What A Dandy will be aiming for a fifth win from six starts when he lines up for the 1200m Pinnacle Plate 105 at Borrowdale Park on Saturday at 14.35 pm.
However, it is not all over as he has to beat Coachella, also carrying 62 kgs, and give considerable weight to Love To Bluff, Oden, Mr Greenlight, Citrusdal and Love The View.
Mr Greenlight (54kgs) met What A Dandy on similar terms in the 1000m Sunshine Cup on the 8th of October and finished half a length behind, while Coachella and Love To Bluff were further back.
Oden, now trained by Vanessa Birketoft, is a distance specialist, and capable of carrying far more than the 56 kgs, he is allotted here.
This will probably be a very exciting race but hard to guess who will be the favourite, as all the runners have something to recommend them. This will be Oden’s first outing since July 31, and if he is racing fit it could be a winning one.
Get ready for an early start on Saturday as the first race is due off at 11.45.
Photograph by Jenny Stock: Oden is seen here with Calvin Habib up. Walter Shumba rides on Saturday.
Cape Racing is forging ahead and set for a spectacular season – but it wasn’t always like that.
Not so long ago racing in the Cape was in the doldrums, and the outlook seemed gloomy. However, structural changes, enthusiastic and determined new people, and a great leap forward in public relations, have altered that. I must admit to feeling slightly jealous before my better nature prevailed and I became happy for them.
Of course, I cannot claim to have moved entirely into Pollyanna mode. Surely it is long past time racing in Zimbabwe got a few breaks. Miraculously, we are still racing because we have some enthusiastic and determined people – we just need more of them.
The current Mashonaland Turf Club Board may feel that, undeservedly, they collect more brickbats than bouquets. Unfortunately, that’s racing. Some of us have been giving unsolicited but excellent advice to the MTC for 30 to 40 years, which won’t change soon. After all, talking about racing is part of the fun, but it would be unfortunate if at this stage the old-timers and ‘newbies’ split into groups of ‘Us’ and ‘Them’.
Like everything, racing evolves. Tradition and innovative ideas are equally important. Fortunately, in Zimbabwe there are dedicated racing people of all ages working tirelessly, for nothing, to keep the show on the road. We need more of them.
And, of course, it goes without saying that we need more owners. Racing clubs and syndicates lessen the financial burden of keeping a racehorse and are gaining popularity worldwide. Without owners, there can be no racing and those that continue to race their horses, despite reduced stakes, deserve respect and gratitude.
Perhaps you used to race but for various reasons bowed out. It’s never too late to return and help make next year better!
Grand Warrior lived up to expectations and proved to be a worthy favourite when winning the 1200m Novice Plate by four lengths at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.
By Global View (USA) and bred by Ascot Stud (Pty Ltd, Grand Warrior is owned by the Centaur Syndicate (Nom: Mr C J Danckwerts). The three-year-old gelding is trained by Debra Swanson and Raymond Danielson was riding on Sunday.
This was Grand Warrior’s second start. He made his debut in July when he romped home with an 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate, winning margin 7 lengths. Norbert Takawira was riding that day.
The stallion Global View is by Galileo, the sire of champions, and later the Swanson/Danielson combination won with Ideal View – also by Global View – who made his Borrowdale debut in the 1800m MR 70 Handicap. Ideal View is owned by Messrs CJ Smith, P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe, V Patel, D K Ward & G Carter.
The Swanson yard sent out three winners on Sunday, having earlier won the 1600m Maiden Plate with Lady Emma Hamilton (Danielson) for Duncan and Jackie Cocksedge.
Congratulations everyone.
The photographs of Grand Warrior (by Zimbabwe Equine News) were taken on the 1st July 2022, not this Sunday.
CongratulationsRosie Dorward, owner of Emerald Floe, winner of the 1260m Sable Flyers (LR) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon.
Now a six-time winner, Emerald Floe, by Oratorio (IRE), bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, is trained by Bridget Stidolph and Jarryd Penny was in the irons. Minor placings went to Varnica, Obscure and Ian’s Ferrari – winning margins 2.50, 5.0 and 5.0 lengths. Keen Spirit and Masaaken were scratched.
Stidolph and Penny won three races on Sunday afternoon, scoring earlier with Scala Dei Turchi in the 1000m Maiden Plate, and Only Him in the 1600m Pinnacle Plate 100.
Four of the six runners in the 1260m Sable Flyers (LR) raced at the Borrowdale Park meeting on 8 October, so they should be in fine fettle on Sunday.
Masaaken and Obscure are coming back from a long break but, as neither is distance-suited, it is probably safe to assume that for them this is a pipe opener.
(Famous last words, possibly.)
Bridget Stidolph fields Emerald Floe and Ian’s Ferrari, while Debra Swanson will saddle Varnica and Keen Spirit. At first glance, Emerald Floe and Varnica seem the pick, but the not-so-experienced Keen Spirit will have weight on her side and it will be interesting to see what she can make of this.
5m by Oratorio (IRE) – Emerald Beauty (ARG) by Equalize (USA)
Has won five races from 1100m – 1300m so is distance suited. Last outing on October 8 when a close second to Abayyaan over 1260m. The winner was receiving 8 kgs and Varnica was further back. A serious contender.
3 5 VARNICA 59.0 (MR82) T A Satombo – Debra Swanson
6m by Var (USA) – Muvango by Manshood (GB)
An 11-time winner from 1100m – 1260m and now 0.5 kg better off with Emerald Floe. Certainly, in with a shout.
4 6 OBSCURE 58.0 (MR80) A Shumba – Bridget Stidolph
5m by Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA)
Has won five from 1450m – 2200m so is likely to need further
5 3 KEEN SPIRIT53.5 (MR72) BA Derere – Debra Swanson
4 f by Skitt Skizzle – Caesour’s Spirit by Caesour (USA)
Has won three races from 1100m to 1260m and beat Ian’s Ferrari on 8 October by 2.50 lengths when giving her 2.5 kgs. Keen Spirit takes on tougher opposition on Sunday but I fancy her chances.
6 2 IAN’S FERRARI52.0 (MR61) Se Thackeray – Bridget Stidolph
4f by Wylie Hall (AUS) – Champagne ‘N Roses by Goldmark
This 2-time winner over 1500m and 1700m will have to dig deeper to best Keen Spirit over Sunday’s trip. Both these four-year-olds have a massive pull In the weights but will that be enough in this company?
On Saturday, John Koumides’ 8-year-old gelding, What A Dandy, won the 1000m Sunshine Cup at Borrowdale Park. Norbert Takawira was in the irons and the 16-time winner is trained by Debra Swanson. What A Dandy, by Just As Well (USA) was bred by Barton Hall Stud.
What A Dandy, trained by Debra Swanson and with Norbert Takawira up, won the 1000m Sunshine Cup at Borrowdale Park on Saturday – and then came Mr Greenlight, Coachella and LoveTo Bluff.
Thomas Mason trained the winner of the first race, first-timer Action Zone (Kevin Derere}, for Craig Danckwerts. After that, the Swanson yard saddled the winners of all the races.
The last race at Borrowdale on Saturday was the 2650m MTC Sunshine Cup – strictly a fun race and not part of the official card. Debra and Norbert won that also with the evergreen Cool Solution.
Congratulations everyone.
The Swanson winners:
WHY MADERA (Takawira) 1600m MR 65 Handicap. Owned by Messrs P C Rugg, G M Littleford, S H Murray.
KEEN SPIRIT (Takawira) 1100m MR 70 Handicap. Owned by The Swan & Donkey Syndicate (Nom: Richard Linnell).
TIGERS EAGLE (Gould) 1700m MR 85 Handicap. Owned by Mr C J Danckwerts.
ABAYYAAN (Gould) 1260m MR 82 Handicap. Owned by Messrs P D Gorringe, S P Gorringe ,V Patel, D K Ward &G Carter, G M Littleford,S H Murray,M Smith,& P C Rugg.
WHAT A DANDY (Takawira) 1000m Sunshine Cup. Owned by Mr J Koumides.
Photographs: Laurent Viguie
WHY MADERAKEEN SPIRITTIGERS EAGLECOURSE LOOKING GOOD
Borrowdale Park’s impressive veterans, Coachella and What A Dandy, will meet again in Saturday’s 1000m Sunshine Cup – and only the brave will want to oppose either of them.
Racing returns to Borrowdale Park after a 9-week break. This is the first meeting of our 2022/23 racing season. Fans will be delighted to be back at the course – and I suspect they will concentrate on fun rather than form this time.
Only four runners are due to take part in the Sunshine Cup – which has the makings of a match race between Coachella and What A Dandy – unless LoveTo Bluff, with his significant weight advantage, decides to come to the party.
This is a race where one can only assume the fittest horse, on the day, will win.
1 (1)COACHELLA (9g) 62 kgs (MR105) – 11 wins from 1000m – 1260m incl. the 2017 HRIB Gold Cup (GR3), and the 2021 Swift Gold Cup (GR 3).
Coachella’s last start was in an 1100m Pinnacle Plate 105 on 20 March in soft going. What A Dandy (58 kgs) won the race by 6 lengths from Mr Greenlight (58kgs), closely followed by Coachella (62kgs), then Love To Bluff (58kgs) a long way back. Considering the soft going and the turnaround in weights on Saturday we can’t read too much into that.
Owner: Mr J Koumides, Breeder: Prof I M Sanne, Trainer: Bridget Stidolph, Jockey T Gould.
Breeding: Alado (GB) – Festive Event by Camden Park (USA).
2 (2) WHAT A DANDY(8g) 62kgs (MR105) – 15 wins from 1000m – 1800m including the 2021 Hachiman Sprint over 1100m, the 2022 Independence Trophy over 1600m and the 1450m Breeders Sprint on 31 July. That day Mr Greenlight and Love To Bluff, meeting the winner at level weights, did not shine.
Owner: Mr J Koumides, Breeder: Barton Hall Stud, Trainer: Debra Swanson, Jockey N Takawira.
Breeding: Just As Well (USA) – Leba (IRE) by King’s Best (USA).
3 (4)LOVE TO BLUFF(6g) 56 kgs (MR93) – 8 wins from 1000m -1500m but a 1000m specialist who has beaten both Coachella and What A Dandy over this distance, with weight on his side.
Owners: Messrs R S Dyer, S N Buchan, N Evans, M K Chant, G de Jong, A Dixon, R Morgan, R Sherwood, G Carter & Mrs P J Lewis, Breeder: Millstream Farm, Trainer: Bridget Stidolph, Jockey M Thackeray.
Breeding: Judpot (USA) – Casa Nostra by Strike Smartly (CAN).
4 (3)MR GREENLIGHT(7g) 54 kgs (MR87) – 7 wins, 6 of which were over 1600m, but he won a 1000m Graduation Plate in August 2020. He carried 58 kgs then and beat Gladstone who was giving away 2 kgs.
Owner: Messrs G Goksel & B M McLauchlan, Breeder: Nadeson Park Stud, Trainer: Vanessa Birketoft. Jockey M Josi.
Breeding: Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Rakara by Rakeen (USA).
The maintenance team, with continued help from Gyles Dorward, is getting there. The trotting ring is completed, trainers’ collecting rings relocated, and a new road has been made to the Beach House.
The actual course is ‘looking great and ready for racing on 8 October’, Gary de Jong reports.
Borrowdale Park’s maintenance team has had plenty to do during this extended racing break. They haven’t been relaxing while watching the grass grow.
You have all heard about the potato crop, and another 1.2 hectares are expected to be ready for reaping in six weeks’ time. To ensure there is sufficient water for this exercise a new borehole has been drilled and the first water was found at 21 metres, which is encouraging.
To accommodate further crops graders were needed to remove boulders from the infield – and it didn’t end there. The trotting ring had to be relocated and this will now be in front of the grandstand.
“This has been a huge job”, Gary de Jong said, “as it involved plotting the size, and bringing in graders. Then applying quarry dust, followed by sand. The original trotting ring poles must also be relocated.”
It has been a race against the clock to ensure that the trainers are only inconvenienced for a few days. All going well the new ring should be up and running early this week.
Photographs of the Borrowdale course snapped between 4.30 and 5.30 pm on Thursday, 1st September. Thank you Rosie Dorward. The bottom picture was taken at the 2200m mark.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 