The Fort Beluga filly, Al Cobalena, was an easy winner of the 1700m Maiden Plate run at Borrowdale on July 12, beating Thunder Fury by 3.50 lengths. Owned by Nadia Farina, Liana van Blerk and John Koumides, the three-year-old was bred by Nadia and Liana.
Al Cobalena with Quinton Riddle up.
Photograph: Gavin Macleod
The five-year-old Iron Lady, by Var (USA), was back to her best when holding off challenges from Arrowfield and Say So Tiger in the 1600m MR 69 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on July 12.
Iron Lady followed by Arrowfield and Say So Tiger.
One thing one can say about Borrowdale Park’s big race bonanzas is that it is seldom all over until the fat lady sings. At the finish of Sunday’s $40 000 Gr3 Republic Cup only 1.80 lengths separated the first five horses, with Silvano’s daughter Equina getting up to snatch victory from Super Trouper in the last stride.
Fifty metres out, Super Trouper and Thriller In Manila began to dominate the proceedings, while Yer-Maan seemed about to lose out completely and even Rushmore River looked to have a chance to still come through – but it all changed when Karl Zechner and Equina pounced.
The Silvano mare, Equina, trained by Amy Bronkhorst, owned by Peter Moor and bred by Cheveley Stud, won both the $50 000 Castle Tankard and $40 000 Ok Grand Challenge in 2014 but missed out on the 1900m Republic Cup when finishing second to Lucky Sam.
On Sunday, carrying 53kgs, she made amends.
Congratulations to all the winning connections.
Amy, also saddled the locally bred Thriller In Manila, who put up a gallant fight but finished fourth, 1.55 lengths back.
And what about Yer-Maan?
His stable companion Norgay brought the field into the final 600m, all of Gentle Brook, Rock The Country, and Thriller In Manila were handy, with Super Trouper beginning to unwind up the inside, and I have to admit to losing track of Yer-Maan. However, despite hefting 61 kgs and giving away dollops of weight all round, the six-year-old Jam Alley (AUS) gelding got up there when it counted, in third place only 1.50 lengths off the winner.
He failed to complete the hoped for “big race treble” but with victories in both the Castle Tankard and OK Grand Challenge he certainly set the turf alight and made plenty of friends during his sojourn at Borrowdale Park.
Rushmore River started favourite but in the final countdown ran sixth, 4.80 lengths off the pace and just behind Rock The Country. Everyone was pleased to welcome Assistant Trainer Gabby Somo to Borrowdale Park and perhaps he and Rushmore River will be back, to put the record straight.
The next Borrowdale race meeting is on July 26, featuring the TBA Champagne Stakes. This is followed by the seasonal break from July 27 to September 5.
Champion race mare Equina, winner of the 2014 Castle Tankard and 2014 OK Grand Challenge, collected the one she missed out on – the $40 000 Republic Cup – at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.
The Silvano mare is trained by Amy Bronkhorst, owned by Peter Moor and was ridden by Karl Zechner. In a nail-biting finish Super Trouper, Yer-Maan and her stable companion, Thriller In Manila, followed the Cheveley Stud-bred Equina home.
Photograph: Gavin Macleod
Sunday sees the running of the last of Borrowdale Park’s three “big ones”, the US$ 40 000 Republic Cup (GR3) over 1900m.
St John Gray’s Yer-Maan has triumphed in both the US$50 000 Castle Tankard over 2000m, and the US$ 40 000 OK Grand Challenge over 1800m. The six-year-old gelding, a son of Jam Alley (AUS), will achieve what no horse has done before if he collects first prize this time.
Zimbabwe’s Champion Jockey for the 2014/15 season, Quinton Riddle, takes the ride again and Yer-Maan is running off a Merit Rating of 106. Benchmark for the Republic Cup is 102, equalling 60 kgs. Yer-Maan will carry the stipulated top weight of 61 kgs, the remaining weights being at the handicapper’s discretion. This means most of those who met their formidable rival in the OK, i.e. Thriller In Manila (second, a length back), Rock The Country, Menacing, Norgay and Madigan, are now worse off by 0.5 kgs. Equina (fourth in the OK and 2.50 lengths behind) is 1,5 kgs better off with Yer-Maan; Two Gun Kid will receive an extra 1 kg, while Super Trouper is marginally better off by 0.5 kgs.
Yer-Maan and Quinton Riddle team up again.
The inclusion of another South African raider, Rushmore River, trained by Joe Somo, has given Zimbabwe’s punters something to think about. Owned by the Joostes, who also own Menacing, this is a horse who has raced with some of the best and not been disgraced. By Windrush (USA) the four-year-old gelding has won four races from 1600m to 1800m, but has yet to go further.
Rushmore River at Borrowdale Park .
On January 14 at Turffontein in the 1800m Sea Cottage Stakes (L) Rushmore River ran third, four lengths off Louis The King at level weights. Five months later, with some good racing in between, he finished fifth to Legal Eagle in the 1800m Jubilee Handicap (GR3) (6.25 lengths back) with Judicial, Kalua Castle and Heavy Metal ahead of him. This was Rushmore River’s last start and, assuming he has travelled well, he has to be considered a main player. Continue reading
Recent arrival at Borrowdale Park is the Joe Somo-trained Rushmore River, a runner in Sunday’s $40 000 Republic Cup.
Rushmore River – having a look
Things were more or less going to plan in the last race at Borrowdale Park on Sunday – a 1000m MR 70 Handicap – then along came Changa and the more fancied Major Vaughan, Ebony Silver and Supa Challenge had to be content with the minor places. Mogok’s daughter, with JP van der Merwe aboard, burst through the pack, winning by 1.25 lengths.
Changa is trained by Kirk Swanson and owned by Nadia Barnwell and John Koumides. Nadia is also the breeder. The three-year-old filly has now won twice and been placed twice from four starts.
Photograph: Gavin Macleod
For a while it seemed Tallie Two had forgotten how to come with that devastating swoop from behind, but she was back to her winning ways at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, getting up to beat Diversify by 0.05 lengths. The daughter of Soar With Eagles (USA) has now won four races and been placed seven times from 14 starts.
Ryan Munger rode the filly in the 2200m MR 75 Handicap. She is owned by Julie Zieve and John Koumides, trained by Gee Racing and was bred by Julie. Oaks winner Fig Jam was third while River Waltz and Say So Tiger dead-heated in fourth place.
Photograph: Gavin MacLeod
Confabulate, owned by Gray Neely, Alan Smith, John Koumides, Ronald Mhizha, Anna Mason and Merlyn Chant, came to the Kirk Swanson party on Sunday, winning the 1800m Maiden Plate. The Oracy (NZ) gelding runs in Merlyn Chant’s colours and they made it to the Number One box at the third time of asking.
The three-year-old, bred by Klawervlei Stud, was ridden by Francois Herholdt. Congratulations to all the winning connections.
Hot on the heels of Road to Dubai, the Right Approach (GB) colt, Young Diplomat, provided the Kirk Swanson/John Koumides combination with another winner in the 1600m MR 60 Handicap.
Apprentice Serino Moodley had the ride which brings his winning score to four. Sea Clipper, Stirling Road and Arrowfield filled the minor places.
Young Diplomat ridden by Apprentice Serino Moodley
The five-year-old Toreador gelding, having his third start in ZImbabwe, won the 1200m MR 50 Handicap, finishing well clear of Walton Heath, Maturin and Agnetha. He is owned by the Equisynd Syndicate, trained by Seb d’Aquino and was ridden by Ryan Munger.
Ian Sturgeon and Raymond Danielson were unable to fulfill their riding engagements at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, but fortunately Ryan Munger was able to step into the breach. He picked up some good rides and won twice during the afternoon.
Tail Wind, starting at 55/1, regained his best earlier form and won the 1000m Maiden Plate on Sunday. The Windrush gelding is owned and trained by Jannie Blignaut and he was ridden by Apprentice Norbert Takawira.
Later in the afternoon Takawira took what seemed to be a terrible tumble in the fifth race on the Borrowdale card, but nothing daunted he was back on board Diversify in the following event, only going down to Tallie Two by a whisker.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 