Zimbabwe’s leading owner, Gengis Goksel, surged forward on Sunday owning, or sharing in, six of the seven winners on the Borrowdale Park card.

Holy Land, with Kabelo Matsunyane in the irons, came with an impressive late run to snatch victory from his stable companion, Armstrong, in the 1450m Zimbabwe Challenge. Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, the six-year-old Ideal World (USA) gelding was completing a hat-trick and has now won seven races. Holy Land is owned by Messrs G Goksel, G Carter, DT Machingaidze, and Mesdames P J Lewis, CM de Jong and S Ziel, and is trained by Vanessa Birketoft of V Racing.

Earlier in the afternoon, V Racing added to the Goksel tally, winning the 1200m Maiden Plate with Wallaa (*Shumba), and the 1200m Jacaranda Free Progress Plate with Call The Wind (Calvin Habib).

Gokhan Terzi also saddled three winners on Sunday. He set the ball rolling with Oden (Messrs F Vahab and G Goksel) in the 1100m MR 65 Handicap. Diego de Gouveia was up and he scored again for Goksel and Terzi with Karvani in the 1800m Novice Plate.
Ryan Munger was aboard Wild Heritage when the Count Dubois (GB) gelding won the 1700m MR 70 Handicap for the Goksel/Terzi combination.

Include many placed horses during Sunday’s meeting and it all added up to an excellent day at the office.

The Swanson yard bucked the trend when scoring with long shot Varnica (Takawira) in the 1260m MR 85 Handicap. The five-year-old Var (USA) mare is owned by Messrs PD Gorringe, SP Gorringe, V Patel, DK Ward and G. Carter.

The Borrowdale Quartets paid well – the best being that of Varnica, Mind Master, Powder Puff and Mr Hugo, which brought in $7846.30.

Congratulations to all Sunday’s winning connections, and thanks to all those who turned out to ensure good racing.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod: Holy Land beats Armstrong in the Zimbabwe Challenge. Then came Edward The Seventh and Yarraman. Winning margin 0.50, 2.00, 0.75 Lengths.

Clocking The Gallop has announced that due to a technical problem, they will be unable to show the Borrowdale Park live racing today from Zimbabwe.  “This feature will return for the next race meeting up North.”

The first race at Borrowdale Park today (November 21) is off at 12 35 pm and the last race is at 15 55.

With good rain in the course area late yesterday afternoon, the sting will be out of the ground.

The meeting can be viewed on TellyTrack DSTV Channel 249. Unfortunately due to a technical problem, there will be no Borrowdale Livestream today.

Tips, Final Fields, Online Card, Card Changes etc can be found here.

A direct link to the online race card is https://mcusercontent.com/2a1c7dfa1eb4e4b185607f5a6/files/e94fa7f9-bcf2-1417-3b26-2fa00114bd4d/21_NOVEMBER_2021.pdf

SEVEN RACES ON THE CARD

Racing at Borrowdale Park tomorrow (Sunday, November 2021) begins at 12.30 pm. The feature race is the 1450m Zimbabwe Challenge, due off at 15 55.

HOW THEY FINISHED

Race 1: ODEN – 1st; Race 2: HAWI – 7th; Race 3: CALL THE WIND – 1st; Race 4: MR HUGO – 4th; Race 5: MOXIE – 4th; Race 6: TIGERS EAGLE – 3rd; Race 7: HOLY LAND – 1st.

.
Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News

Team Valor International (nominee Barry Irwin), of Ipi Tombe fame, had their first runner at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.

Captain Of Tortuga (number 5) ran in the 1200m VF Pinnacle Plate 105 and won. The six-year-old gelding by Captain Al was saddled by Bridget Stidolph and Norbert Takawira was in the irons. He is now a five-time winner bred by Drakenstein Stud.

Welcome to Borrowdale Team Valor.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Seven Seas owned by Christopher Peech, trained by Gokhan Terzi and ridden by Ashton Arries, led the way in the RoundTable Champion Fillies Stakes – and held off Lily Blue.

By Elusive Fort out of an Argonaut mare, Seven Sea was bred by Digteby Stud.

Dindingwe was third and Ultra Edge fourth in the 1600m event at Borrowdale today.

Congratulations!

The first race at Borrowdale Park tomorrow (November 6) is off at 12 20 pm and the main race at 16 25, followed by two Match races.

This is a special day in that it is the RoundTable Harare No1’s inaugural Charity Race Day at Borrowdale Park.

 The meeting can be viewed on TellyTrack DSTV Channel 249 – and the Livestream will be on Clocking The Gallop on UTube.

Tips, Final Fields, Online Card, Card Changes etc can be found on this site.

A direct link to the online race card is https://mcusercontent.com/2a1c7dfa1eb4e4b185607f5a6/files/391ab985-00b3-ada3-b54e-4d62462650d1/6_NOVEMBER_2021_CARD.pdf

One of the first things cadet journalists used to be taught was “You are not the story” and I agree with that.

However, this time I am the story – or at least half of it.

Someone, who has chosen to be known as ‘James k’, has commented on the post IF SHE IS IN IT SHE WINS IT and beginning ” Lily Blue The 2021 STYLE Round Table Champion Fillies Stakes will be run over 1600m at Borrowdale Park on Saturday…”

James k on November 4, 2021. at 7:18 pm said:‘Is there only one trainer at borrowdale park ??? as it seems all the headlines are only focused to one yard and never any credit given to horses that win from the other yards…’.

‘I replied: “Quite an offensive comment and I am sure you are aware there are several trainers at Borrowdale. Perhaps you should get your information about Borrowdale elsewhere.

”Then…James k on November 4, 2021, at 7:36 pm said:‘Maybe you should you promote borrowdale racing more openly and fairly instead of being so biased to one yard, and give credit where credit is due. this just leaves a bitter taste to owners in other yards.’’

As ‘James k’ feels so strongly about this I feel his comments should be given adequate coverage, and so I will post this on my three Facebook pages – which have been aimed at promoting Borrowdale Park – for years.

I am not employed by anyone to promote Borrowdale Park – or individual trainers. I write what I like, when, and if, I like – and that is not going to change.

And I certainly appreciate all those who have supported me in this hobby, which takes up a great deal of my time – when I am not having to deal with all the other things that go with life in Zim.

Perhaps not the best way to start the day!

The 2021 STYLE Round Table Champion Fillies Stakes will be run over 1600m at Borrowdale Park on Saturday and, if Lily Blue is in it, I expect her to win.

Traditionally this race has been run over 1800m – which may have suited Lily Blue better at this stage of her career – but it is what it is and she will surely be hard to beat. Lily Blue won this race in 2019 and recently returned to Zimbabwe after campaigning in Gauteng.

Last season’s champion, Dindingwe, is also among the acceptors and is set to carry 60 kgs – the same weight as Lily Blue. Of the others, Ultra Edge, Fortuna Doro and Mazikeen could surprise, so let’s take a quick look at the previous form.

1 Drawn 4 DINDINGWE 60 kgs (MR90) Wes Marwing – Debra Swanson – 4f By Futura – Miss Delish by Jallad (USA). As a three-year-old won 1600m Fillies Classic, Breeders Fillies Mile, Zimbabwe Guineas, Silver Slipper (1800m), and placed third in 2400m Zimbabwe Derby. Has not fared well in open company so far.

2 Drawn 1 LILY BLUE 60 kgs (MR94) J Gates – Bridget Stidolph – 5m By Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA). In 2019 Won Breeders Fillies Mile, Champion Fillies Stakes (1800m), Fillies Classic, Zimbabwe Guineas, Silver Slipper (1800m), Zimbabwe Derby, and Zimbabwe Oaks. Has won two races at the Vaal over 1800m this year.

3 Drawn 2 FORTUNA DORO 58 kgs (MR86) K Steyn – Bridget Stidolph – 6m By Pomodoro – Fortunes Hand by Elliodor (FR). Won over 1450m at the Vaal and two races at Borrowdale over 1450m and 1500m. Has run a couple of decent races over 1600m, and was placed in this race in 2020.

4 Drawn 3 SEVEN SEAS 54 kgs (MR79) A Arries – Gokhan Terzi – 5m By Elusive Fort – Seven Sails by Argonaut. Won over 1450m at the Vaal and a 1200m Graduation Plate at Borrowdale, beating Tulip Way. Rather a dark horse as has not often tried further.

5 Drawn 6 ULTRA EDGE 54 kgs (MR77) T Gould – Bridget Stidolph – 4f By Master Of My Fate – Quick Single by Jallad (USA). Has won last 3 starts – an 1800m Novice Plate, the 1260m Sable Flyers and a 1600m Progress Plate. In form and should do well.

6 Drawn 5 MAZIKEEN 52 kgs (MR 74) L Tarentaal – Vanessa Birketoft – 4f By Twice Over (GB) – Jennyanydots by Black Minnaloushe (USA). Second to Dindingwe in 1600m Fillies Classic, has won 1600m Novice Plate and ran second to Diesel And Dust in the Zimbabwe 2000 in April, finishing 1.55 lengths ahead of Dindingwe. Seems to have gone off the boil recently.

The first race on Saturday is at 12 20 pm and the Champion Fillies Stakes is due off at 16 25.

Photographs by Gavin Macleod and Jenny Stock.

This could be a first at Borrowdale Park. To read what The Centaurian has to say about Match Races – and other things – visit his page on this site https://zimracing.com/the-centaurian-takes-aim/

Star filly Lily Blue came home to Zimbabwe about three weeks ago and Bridget Stidolph has nominated her for the Champion Fillies Stakes – a race she won in 2019.

The yard has also nominated Bam Bam Pebbles, Fortuna Doro and Ultra Edge for this event to be run at Borrowdale Park on Saturday 6 November.

Lily Blue is returning from a sojourn in the Paul Matchett yard in Gauteng where she won two races. The daughter of Black Minnaloushe (USA) is an 11-time winner.

Welcome home Lily Blue.

The first race at Borrowdale Park today (Sunday) is off at 12 30pm and the last race at 15 55. 

 The meeting can be viewed on TellyTrack DSTV Channel 249 – and the Livestream will be on Clocking The Gallop on UTube.

Tips, Final Fields, Online Card, Card Changes etc can be found on this site. A direct link to the online race card is https://mcusercontent.com/2a1c7dfa1eb4e4b185607f5a6/files/5c3bf36a-db70-915a-5a30-b039838113bf/24_OCTOBER_2021_RACE_CARD_updated.pdf

Have a great day.