Farm Yard Tractor is out again at Borrowdale Park in the 1900m Maiden Plate and despite his name is proving to be a consistent sort. It’s considered unlucky to change a horse’s name (I have nothing against tractors but for a racehorse?) so let’s go with a nickname rather and call him John Deere.

He might need a boost to get the better of his stable companion Seattle Frost, and the filly, Diamonds ‘n Rubies, on Sunday, but I am rooting for him, regardless.

This is an interesting field in that Seattle Frost, “John Deere” Diamonds’n Rubies and Hold The Biscuit finished behind Lil Miss Gee in a 1700m Maiden Plate on January 5. Seattle Frost was 2.50 lengths off the winner and “John Deere” 0.05 lengths further back. Diamonds “n Rubies was. 5.55 lengths off Lil Miss Gee.  That day Seattle Frost received 1 kg from his stable mate, but this time they both carry 60 kgs.

I had a word with Thomas Mason who trains Seattle Frost and “John Deere” and, although he expects both to give a good account of themselves, he feels Seattle Frost will relish the extra ground.  Probably true, on breeding, but “John Deere” ran a decent third over 2000m when in South Africa.

Of course, the Twice Over (GB) filly, Diamonds ‘n Rubies, may upset both apple carts and if Farm Yard Tractor doesn’t win I will say he hasn’t had time to get used to his classy nickname. And there are other runners.

Come on, “John Deere”.

Photograph by Jenny Stock: Diamonds ‘n Rubies with Norbert Takawira up. Wes Marwing rides this filly on Sunday, and Takawira is on “John Deere”.

As I am not a fly, I can only guess what might happen behind the scenes at the Final Acceptance stage at Borrowdale Park. Mainly due to the small pool of horses, races fold because of insufficient runners and must be hastily re-opened under different conditions.

The 1260m Open Handicap which was due to be run on Sunday is a case in point. Ten horses were nominated with index figures ranging from 108 down to 78 – it was open to all horses after all.  When the weights were published top sprinter, Coachella was set to carry 67 kgs – a tall ask for any horse – and the bottom weight was 52 kgs.

Not surprisingly Coachella was scratched along with his stable companions Peggson, Christofle and Coastal Torrent.  Armstrong and Golden Lion must have also bowed out as only four of the original runners – Fareeq, Kingston Passage, Silver Coin and What A Dandy – were left in the race.

The new race is called the Open Merit Rated 88 Handicap and the four who stood their ground have been joined by a newcomer at Borrowdale, Daffiq, and Lunar Dancer (MR 58). Now we have a six-horse race but what we don’t have is a chance to see a top horse in action.

Races for our best performers are few and far between and there isn’t another racecourse just down the road to cater for them.  Of course, I haven’t a clue what I am talking about, but wouldn’t it be better to give them a manageable weight more often even if a large portion of the field is running under sufferance?  Good horses add interest and deserve a fair crack of the whip.

On Sunday Fareeq (MR 88) will carry top weight of 60 kgs and will give half a kg to Daffiq, a two-time winner who has scored over 1400m and 1450m in South Africa.  His last race was in November 2018.

Kingston Passage will carry 59 kgs, Silver Coin 58.5 kgs, What A Dandy 55, and Lunar Dancer 52.  Claiming apprentice Rodgers Satombo rides Lunar Dancer but is unlikely to make 48 kgs.

On the 15 December Silver Coin, What A Dandy and Fareeq finished behind Verdier and Coachella in the 1200m SKM Gold Cup.  That day Coachella, 0.05 lengths off the winner, was giving Verdier 11 kgs.

Kingston Passage has not raced since July but won the 1100m Hachiman Sprint in 2019. What A Dandy enjoys the 1260m trip. So does Lunar Dancer, second to White Winter over this distance on January 19. She is drawn on the outside on Sunday.

Silver Coin is always interesting because although bred to stay further he has won over 1200m and 1400m and seems to prefer the shorter distances.  Hennie Greyling rides.

The Open Merit Rated 88 Handicap is due off at 13 30 on Sunday. Racing starts at 12 20.

Photograph by Andrew Philip: Fareeq and Coachella matching paces in a 1100m MR 100 Handicap in November.  Coachella, giving away 7kgs, won.

As you can see some people are working hard at Borrowdale Park, transforming a hitherto unsightly and underused area into something vibrant and interesting. Why are they doing this?

Watch this space.

Photographs by George Fleet.

Only four fillies are nominated for the 2020 Fillies Classic – first leg of the Zimbabwe Triple Tiara – and to make matters worse they are all from one stable. In 2019 there were five runners but at least they represented three yards.

In my opinion, for what it’s not worth, it would be better to put the fillies’ Classic races in mothballs until the situation improves, rather than downgrade Classic races and put off punters. Let the good fillies compete with the colts and geldings in the Triple Crown races.

Sadly, this year should have been better. There are more three-year-old fillies in training who could have made a race of it. In these hard times the people whose livelihood depends on the continuation and improvement of racing at Borrowdale Park should be striving to make the best of things for the good of racing. After all you can’t win them all – and probably shouldn’t.

Be that as it may, the 2020 Fillies Classic is going ahead with, if all goes well, four runners. Lily Blue is sure to start favourite and I will be shocked if she doesn’t triumph in this 1600m event. Last time out she won the 1800m ZNA Champion Fillies Stakes over 1800m and prior to that the Breeders Fillies Mile (L), beating Wijdaan by two lengths. This daughter of Black Minnaloushe (USA) is out of a Kitalpha (USA) mare and appears to be a class act.

On Sunday February 2 Lily Blue takes on Gimmethegreenback, Prescott and newcomer to Borrowdale, Infinity Blue. The last-mentioned is an Oratorio (IRE) filly who won her last start at Flamingo Park over 1800m.

May the best horse win – and I mean that. The four runners and the single trainer involved can’t be blamed for the entries not living up to expectations.

Final Acceptances for the February 2 meeting are due later today (Monday).

Photograph: Wijdaan chasing Lily Blue in the Breeders Fillies Mile (L).

What a pity Gael and Dennis Evans were unable to be at Borrowdale Park on Sunday to see their home bred colt, Wantage, carry 60 kgs and win the 1600m Guineas Trial by three lengths.

The son of Ato out of the Tamburlaine (IRE) mare, Angora, is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd and has now won three and placed six times from 10 starts.

Trained by Bridget Stidolph, Wantage was ridden by Mathew Thackeray. Tree Of Wisdom, Lil Miss Gee and Donegal Glen filled the minor places.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News

The first two races at Borrowdale Park on Sunday went Kirk Swanson’s way, with Zambezi Rapids winning the 1200m Maiden Plate, and Double Tap (pictured) beating stablemate Ineffable to the line in the 1900m MR 61 Handicap.

By Twice Over (GB) and bred by Cheveley Stud, Double Tap is now a four-time winner. The five-year-old gelding is owned by Dr Ronald Mhizha, Mr N Chiminya and Ms S N Mehlomakhulu. In form jockey, Norbert Takawira was riding.

Well done everyone.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News.

So, it wasn’t a bad Guineas Trial after all. Top weighted Wantage played a waiting game in the 1600m feature at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon and showed the field a clean pair of heels about 300m from the finish.

Donegal Glen led them into the home straight but had to settle for fourth behind Tree Of Wisdom (second) and rank outsider Lil Miss Gee.

By Ato and owned and bred by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Mr D E Evans), Wantage is trained by Bridget Stidolph and Mathew Thackeray was in the irons.

Congratulations to the winning connections. The three-year-old colt has now won three and been placed six times from 10 starts – bring on the Zimbabwe Guineas.

Photograph by Jenny Stock: Wantage earlier in his career with Mathew Thackeray aboard.

On October 20 in a 1800m MR 80 Handicap, Wolves Among Sheep held off Bugatti Blue in a close finish. That day Bugatti Blue was receiving half a kg from Wolves Among Sheep. This afternoon at Borrowdale Park he will give the son of Philanthropist 2 kgs.

The pair should make a race of it in today’s 1800m event, but every one of the other five runners also has the credentials to shine. This field includes Fareeq, Three To Tango, In The Mood, Yarraman and Arte.

The 1800m Merit Rated 89 Handicap is the third race on the card and is due off at 13 10. Be there.

Photograph by Gavin MacLeod. Wolves Among Sheep and Bugatti Blue.