On this site …see Borrowdale Video ‘page’

The last two races on tomorrow’s Borrowdale Park card could well be the most exciting. It is hard to choose between the 1600m Progress Plate and the 1260m Pinnacle Plate 105 as both have interesting runners.

Tandava returns to Borrowdale Park in the Pinnacle after a lengthy break but with a 6 kg pull in weights he should, if racing fit, be a match for Coachella.

The Progress Plate isn’t quite as simple. Zambezi Rapids, as a three-time winner carries 60 kgs, and Owlinthetree is on 57.5 kgs.  The latter will be giving Bam Bam Pebbles 1 kg and when they met over 1600m on June 3 Owlinthetree, conceding 2 kgs, was only three-parts of a length behind him. At the last Borrowdale meeting Owlinthetree was 1.60 lengths off Peggson over 2000m at level weights which is not to be sneezed at.

Zambezi Rapids, third to Lily Blue in the recent Zimbabwe Derby, is not so easy to assess.  He has won from 1200 – 1800m so will be distance suited.  This is something of an acid test for the son of Dynasty and may the best horse win.

The Progress Plate is the sixth on tomorrow’s card and is off at 16 05.  The Pinnacle Plate is due to be run at 16 45.

The first race at Borrowdale Park tomorrow is due off at 13 10 and six horses are due to line up for a 1000m Maiden Plate.

This field includes Tequila Man, Clifton Brawler and Safiyaa, plus three unknowns – Signett, Dindingwe and Jenny Blue. Regarding the newcomers, I only know they have not raced before but have no information about breeding as the two sites I usually turn to haven’t caught up with the Borrowdale fields yet. No doubt later in the day.

Clifton Brawler from Vee Racing ran third behind Citrusdal over 1700m at the last meeting, and prior to that was a close second to Petroni Vini over 1200m.

Tequila Man trained by Bridget Stidolph and with claiming apprentice Munashe Josi on board, was 2.80 lengths off Widjaan over 1000m on June 3, with Clifton Brawler behind him that day. He has been well placed over 1200m in previous starts and should go close here – unless one of the newbies surprises us.

There is racing at Borrowdale Park on Wednesday and with some luck the Final Fields will be made available later today.

If the race meeting was on Friday, Saturday or Sunday the fields would also be due out today.  Apparently it has not occurred to the powers that be that producing tips, previews etc takes a bit of thought and time.  The people that rely on this information also need time – as do those that do their own thing by studying form. So why support Borrowdale when other racing centres are producing the goods?

Thirty years ago the Mashonaland Turf Club treated the racing media with respect – and the payoff was extensive press coverage, enthusiastic punters, and loyal spectators, which resulted in willing sponsors and a thriving racecourse.

Today racing in Zimbabwe is sparsely covered by one or two die-hards, hanging in there for the love of the game; frustrated by the constant battle to get information, timeously, and probably regarded as nuisances – unpaid let me add.

Occasionally a “new” journalist shows an interest in the sport of kings, but without an extensive racing background no-one can roll out of bed one morning and decide to be a racing reporter.

It is complicated – and those that show some interest must be encouraged, helped, and guided along their way.

Of course, I am aware that factors other than appalling public relations have resulted in the difficulties that have faced racing locally for quite some time. However, inattention to the media, and the needs of local punters, is also to blame.

ASKS THE CENTAURIAN

Every time we buy a lottery ticket or have a punt on a horse, or forecast who might score first for Liverpool, we are assessing the odds – that is gambling. Buying a share in a racehorse is pretty much the same – but in the case of ZimFun Racing Club Ltd it’s a bit more than a just a gamble.

The total losses or costs are clearly defined for each shareholder – at US$100 for a full year’s involvement – amounts to just $2 per week. There are no more calls for cash for 12 months.

 In return the upsides fall into four categories. Firstly are the purses which might be won at Borrowdale Park and returned to the company coffers. Then there is the information, inside track – provided by the ZimFun WhatsApp social media group – you will get to know better than anyone outside the group just what the chances are for each of our horses and thus help you make up your mind if you want a bet and if so how much.

Thirdly, if we do end up with an above average performer, we retain the right to sell it and again return profits to the company account. Finally, and as important as anything else, there is the FUN – of participating in the whole Sport of Kings – going to the racecourse if you can, fun in the parade ring, shouting from the balcony as the races are run and with a bit of luck, leading a winner in with old mates and the new ones you have yet to make. Priceless.

We have estimated that the total cost of keeping a horse in training, paying for the incidentals, jockeys, airfares as necessary, vets and farrier run to about $6,000 per annum – these are our variable costs and exclude the cost of procurement and transport north to Zim.

To get that back we need to win a few races and get a few places in ordinary races each year. Your guess is as good as mine as to the likelihood of that happening but in Zim, where horse numbers are low and we might have say 120 to 150 races to pop at, the chances are actually above average. Of course winning a feature race like the Tankard or the Ok or the Republic Cup improves the economics significantly – but don’t hold your breath too hard – though it’s not out of the question by any means.

My guess is that each horse will be ready to run when it arrives and so the ZimFun can begin from the first day’s racing.

All it needs is for the other 1470 of my 1500 readers of this column to get their hands in their pockets as the first 30 have done – and send $100 cash to Virgin Management Service at 7 Normandy Road, Alex Park in Harare or send a sincere e mail pledge to spencer@virtrust.com – and ideally, do it now

News on colours next…..

Also I should have some payment options for RSA investors too – shortly….

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Photographer Gavin MacLeod recorded the defining moment at Borrowdale Park yesterday afternoon when Lily Blue surged ahead to win the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby by 1.50 lengths.

By Black Minnaloushe (USA), Lily Blue passed this ultimate test of speed and stamina – once again beating the boys with consummate ease.

Congratulations to the owners, the Gin ‘ll Fix It Syndicate (nominee Kirsty Stidolph), Robin MacLeod and Betty Prosser; trainer Bridget Stidolph, jockey Morgan Nyamagwete and breeder Geoff Armitage.

Memories are made of this,.

Lily Blue has won the 2020 Zimbabwe Derby having played a waiting game until it was time to show the field a clean pair of heels.

Congratulations to trainer Bridget Stidolph, jockey Morgan Nyamagwete and owners the Gin’ll Fixit Syndicate (nominee Kirsty Stidolph) Robyn Macleod and Betty Prosser. Lily Blue was bred by Geoff Armitage.

There was a problem with Globe Master’s gate, resulting in a false start but the field quickly reloaded. Tree Of Wisdom led the way, joined by Seattle Frost who eventually took over and was going well coming up the straight until Lily Blue and Wantage joined in the chase.

Wantage, stablemate of Lily Blue was second, then Zambezi Rapids and Seattle Frost.

Congrats also to SandSport LIVE for excellent coverage of Borrowdale today.

Although not a main feature at Borrowdale Park on Friday, the 2000m Pinnacle Plate 100 is probably the closest we will get to a ‘Tankard’ field in 2020 – with the complication of riders who can claim.

Roosting at the top of the list of runners is relative newcomer Owlinthetree who, along with stable companion Peggson, carries 60 kgs.

The trouble is whenever I see that name, I think of former Borrowdale trainer Collin Nicholson. I recall he had a mini fit one day when an owl settled on his roof. Of course, in the dim days before the dark days, we were very superstitious and longed to kill if someone said ‘Good Luck’ before a race. That doesn’t seem to matter anymore (or so they think).

With that out of the way let’s be serious.

Four stables are represented in this line-up. Bridget Stidolph will saddle Owlinthetree and Peggson; Vee Racing and Tomcat Racing are pinning their hopes on Fareeq and Holy Land respectively, and the Swanson yard is in with Three To Tango, Bugatti Blue, Legend and Arte.

Legend, by Gimmegreenlight (AUS) is having his second start in Harare and is rather a dark horse being a winner over 1400m and 1600m.

Owlinthetree by Dynasty out of a Giant’s Causeway (USA) mare, won two races at Turffontein over 1800m. He has had one start at Borrowdale in the 1600m Graduation Plate on June 3, where he came second to Bam Bam Pebbles.

Without a doubt, Peggson is the super trooper in this line-up. A winner of 7 races from 1200m to 2000m, including the Ipi Tombe Stakes and the Castle Tankard in 2019, and more recently the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup where Friday’s runner Three to Tango was three lengths back receiving 2 kgs. Bugatti Blue ran third.

Peggson’s last outing was on June 3 in the 1600m Independence Trophy won by Holy Land. Pegasus ran fourth with Fareeq and Three To Tango in front of him but this was a tight finish – the first four were within 0.90 lengths. Legend was further back.

In the 2019 Tankard Peggson carried 57 kgs, and lightly weighted Leven Point, Fareeq and Arte filled the minor places. This time Fareeq meets Peggson on tougher terms, but Arte comes in at 50 kgs with a claiming apprentice in the irons. Wow.

Independence Trophy winner, Holy Land, still receives 4 kgs from Peggson, Bugatti Blue has a claiming apprentice on board, and 2019 Zimbabwe Derby Winner, Three To Tango, can’t be ignored.

The only certainty is that Peggson has quite a lot to do. I can’t wait to see the betting.

The first race on Friday is off at 12.25. The Zimbabwe Derby is due off at 15.05, and the Pinnacle Plate 100 at 15.40. No spectators allowed on the course but you can watch on DSTV Channel 239.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News

One of the closest finishes at Borrowdale Park for quite a while occurred in the 1600m MR 50 Handicap on Friday – and two claiming appies actually stole this show. The winning margins were: 0.05 – 0.05 and 0.50 lengths.

*Rodgers Satombo on Supa Memories and *Walter Shumba on Crown Brewed put their heads down and gave it their all with *Satombo snatching the verdict by a whisker.

Brendon McNaughton and Rose Diamond (third) were conceding oodles of weight  and what a finish.

Great stuff – it is moments like this that get people hooked on racing.

Photograph by Andrew Philip: Crown Brewed (centre), Supa Memories (left)and rose Diamond on the right.  Missy Franklin ran fourth.

As expected, Zambezi Rapids reversed the result with Wantage, recent winner of the Zimbabwe 2000, when they met in the 1800m Allowance Plate at Borrowdale Park on Friday.  

Wantage was giving his rival 5 kgs and, coming from a long way back, finished only 1.75 lengths behind him.  In the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby they will meet at level weights and both will have their supporters, although on breeding Zambezi Rapids (Dynasty – Cool River by Western Winter (USA) probably has the edge over Bridget Stidolph’s charge (Ato – Angora by Tamburlaine (IRE).

We shall see.

Trained by Kirk Swanson, with Norbert Takawira up, Zambezi Rapids is owned by Messrs C & R Kieswetter and bred by Highlands Farms Stud (Pty) Ltd. Wantage (Nyamagwete) is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd. (nominee Mr D E Evans) and bred by Newbury Racing & Breeding Ltd.  Well done everyone – we look forward to another great race.

On Friday Tree Of Wisdom (*Satombo) tried to make every post a winning one, but had to settle for third, and Prescott was fourth.

Photograph of Zambezi Rapids taken by Andrew Philip.