Craig Danckwerts’ handsome Flying The Flag (IRE) filly, Tigers Eagle, was a convincing winner of the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby (Gr3) at Borrowdale Park this afternoon. Cordobesa ran second and Cutback, third.
Teaque Gould was in the irons and Tigers Eagle is trained by Debra Swanson, who saddled two earlier winners – Mill Creek with Gould up, and Masaaken, ridden by Nobert Takawira.
The Derby winner was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein.
The rest of the day’s training honours went to Gokhan Terzi who won with Windsor Lane (Munashe Josi), Differentiate (Thabiso Gumede), Var Aglow (Josi), and Enrapture (Walter Shumba).
Midfield Girl is a card scratching which leaves a field of four for the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby at Borrowdale Park on Wednesday.
Tigers Eagle, a recent winner over 2700m, is the only member of this quartet to have raced further than 2000m – but given a chance who knows what the others might do. The first race on Wednesday’s 7-race card is due off at 12 20 pm and the Derby (third leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown) takes place at 15 40.
1 MASTER MING
Trainer: Thomas Mason – Jockey: W Shumba
Breeding: Toreador (IRE) – Madame Ming by Overlord (AUS)
Colours: Russet, orange and yellow armbands, black cap.
He won his first start over 1000m in July 2021 and was distantly placed in the 1600m Tote Free Handicap and the Zimbabwe2000(Gr3) won by his stable companion Cutback. I have yet to be convinced that staying is his preference.
Master Ming
2 CORDOBESA
Trainer: Bridget Stidolph – Jockey: J Penny
Breeding: Great Britain (GB) – Run Girl Wild by Fort Wood (USA)
Colours: Black, white hoop, yellow sleeves and cap
Winner of a 1600m Maiden Plate at Greyville and subsequently placed over 1700m and 1900m. Won her first start – a 1700m Pinnacle Plate 85 – at Borrowdale in April when Seven Seas, Differentiate and Obscure were behind her. However, Seven Seas, 0.25 lengths back, gave Cordobesa 9 kgs. The three-year-old filly has been well beaten in her next three starts – possibly due to the change in altitude. Quite an interesting runner.
Cordobesa
3 CUTBACK
Trainer: Thomas Mason – Jockey: F Herholdt
Breeding: Twice Over (GB) – Suedette by Dynasty
Colours: Shocking pink, black chevrons, shocking pink sleeves, black armbands and cap
Won twice over 1600m before beating Regulate by 1.25 lengths in the Zimbabwe2000(Gr3). Next time out Cutback was involved in the closest of finishes with Empress Of Jade in the 2000m Zimbabwe Oaks, when Tigers Eagle and Midfield Girl were further back. Cutback is gutsy and all heart – I only wish there was a bit more of her. She has yet to race further than 2000m but hold thumbs.
Cutback
TIGERS EAGLE
Trainer: DJ Swanson – Jockey: T Gould\
Breeding: Flying The Flag (IRE) – Neck Of The Woods by Al Mufti (USA)
Colours: Gold and black checks, gold sleeves, black seams, collar and cuffs, gold cap
Won a 1700m Maiden Plate and the 1600m Tote Free Handicap. Consistently placed from 1800m to 2000m before winning a 2700m MR70 Handicap on June 4 when Midfield Girl, receiving 2 kgs, was 2.75 lengths behind. Tigers Eagle has ability and will, without doubt, see out the 2400m Derby trip.
There was no catching Bugatti Blue when the seven-year-old Traffic Guard (USA) gelding romped home to win the 1900m Republic Cup (Gr3) at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.
Trained by Debra Swanson and with Nobert Takawira in the irons, Bugatti Blue is owned by the Centaur Syndicate (nominee C J Danckwerts). Bred by Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd, Bugatti Blue has now won 10 races. The placings went to Seven Seas, Masaaken and Lily Blue.
This was the cherry on top for the Centaur Syndicate and the Swanson/Takawira combo. They also won the 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate with first-timer Grand Warrior – who is definitely one for the notebook.
The first race at Borrowdale Park today is off at 12 10, and the 1900m Republic Cup (Gr3) is at 15 35.
Unfortunately, internet fibre lines were stolen in the early hours of this morning and so there can be no Borrowdale Livestream on Clocking The Gallop today.
For a variety of reasons, I am taking a break from cellphones, emails, self-inflicted deadlines and web pages, so this site will be quiet for a while. It will be interesting to see how long it lasts.
Outsider Empress Of Jade won the Zimbabwe Oaks today in an extremely close finish which seems to have become the norm at Borrowdale Park. Unfortunately, if one is not at the course, the limited TV coverage cannot be relied upon to ever give the actual result.
Both Cutback (Schwarz) and Empress Of Jade (De Gouveia) tailed the small field while Tigers Eagle set the pace. They came to the fore in the home straight and the Gokhan Terzi-trained Empress Of Jade managed to catch Cutback on the line. Then came Tigers Eagle and Midfield Girl. Winning margins 0.05, 8.00 and 8.00 lengths.
The daughter of Rafeef (AUS) is owned by Ms S P Moyo and Mr G Tafeni and was bred by Golden Touch Thoroughbred Services and Mr M Kidd.
Congratulations to the winning connections.
Photograph above by Laurent Viguie
Below:SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR
Photo Finish 2022 Zimbabwe Oaks (L) – won by Empress Of Jade from Cutback, winning margin 0.05 lengths.
The delayed Zimbabwe Oaks will be run over 2000m at Borrowdale Park on Wednesday and in this small field Cutback and Tigers Eagle seem the pick.
Cutback’s last four starts include a Maiden win over 1600m; then the Twice Over (GB) filly won the 1600m Guineas Trial; she ran fourth to Call The Wind in the Zimbabwe Guineas, and her last start was in the Zimbabwe 2000 (Gr3) on April 3, which she won. She has been beaten by Tigers Eagle over a mile but turned the tables in the Zim2000.
The Tote Free winner Tigers Eagle has been consistently placed from 1800m to 2000m and won her last start, which was over 2700m on June 4, beating stable companion Days Gone By, and Midfield Girl. Obviously, Tigers Eagle is racing fit – while Cutback may need the run.
Midfield Girl, by Alado (GB), won a 1900m Maiden Plate early in April, and was six lengths off Obscure over 2200m, so is distance suited.
Empress Of Jade, by Rafeef (AUS) and out of a Fort Wood mare, makes up the field. She has only raced twice at Borrowdale – both times up the straight – but is bred to go further.
Denis Schwarz rides Cutback and Wes Marwing will be on Tigers Eagle. Jarryd Penny teams up with Midfield Girl and Diego de Gouveia with Empress Of Jade.
Racing begins at 12 noon on Wednesday and the Oaks is due off at 15.35.
After the running of the OK Grand Challenge (GR1) at Borrowdale on Saturday, the winner, Seven Seas, has moved from a Merit Rating of 85 to 90. True Beauty has gone from 95 to 99, and Holy Land has moved up by two to 98. Lily Blue (fourth) remains on 99.
All of Captain Of Tortuga, Finchatton, Only Him, Wantage, Armstrong and Bugatti Blue dropped down one.
The Merit Ratings of Mr Greenlight, Edward The Seventh and Love The View were reduced by two.
We were lucky to have several hard-working photographers on course for the 2022 OK Grand Challenge (GR 1). LAURENT VIGUIE snapped the field in the home straight – and then the main players as they progressed towards the wire.
If you missed this exciting 1800m event the race was won in the closest of finishes by Seven Seas, from True Beauty, and then came Holy Land and Lily Blue. Winning margins 0.05 lengths 0.75 lengths 2.00 lengths. Time 107.07 sec. The winner is owned by Christopher Peech, trained by Gokhan Terzi and Nathan Klink was riding.
Seven Seas, with Nathan Klink up, won the US$70 000 OK Grand Challenge (GR1) at Borrowdale Park today – in a thrilling finish with Castle Tankard winner, True Beauty (Schwarz). Holy Land (Danielson) was third.
Trained by Gokhan Terzi and owned by Christopher Peech, the five-year-old mare was bred by Digleby Stud (Mr and Mrs H. Stegeman). Seven Seas is by Elusive Fort out of an Argonaut mare and she has now won five races.
Congratulations to the winning connections.
Four-year-old True Beauty was giving the winner 5kgs and was gallant in defeat.
The photograph of Seven Seas was taken by Zimbabwe Equine News on another occasion. Up-to-date pics will follow later.
The OK Grand Challenge race meeting is off to a very early start today, Saturday 4 June 2022. The first race is off at 10.45 and the feature, the OK Grand Challenge (GR1), is at 14.50.
Eighteen runners will face the starter in the OK Grand Challenge run over 1800m. This is Zimbabwe’s richest race, and it has attracted an ultra-competitive field. This is the grand finale on the 8-race card.
If you are unable to be at the course the meeting can be viewed on DSTV Channel 240 – and the Borrowdale Park Livestream will be on Clocking The Gallop on UTube.
Tips, Final Fields, Card Changes, and a link to the online card can be found on this site.
Racing at Borrowdale Park in Harare - Zimbabwe 