Not to be outdone by her older sister, Lily Blue, Obscure got her act together at Borrowdale Park on Saturday and came with a storming finish to win the 1450 Maiden Plate.

Veseo, Tricky Business and Master Futura had to settle for the minor places.

Earlier in the week Lily Blue, Zimbabwe’s 2020 Champion Three-Year-Old, had won impressively at the Vaal.

In the post-race interview trainer Bridget Stidolph said Obscure was a big filly who was taking time to mature. However on Saturday the genes came through.

Both Obscure and Lily Blue were bred by Geoff Armitage (Black Minnaloushe (USA) – Mammy Blue (ZIM) by Kitalpha (USA)) – and going further back Henk Leyenaar bought Mammy Blue from Christopher Peech at the Zimbabwe Yearling Sales, raced her both in ZImbabwe and South Africa; never registered as a breeder but has been following the family with great interest ever since.

On Saturday Obscure was ridden by Port Elizabeth jockey Teague Gould, and the three-year-old filly is owned by the Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (nominee Kirsty Stidolph) and Betty Prosser.

Congratulations to the winning connections – I can’t wait to see how Obscure goes on from here.

Photographs Zimbabwe Equine News Below – Obscure (Teague Gould) then Veseo (Kevin Derere).

Futura Doro didn’t hang about, but Norbert Takawira and Moxie, came through to win the 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes when it counted.

Diamonds ‘n Rubies, Futura Doro and Milford Sound filled the minor places.

This is the five-year-old mare’s sixth victory. By Brave Tin Soldier (USA), and bred by Summerhill Stud, Moxie is trained by Gokhan Terzi’s satellite yard at Borrowdale Park, and owned by Gengiz Goksel.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon the Terzi/Takawira combo won the 1100m MR 80 Handicap with Gladstone.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News

The first race at Borrowdale Park today, Saturday, November 28, 2020, is off at 13 25.

COVID-19 protocols apply so racing is still behind closed doors.

View or download the Online Race Card and find Final Fields, Tips, Card Changes, Borrowdale Videos etc here.

The SandSport Livestream from Borrowdale will be on ClockingThe Gallop on UTube. Click the link on our Borrowdale Video page.

In addition, the Borrowdale races will be on DSTV Tellytrack Channel 249.

The 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes, last race of the day, is due off at 16 55.

Photograph by Gavin MacLeod.

Three stables contest the 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, and the Terzi yard probably has the strongest hand with recent winner over the distance, Milford Sound, and Moxie.

Milford Sound, by Flower Alley (USA) out of a Fort Wood mare, carries top weight; Nikki Sibanda rides, and the question is can she give away weight and win? A winner at Turffontein over 1600m, Milford Sound scored at Borrowdale over 1800m on October 30 when, receiving 3.5 kgs, she beat Seattle Frost by six lengths. Impressive, but she may have to dig deeper here.

Norbert Takawira has the ride on Moxie who will receive 1.5 kgs from Milford Sound on Saturday. To date her winning trips have been over 1600m and 1700m, but last time out Moxie ran a close second to Zambezi Rapids in a 1800m MR 80 Handicap, receiving I kg. This brings her into the reckoning.

Bridget Stidolph will saddle Bam Bam Pebbles, Fortuna Doro and Targaryen Queen.  I suspect the first two just might prefer a bit shorter, and locally Targaryen Queen is a dark horse. However, this daughter of Jackson won a 1800m Maiden Plate at the Vaal in November 2019, and subsequently, also in Gauteng, won twice over 1600m.  On Saturday claiming apprentice Munashe Josi rides.   

Diamonds ‘n Rubies by Twice Over (GB) is the lone runner from the Kirk Swanson yard but if she regains previous form could pose a real threat. She has been disappointing lately but has won at Borrowdale over 1800m and 1900m. Claiming apprentice Rodgers Satombo will be in the irons.

This feature race is due off at 16 55.

The strict protocols imposed by the SRC remain in force. No more than 50 members will be allowed into Park View at Borrowdale Park on November 28. Paid-up members have free access on the day, with signed-in guests attracting a $10 entrance fee.

One owner per horse will be allowed into the Parade Ring prior to a race, and only one winning owner will be allowed into the Ring after a race.

Unlike a rolling stone the ZimFun Racing Club is gathering more shareholders and C. John Smith ( Cjohnsmith1@aol.com ) is aiming for many more…

Tricky Business, owned by ZimFun, is having his second start at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, after his close second on October 30. More shareholders leads to more ZimFun horses, and plans are afoot to get another one – soon.

At US$100 per share – which includes part ownership in all Zimfun horses, plus training fees for a year – there is no better deal around. What is particularly encouraging is that some Borrowdale “old-timers” who have moved on to greener pastures, are buying shares in ZimFun. I can’t think of a better way to have some fun – while keeping in touch with friends.

The first race at Borrowdale on Saturday is due off at 13 25.  Tricky Business runs in the 1450m Maiden Plate at 15 10.

Joan Stangroom, long-time fan and supporter of Borrowdale Park and racing in general, passed peacefully in KZN on Friday November 20, and our thoughts are with her much loved family at this difficult time.

I don’t know if Joan ever had a share in a racehorse but she worked tirelessly in the interests of Borrowdale Park, and retained that keen interest even after moving down south.

It all began when Joan was a super secretary at Mashonaland Holdings in the time of TC Hardy and Mike Joughin, both actively involved in the affairs of MOTA and the MTC. Joan was soon press-ganged into becoming MOTA Secretary, and when she left Mashonaland Holdings, she worked full-time for MOTA from the TBA offices at the racecourse.

Jackie Cocksedge recalls, “In those days MOTA probably had a membership in excess of 1000, so a lot of admin and organisation was involved. Joan was very, very efficient, always smiling and she never lost her sense of humour.”

Joan, with her warm and outgoing personality, made many friends in racing over the years. She kept in touch during regular visits to Harare until health issues interfered – and she will be missed. She was a passionate, hands-on gardener, and used to beg me to “get rid of those awful things, they will just take over” – not realising I was thankful they were at least prolific.

If you are looking down from your cloud, Joan, you will be pleased the drought and a failing borehole have taken care of those things.

Bye for now, Joan. The memories will linger.

Champion Juvenile Stakes winner, Dindingwe, added another feature race to her tally when walking away with the Breeders Fillies Mile (L) at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.

Her stable companion, True Beauty, was second, followed by Mazikeen and Willfull Path.

By Futura out of a Jallad (USA) mare, Dindingwe is trained by Kirk Swanson and owned by Mr CM and Mrs CB Shepherd, and Mrs KM Bonthrone and B Linnell, Mr G Carter and Mrs PJ Lewis, CJ Danckwertz, SP Gorringe, GM Littleford, SH Murray, V Patel, PC Rugg and DK Ward. Apprentice Rodgers Satombo was in the irons.

Another apprentice, Walter Shumba, riding for Tomcat Racing, also scored on Saturday on Jubilee, in the 1000m Maiden Plate. Jubilee was having his first outing at Borrowdale.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

Borrowdale Park was back in action on Saturday November 14, and once again Vee Racing was riding high.

Hennie Greyling, back riding in Harare after a break of several months, made a huge statement on Saturday, riding five winners on the seven-race card for Vee Racing.

The cherry on top came in the inaugural running of the 1800m National Foods Cup won by Yarraman. The six-year-old son Of Await The Dawn (USA) is owned by Gengiz Goksel, and this was his eighth success. Peggson, Mr Greenlight and Wantage filled the minor places.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

BORROWDALE RACING STARTS AT 13 55 TODAY
Watch on TellyTrack – COVID-19 restrictions still apply.

BORROWDALE PARK WILL BE BACK ON TELLYTRACK AND THE TOTE TOMORROW – SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2020

Five will contest the Breeders Fillies Mile (L) at Borrowdale Park on Saturday but only one of the runners has previously raced further than 1200m.

However, that doesn’t mean much in this instance as all the contestants are bred to go further and some may relish more ground.

Seattle Swift, still a maiden and having her third start, finished 1.15 lengths off Farm Yard Tractor over 1600m at the last meeting.  She is trained by Bridget Stidolph, as is Willfull Path. Jarryd Penny is on Seattle Swift, while Morgan Nyamagwete rides Willfull Path.

The Swanson yard fields True Beauty, winner of the 1200m Jacaranda Free Handicap, and Dindingwe.

True Beauty narrowly beat Champion Juvenile Stakes winner, Dindingwe, when they met in the Jacaranda Free, and that day Dindingwe had claiming apprentice Rodgers Satombo on board. She retains his services on Saturday and the other runners will carry 57 kgs. Norbert Takawira rides True Beauty.

Gokhan Terzi’s satellite yard, Vee Racing, has entered well-bred Mazikeen, who ran third in the Champion Juvenile and has beaten Willfull Path – although those tables turned later. Hennie Greyling rides Mazikeen.

This will be an interesting race, but one needs a reliable crystal ball to pick the winner.

Borrowdale gets off to a late start at 13 55 on Saturday and the second feature on the 7-race card is the 1800m National Foods Cup.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News: Seattle Swift with *Munashe Josi up.