Isn’t it time one of our ‘top’ horses fought back?

It may not come as a surprise to anyone that I am ready to be amazed by the result of the 2018 Republic Cup.

The stake for Saturday’s 1900m event has been boosted to $60 000 – making this the richest race in Zimbabwe’s racing calendar. You can bet your life this is a race everyone wants to win. However, that said, I would hesitate to bet my house, let alone my life, on anything else.

The field includes Roman Discent, the 66/1 shot who won the 2018 Castle Tankard (GR1), beating Simona by a whisker over 2000m when both carried 52 kgs. Simona went on to win the 1800m OK Grand Challenge (GR2) a month later.

The Gimmethegreenlight filly carried 53.5 kgs in the OK and finished two lengths clear of Peggson (52kgs). Roman Discent, on 54 kgs was 5.50 lengths back.

It is tempting to conclude that the winner of the 1900m Republic Cup (GR3) will come from one of the lightweights – and there is a rash of runners to choose from. Peggson will carry 53 kgs, Kevin Barry 52.5 kgs, and all of Heir Line, newcomer Bush Pilot and Lava Flow are on 52 kgs.

Zimbabwe Derby winner Knuckleball is a Card Scratching, and this well-performed three-year-old would have received plenty of support when carrying 52 kgs.

Weight counts but it is sad to see the better-rated runners constantly missing out on the pound seats. It is time for one of our ‘top’ horses to fight back.

Saturday’s runner Comanche Brave won the 2017 Castle Tankard with 52 kgs, fluffed his lines in the 2017 OK Grand Challenge, but scored in the 2017 Republic Cup, carrying 59 kgs. He runs off a Merit Rating of 95 and is set to carry 60 kgs on Saturday.

Perhaps he can get back to winning ways. The son of Kahal (GB) was giving Roman Discent and Simona 6.5 kgs each in the Tankard, and finished third, 3.30 lengths behind. Simona is 2.5 kgs worse off here.

Comanche Brave fluffed it again in the 2018 OK Grand Challenge, but that is exactly what he did last year.

Master Switch, fourth in this year’s Tankard, and third in the OK, could also put his best hoof forward on Saturday. He will be giving Simona 1.5 kgs, compared with the 3.5 kgs she received from him in the OK – when Master Switch finished about two lengths behind.

Although I haven’t made a case for Amsterdam I don’t believe we have seen him at his best yet. He too meets Simona on better terms.

It seems I have made Simona my ‘line’ horse, and why not? The four-year-old finished a very close second in the Castle Tankard, and won the OK Grand Challenge comfortably. The handicapper may or may not be catching up with her, but on Saturday we shall see.

Knuckleball is a  Card Scratching from the $60 000 Republic Cup (GR3) which will be run at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.

Promising three-year-old Knuckleball ran second to Butchie Boy in the 2018 Zimbabwe Guineas and went on to win the 2018 Zimbabwe 2000 and the 2018 Zimbabwe Derby. Penny Fisher’s charge steps up to the big time on Saturday when he runs in the $60 000 Republic Cup (GR3) over 1900m.

The son of Curved Ball (USA) will carry 52 kgs and is expected to give a good account of himself.

Penny will also saddle Master Switch, Kevin Barry and Lava Flow for the big race at Borrowdale Park.

SIMONA IS GOING FOR A BIG RACE DOUBLE

The four-year-old Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) filly, Simona (above), will be trying for a big race double when she runs in the $60 000 Republic Cup at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.

Simona was a close second to Roman Discent in the 2018 Castle Tankard and won the OK Grand Challenge at the beginning of June.

Bridget Stidolph has also entered Comanche Brave, Roman Discent, Bush Pilot and Peggson in this 1900m event.

SWANSON FIELDS TWO IN REPUBLIC CUP

Kirk Swanson sends out two runners for the $60 000 Republic Cup (GR3) to be run over 1900m at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.

Heir Line (above) is a four-year-old Dynasty gelding out of a Jet Master mare, and he won his last start over 1700m on June 17.

Amsterdam, by Windrush (USA) out of a Machiavellian (USA) mare, will also represent the Swanson yard. A winner of four races, Amsterdam will carry 56 kgs and is drawn 9 in the Republic Cup.

Photographs: Zimbabwe Equine News.

Bugatti Blue, completing a winning double, romped away with the 1600m MR 75 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday – winning margin 5 lengths.

Owned by the Centaur Syndicate (nominee Craig Danckwerts), the three-year-old colt, by Traffic Guard (USA), was bred by Summerhill Stud. He is trained by Kirk Swanson and Francois Herholdt had the ride.

Peggson carried 60 kgs and won the 1200m Graduation Plate, last race of the day at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. White Winter was only 0.10 lengths behind him.

Rose Diamond, by Fencing Master (GB) and bred by the Spotted Pig Stud in Zimbabwe, was a comfortable winner of the 1600m Maiden Plate at Borrowdale on Sunday.

The three-year-old filly is owned by Kevin Fallon, and Ryan Munger was riding for Penny Fisher. Previously Rose Diamond was placed in three of her six starts.

Well done everyone.

Seven-year-old Wee Doch ‘n Dorris proved age is just a number when storming through to beat Rebellious Queen by 0.05 lengths in the 1700m MR 50 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

FINAL FIELD FOR REPUBLIC CUP
BORROWDALE – Saturday 14 July 2018

Race-1 (Turf) $ 60,000 1900m 00:00 Ref-0
1st $36,000, 2nd $12,000, 3rd $7,200, 4th $3,600, 5th $1,200
THE REPUBLIC CUP (Grade 3)
Open
WFA: 2yrs-10.5kgs 3yrs-1.5kgs
No Apprentice Allowance

1 4 COMANCHE BRAVE 60.0 95 A C Maujean Bridget Stidolph
2 8 MASTER SWITCH 57.5 90 T A J Penny Penny Fisher
3 9 AMSTERDAM 56.0 87 T A …………… Kirk Swanson
4 1 SIMONA 56.0 87 A C Habib Bridget Stidolph
5 3 ROMAN DISCENT 54.5 84 A M Thackeray Bridget Stido
6 11 PEGGSON 53.0 84 A B McNaughton Bridget Stidolph
7 2 KEVIN BARRY 52.5 80 A E Pheiffer Penny Fisher
8 7 KNUCKLEBALL 52.0 81 A R Munger Penny Fisher
9 10 HEIR LINE 52.0 74 T A …………… Kirk Swanson
10 5 BUSH PILOT 52.0 71 A …………… Bridget Stidolph
11 6 LAVA FLOW 52.0 68 A J Greyling Penny Fisher

TOTAL RUNNERS: 11

First-timer, Born To Shine, won the 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate at Borrowdale Park on Sunday by an impressive five lengths.

Owned by Grant Littleford, Spencer Murray, Paul Rugg, Steve Shutt and Amy Bronkhorst, the Windrush (USA) filly is out of a Badger Land (USA) mare and was bred by Waboomsvallei Stud.

Bridget Stidolph trains the winner, ridden by Brendon McNaughton – a combination that scored again later in the day.

Definitely one for the notebook.

Lady Carina, with Hennie Greyling in the irons, was the first of two winners from the Penny Fisher yard on Sunday afternoon.

In this race, a 1260m MR 70 Handicap, the stable saddled the first three past the post… Zita and Jay Kay Two being in close contention.

The winner, a daughter of Miesque’s Approval (USA), is owned by Matt Charlton, Bruce McClauchlan, and Alistair, Ken, Penny, Alex and Natalie Fisher.

Bred by Scott Bros, this four-year-old is now a five-time winner. Congratulations everyone.

Designer Pot was the cherry on top for the Swanson stable at Borrowdale Park on Sunday as the yard had already sent out two winners.

The four-year-old Judpot colt, with Francie Herholdt up, came up trumps in the main race of the day, a 1600m MR 80 Handicap, finishing clear of Lava Flow, Knuckleball and Kevin Barry. Winning margins 1.00, 2.50 and 3.00 lengths.

Congratulations to the winning owners, Dr R. Mhizha, Messrs D. Marandura and T.P.B. Mpofu, and Ms S.N. Mehlomakhulu.

Designer Pot was bred by Varsfontein Stud and has now won four races.

Designer Pot, a four-year-old colt by Judpot, won the 1600m MR 80 Handicap at Borrowdale Park this afternoon, chased by Lava Flow.

The favourite, Knuckleball, went onto the pace, followed by stable companion Kevin Barry. At one stage it seemed this would be a Fisher Exacta, but Designer Pot finished strongly. The third Fisher runner, Lava Flow, charged from the back but failed to catch the winner. Knuckleball and Kevin Barry settled for third and fourth.

Trained by Kirk Swanson and with Francois Herholdt in the irons, Designer Pot was bred by Varsfontein Stud. He has won four races and is owned by Dr R Mhizha, Messrs D. Marandure and T.P.B. Mpofu, and Ms S.N. Mehlomakhulu.

Congratulations – your boy did you proud.

The Swanson team sent out to other winners earlier in the afternoon. Wee Doch’n Dorris (Brown) was involved in a tight finish with Rebellious Queen (Munger) in the 1700m MR 50 Handicap. Bugatti Blue (Herholdt) triumphed in the 1600m MR 75 Handicap.

Penny Fisher and Bridget Stidolph saddled two winners each. Lady Carina (Greyling) won the 1260m MR 70 Handicap, and Rose Diamond (Munger) scored for the Fisher yard in the 1600m Maiden Plate.

Bridget saddled Born To Shine (McNaughton), winner of the 1100m Maiden Juvenile Plate – and this duo scored again with Peggson in the 1200m Graduation Plate.

Many of us thought this trip was too short for Peggson, but we were wrong.

Well done everyone.

Photograph: Designer Pot.