Coastal Torrent, by Great Britain (GB), was the decisive winner of the 1200m Graduation Plate on Sunday – winning margin three lengths. Sygone, White Winter and Lunar Dancer also finished in the money.

Owned by Messrs S H Murray, C Davenport, K Hatendi, Duncan Jones, G M Littleford, G Martell, H D Parbhoo, C M Rambo, P C Rugg, D C Samuels and S W Shutt, Coastal Attraction is trained by Bridget Stidolph and the four-year-old gelding was bred by Ascot Stud (Pty) Ltd. Collen Storey was in the irons.

Well done everyone.

Ezekiel, by Soar With Eagles (USA) and bred by Sunmark Thoroughbreds in Zimbabwe, was back to his best in the 1700m MR 55 Handicap on Sunday.

Carrying 60 kgs he passed the post ahead of Sunrise Ruby, Peapack and Pirate Hunter.

The six-year-old gelding has now won five and placed five times from 17 starts. He is trained by Kirk Swanson and owned by John Koumides and Debra Swanson. Wesley Marwing was in the irons.

Congratulations.

Action Jackson, carrying 60 kgs, proved a worthy favourite in the 1600m Novice Plate at Borrowdale On Sunday.

The son of Jackson finished 1.25 lengths clear of Prairie Sky, followed by Rose Diamond and Rain Spider.

Action Jackson is trained by Penny Fisher and Ryan Munger was riding. He is owned by Gengis Goksel and was bred by Mr I.W. Longmore.

Well done!

The five-year-old Trippi (USA) gelding, Twilight Trip, clocked up a fifth win in the 1260m Open Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday- beating Coachella by three lengths.

Bred by Patricia Devine Investments (Pty) Ltd, Twilight Trip is owned by Ryan Sherwood, Merlyn Chant, Scott Buchan, Neil Evans, Ashley Dixon and Bryn Ressell. He is trained by Bridget Stidolph and Bendon McNaughton was in the irons.

The Stidolph stable won the previous race – 1260m Maiden Plate, with Blue Label. This Oracy (NZ) gelding is owned by Bridget and Devin Habib had the winning ride.

Congratulations everyone.

Mia Finola led from start to finish – winning the 1600m Fillies Classic at Borrowdale Park with style.

The winning margin was 1.75 lengths and Mia Finola’s stablemate, Born To Shine, ran second, followed by Missy Franklin and Double Dab.

The three-year-old Var (USA) filly is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Dennis Evans) and was bred by Piemonte Stud. She has now won five of 11 starts.

Trained by Bridget Stidolph and ridden by Collen Storey.

During Sunday afternoon the Stidolph yard sent out five winners and Collen Storey rode three.

Congratulations.

Mia Finola, seen here winning the Fillies Mile in October, take on four rivals in the 1600m Fillies Classic at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

The four-time winner meets this field at level weights and looks hard to beat.

Born to Shine and Miss Franklin ran in the Guineas Trial at the last meeting. Ineffable was second to Prairie Sky over 1700m on January 13, and Double Dab is a complete mystery.

This daughter of Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) ran in a 1000m Barrier Trial at Greyville in August and will race on Sunday for Penny Fisher with Ryan Munger in the irons.

On Saturday morning, February 2, some MTC and MOTA members engaged in a hole hunt on the “new” back straight – and found several. Termites don’t take holidays.

I hope both the MTC and MOTA will persist with and expand, this exercise. In my dreams I envisage at least 100 racing fans picnicking at Borrowdale Park, and getting to know more racing people while keeping up the hole hunt. There is plenty of ground to cover – and it will help to keep our racehorses and jockeys safer.

Under present circumstances, we can’t afford to do all we would like to. However, hunting for holes doesn’t cost money.

It appears it will be some time before there is racing on Borrowdale Park’s “new course”. Some problems have been identified and will be dealt with eventually.

In the meantime onward and upward – Harare has always had good reason to be proud of its racecourse.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod

R 1. COOL SOLUTION MAIDEN PLATE 1200m

Won by CROWN BREWED (B McNaughton), followed by Street Party, Blaze Of Modesty and Clash City Rocker.  The winner is owned by Messrs A Dixon, S N Buchan, N Evans, G Carter, M K Chant, R Sherwood & Mrs P J Lewis, and trained by Bridget Stidolph.  Winning Margin 0.50, 2.50 and 1.75 lengths.

R 2. MADIGAN MERIT RATED 50 HANDICAP 1200m

Won by WEE DOCH ‘N DORRIS (N Takawira) followed by Hillah The Hun, Supa Memories and Gateway Gamble. Trained by Kirk Swanson and owned by Dixie Chicks Syndicate (Nom: Miss V E Bruce) & Mr M L Wood
Winning margin 1.50, 1.50 and 0.50 lengths.

R 3.  ERNIE OR ELSE MERIT RATED 61 HANDICAP 1900m

Won by YARRAMAN (W Marwing), followed by Philanthropy, In The Mood and Finlay.  Trained by Penny Fisher and owned by Mr G. Goksel. Winning margin 3.75, 0.25 and 2.75 lengths.

R 4.  MICA POINT MERIT RATED 90 HANDICAP 1800m

Won by PEGGSON (B McNaughton), followed by Amsterdam, Penny From Heaven and Butchie Boy. Trained by Bridget Stidolph and owned by Messrs A Ackhurst, G De Jong, G M Littleford, S H Murray, A P Nydam, P C Rugg, S W Shutt, S N Buchan & N Evans. Winning margin 0.10, 0.75 and 1.00 lengths.

R 5. RICHIE RICH MERIT RATED 50 HANDICAP 1600m 

Won by FLASHER ON THE RUN (N Takawira), followed by Baumgartner, Prairie Sky and Rose Diamond. Trained by Kirk Swanson and owned by Mr J Koumides. Winning margin 0.10, 0.75 and 4.00 lengths.

R 6. GUINEAS TRIAL 1600m

Won by OPAQUE (B McNaughton), followed by Action Jackson, Rain Spider and Born To Shine. Trained by Bridget Stidolph and owned Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr D E Evans). Winning margin 1.00, 1.50 and 2.00 lengths.

R 7. KNUCKLEBALL MERIT RATED 60 HANDICAP 1260m 

Won by KILOWATT KID (C Habib), followed by Ezekial, Cool Solution and Saheera. Trained by Bridget Stidolph and owned by Messrs S W Shutt, K Hatendi, Duncan Jones, H D Parboo, D C Samuels, C M Rambo, S N Buchan & N Evans. Winning margin 5.00, 0.25 and 3.00 lengths.

The next Borrowdale Park race meeting is on Sunday , 10 February, 2019, and it features the Fillies Classic.

Two Zimbabwe jockeys, Brendon McNaughton and Norbert Takawira, rode most of the winners on Sunday’s 7-race Borrowdale Park card.

Brendon had the edge, riding three winners for the Stidolph yard, while Norbert piloted two horses home for Kirk Swanson. The remaining laurels went to visiting jockeys Wes Marwing and Calvin Habib.

On February 3, 2019, Brendon McNaughton will be representing Zimbabwe in the International Jockey Challenge in Kenya. It will be a big day at Ngong racecourse, featuring the Brittam Guineas.

The three-year-old Ato gelding, Opaque, won the 1600m Guineas Trial at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.

Making the most of a light weight Opaque set the pace and held on to beat the favourite, Action Jackson. Rain Spider and Born To Shine were also placed.

The winner is trained by Bridget Stidolph and Brendon McNaughton was in the irons. He is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd (nominee Mr D E Evans) and was bred by Summerhill Stud.

Congratulations.