receiving 1.5 kgs, in an MR 60 Handicap over today’s distance.
Philanthropy will probably receive 2 kgs from Haga Haga this afternoon as Calvin Habib is likely to ride at 53 kgs rather than 52. This should be an exciting race if all of Twilight Trip, Designer Pot and Perfect Grace put their best hooves forward.

Photograph by Gavin McLeod. Haga Haga (61kgs with Norbert Takawira up) and Philanthropy (59.5 kgs with Habib in the irons) on September 23.