Kirk Swanson;’s charge, Road To Dubai, was going for his hat-trick in the 1300m MR 80 Handicap – and he achieved it, holding off Principled Man.

Sired by The Sheik, Road to Dubai, owned by John Koumides, was ridden by Francois Herholdt and bred by Scott Bros.

During the course of the afternoon Kirk saddled four winners, John Koumides visited the Winner’s Enclosure on five occasions, and Herholdt won again for the Swanson stable on Confabulate.
Photograph: Gavin Macleod

The Argonaut colt, Equiano, with Apprentice Mathew Thackeray in the irons, won the 1200m Champion Juvenile Stakes at Borrowdale Park on Sunday by a staggering 6 lengths. with Call Me Earl, Demagogue and Rocky Road filling the minor placings.

The colt is half-brother to Zimbabwe’s Champion racemare, Equina, and it appears he has inherited all the necessary genes. His sire, Argonaut, I have recently learned, is now based in Zimbabwe.
Equiano is owned by Peter Moor and trained by Amy Bronkhorst. He was bred by Cheveley Stud. Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photograph: Gavin Macleod

Top-weighted Gentle Brook with Apprentice Mathew Thackeray up won the 1600m MR 70 Handicap by three lengths on June 6 at Borrowdale Park.

Tomorrow (Sunday June 14) the talented young jockey will represent South Africa in the 3rd edition of the prestigious Prix Longines Future Racing Stars in Chantilly, France.

Al-Salaam, by Mullins Bay (GB), proved a worthy favourite in the first race on OK Day, a 1000m Maiden Juvenile Plate. The colt, bred by Shadwell Stud, had shown improvement in each of his three previous races.

The two-year-old colt is trained by Bridget Stidolph, was ridden by Randall Simons and is owned by the Sunmark Syndicate.

The tussle between Al-Salaam and first-timer Betula Uber resulted in the closest of finishes with only 0.05 lengths separating the two juveniles at the line. Al-Salaam triumphed and both horses will be worth watching in future.

Betula Uber is by Ideal World (USA) – a stallion making a name for himself this season. She was bred by Mauritzfontein Stud.

Muhannad (ARG), by Giant;’s Causeway(USA) out of a Danehill (USA) mare – another South African raider – won the 1600m Maiden Plate with visiting jockey Athandiwe Mgudlwa aboard.

Trained by Alyson Wright, and owned by Mr F.J. De Chasteigner Du Mee, Muhannad was bred by Phalaris Breeding Ltd. Alistair Fisher and groom Enoch Gwingwizha were standing by to meet the four-year-old gelding in the parade ring.

Aiiyayaii was a popular winner of the 1000m Maiden Juvenile Plate, first leg of the Borrowdale Pick 6 on Saturday, June 6. The three-year-old Tiger Dance (USA) gelding, trained by Gokhan Terzi, and owned by Messrs G. Goksel and V.C. Veeramootoo, was bred by Druk-My-Niet Stud.

Apprentice Wesley Marwing was in the irons and at the line beat Burg’s Overture (Kevin Derere) by 1.25 lengths.

Talk about horses for courses! It would appear OK Grand Challenge winner Yer-Maan has come into his own at Borrowdale Park and there is no stopping this six-year-old son of Jam Alley (AUS).

The St John Gray owned and trained gelding won the US$50 000 Castle Tankard (GR1) run over 2000m on May 16 and on Saturday collected the coveted US$40 000 OK Grand Challenge (GR2), an 1800m event.
The next big race at Borrowdale is the Republic Cup (GR3) over 1900m due to take place on July 11.

The question is whether Yer-Maan and his stable companion, Norgay, will still be around to contest it – and if they are I am not going to waste a lot of time working out the likely winner. Yer-Maan ran off a 103 MR in the OK and the Benchmark is MR 102 in the Republic Cup, maximum weight 61 kgs – he carried 61.5 kgs on Saturday. Continue reading →

Leading the parade for the 2015 Grand Challenge was Gold Flame who won the big race in 2002 and 2004. The son of Goldkeeper (USA) also won the Independence Trophy and the Castle Tankard in 2002. His 10 career victories included the Zimbabwe Guineas when he was a three-year-old back in 1999.

Since then Gold Flame has made a name for himself in show jumping circles and he is stabled at Borrowdale Park. Becky Chant, the proud owner, rode him in the OK parade…she is my daughter-in-law so be careful what you say.

An official crowd of 71,399 attended the Gr 2 OK Grand Challenge meeting on Saturday. The meeting traditionally attracts a massive crowd, as cars and myriad other prizes are given away on course, and the record crowd is apparently around
the 80,000 mark.

Clyde Basel, the marketing and sales executive of Phumelela, was on course and said the event was extremely efficiently organised. The huge crowd revelled in the festive atmosphere and the day was memorable for most.

Yer-Maan made light of top weight, winning the US$40 000 OK Grand Challenge in a storming finish, from Thriller In Manila, Rock The Country and Equina.

The six-year-old Jam Allley (AUS) gelding won the $50 000 Castle Tankard on May 16, making this a big race double for owner trainer St John Gray and Zimbabwe’s champion jockey Quinton Riddle. Yer-Maan was bred by Graystone Stud. Hearty congratulations to all the winning connections, and to trainer Amy Bronkhorst who saddled the second and and fourth horses past the post.