After Sunday’s race meeting there are only two more to look forward to before the annual racing break. When racing returns to Borrowdale Park on September 8 the current crop of three-year-olds will have turned four, with the Classics behind them.

Looking back on the season, so far, it is encouraging to note the number of well-performed three-year-olds which have emerged from Zimbabwe’s very small pool of horses. Several could make their presence felt on Sunday.

Main race on the card is a 1600m MR 80 Handicap where Knuckleball is set to take on older horses, including his stable companions Kevin Barry and Lava Flow. The field includes Last Outlaw, whose last start was at Greyville in July 2017, when he beat Where You (previously known as Gasoline) over 1600m. Haga Haga and Designer Pot also step out here.

Kevin Barry with an MR of 80 carries 60 kgs and Knuckleball (MR 81) is on 59,5 kgs. He will meet Last Outlaw on equal terms, while giving Lava Flow 5.5 kgs and Designer Pot and Haga Haga 7.5 kgs. Quite a tall ask over 1600m when the drag effect of an extra 1 kg is said to be one length over 1600m.

Of course Knuckleball has earned his Merit Rating. His five wins from 12 starts include victories in the Bloodstock SA2000 and the 2400m Zimbabwe Derby. He was second to Butchie Boy in the Zimbabwe Guineas and has won over 1600m and 1700m. This son of Curved Ball (USA) has the ability, and this is his chance to prove that, beyond a shadow of doubt.

Earlier in the afternoon there is a 1600m MR 75 Handicap for three-year-olds where Bugatti Blue, Wild Imogen and maybe Shakespeare InLove look the pick. However, once again weight could count, making Magical Charm a danger.

Another three-year-old, Peggson, makes life interesting in the get-out stakes, a 1200m Graduation Plate restricted to maidens and one and two-time winners. In his last outing, Peggson was a surprising second to Simona in the 1800m OK Grand Challenge when carrying 52 kgs.

He went into that race with an MR of 68 and has now shot up to MR 84. Not that Merit Ratings count in Graduation Plates, but The Catcher and Peggson, as two-time winners, both carry 60 kgs here.

To date 1200m has not been Peggson’s game – he won over 1600m and 1700m – so White Winter, The Catcher and Silver Buck (with blinkers) are probably better bets.

The first race on Sunday is due off at 12.35.

Photograph: FLASHBACK to December 2017 when Knuckleball won a 1700m Progress Plate, followed across the line by Flasher On The Run, Roman Discent and Rebellious Queen.

Rain Spider came from the clouds to deny hotly fancied Pas de Deux a victory in the 1200m Champion Juvenile Stakes at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.

The son of Byword (GB), out of a Fort Wood (USA) mare, was having his second start and came third to Party In The Park in his first outing. He is trained by Bridget Stidolph, bred by Wilgersbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, and owned by Ashley Dixon, Scott Buchan, Neil Evans, Gary Carter, Merlyn Chant, Ryan Sherwood and Paula Lewis. Brendon McNaughton was in the irons.

Training honours during the rest of the meeting were shared by Penny Fisher and Kirk Swanson, with three winners each.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Simona won the 30th running of the $40 000 OK Grand Challenge (GR2) at Borrowdale Park this afternoon.

The four-year-old Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) filly (second in the recent Castle Tankard) came with a tremendous finish just when the commentator was predicting another shock result…”Peggson of all things!”

Both Simona and Peggson (second) are trained by Bridget Stidolph. Calvin Habib was aboard the winner who is owned by Newbury Racing (Pty) Ltd – Congratulations Gael and Denis Evans. Simona was bred by Nadeson Park and is out of a Western Winter (USA) mare.

Comanche Brave made the pace, tracked by Life Is Good. Close to home it looked as though Comanche Brave was going to hold on – Peggson pushed through – and just in time Simona saved the day.

I think Master Switch, trained by Penny Fisher, was third …thanks Tellytrack for cutting off our commentator but what’s new…and I don’t know who came fourth.

It was an exciting scramble at the finish. Very well done to everyone concerned.

It’s a big day at Borrowdale Park on Saturday. This will be the 30th running of the $40 000 OK Grand Challenge over 1800m. All the fields on the 7-race card are interesting but the main race certainly requires the most thought, and I haven’t reached any satisfactory conclusions.

Included among the 15 carded runners are Roman Discent, Simona, Kilrain, and Phantom Major, who finished in the first five in the 2000m Castle Tankard, with only 1.55 lengths separating the winner, Roman Discent, and Phantom Major. Saturday’s runners

Comanche Brave, Master Switch and Amsterdam also ran in the Tankard but disappointed on that occasion.

It is tempting to place too much emphasis on how these horses finished in the Tankard – but this is a different race, over a shorter distance and on a different day. There were only eight competitors in the Tankard, and different tactics may be employed in this much larger field which includes a number of horses who are probably really surprised to be there.

That said… remember Roman Discent!

The question is whether Roman Discent, who shocked most punters rigid on Tankard Day, can prove this was no flash in the pan? He got up to beat stablemate Simona by 0.05 lengths. The fancied Kilrain, who was giving both Roman Discent and Simona 7 kgs, was only a whisker behind.

Bridget Stidolph, trainer of Roman Discent and Simona, won this race with Duffy’s Call in 2016, and Royal Honour (ex-Paul Matchett), in 2017. She will saddle seven of the 15 OK competitors this time and none can be discounted. All of Comanche Brave, Life Is Good, Super Good (third in the OK in 2017), Raven Girl (the recent Zimbabwe Oaks winner) and Peggson will have support.

Kilrain, previously trained by Mike de Kock, is now in the Fisher stable. Penny Fisher will also send out Master Switch, Master ‘n Commander and Kevin Barry on the day.
Kirk Swanson is pinning his hopes on Amsterdam, Phantom Major, Heir Line and Cool Solution.

In a way it’s quite exciting, and relaxing, when one admits one hasn’t a clue about the eventual outcome of a major event. We know this will be a great race and I really hope the best horse (whoever that may be) will win.

Photograph by Andrew Philip of the 2018 Castle Tankard finish.

What A Dandy won the 1100m MR 68 Handicap at Borrowdale on Sunday, beating stable companion Edward The Seventh (conceding 6kgs) by a length at the finish.

Owned by John Koumides, What a Dandy by Just As Well (USA),was bred by Barton Hall Stud. Francie Herholdt had the ride and the three-year-old is trained by Kirk Swanson.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod

The Kirk Swanson stable sent out two winners at Borrowdale on Sunday, and Francois Herholdt rode both of them.

First up was Israel who finished 1.25 lengths clear of Peggson, followed by Rebellious Queen and Heir Line, in the 1600m Graduation Plate.

The lightly raced three-year-old Seventh Rock (AUS) gelding has now had 6 outings for three wins and three seconds. He is owned by Christopher Peech and was bred by Rumbavu Park Stud.

Later in the day the John Koumides-owned What A Dandy got up to beat stablemate Edward The Seventh in the 1100m MR 68 Handicap.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Photograph by Andrew Philip Equine Photography

Finlay, trained by Penny Fisher and with Mathew Thackeray in the irons, was a comfortable winner of the 1800m MR 50 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. Winning margin 3.50 lengths clear of Hashtag Rounda.

The five-year-old gelding, by Go Deputy (USA) and out of a Western Winter (USA) mare has now won three races and was bred by Lammerskraal Stud. He is owned by Gengiz Goksel, Bruce McClauchlan and Dave Rosser.

Congratulations to the winning connections

Gavin Macleod captured this moment in the 1260m MR 85 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

The race was won by Super Good (Stidolph/Storey) carrying 62.5 kgs, and Belle Epoque, from the Swanson yard and with Keagan de Melo aboard, came second. In this picture Super Good is leading the pack and Belle Epoque (in pink) isn’t yet in contention. Zita (green and white silks) came third.

Raven Girl, bred by Drakenstein Stud, won the Zimbabwe Oaks (L) at Borrowdale Park as expected, so we got something right.

The Philanthropist (USA) filly, trained by Bridget Stidolph and ridden by Collen Storey, is owned by Ryan Sherwood, Neil Evans, Scott Buchan and Bridget Stidolph. This was Raven Girl’s third victory in succession and included two legs of the Triple Tiara. Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Sweet Tea, the winner’s stable companion, set the pace in the 2000m race, tracked by Fillies Classic winner Wild Imogen, while Raven’s Girl remained in touch with the front runners. The Bold Silvano filly, In the Mood, showed up well coming up the straight but it was all over when the favourite made her move. The result was Raven’s Girl, followed by Wild Imogen, In The Mood and Magical Charm.

With only five runners in the 2000m Zimbabwe Oaks (L) (last leg of our Triple Tiara), Raven Girl, winner of the second leg, the 1800m Silver Slipper (L), is likely to start outright favourite at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon.

The daughter of Philanthropist (USA) won a 1800m MR 68 Handicap on Castle Tankard Day, beating the older and wiser Designer Pot, who was conceding 1.5 kgs, by 5 lengths.

Sunday’s runner, Wild Imogen, won the first leg of the Triple Tiara, the 1600m Fillies Classic, but Raven Girl was only 0.05 lengths behind her. In the Silver Slipper Wild Imogen (second) finished three lengths back.

Recent Novice Plate dead-heaters, In The Mood and Magical Charm, seem evenly matched. Neither have raced further than 1600m, to date, but on breeding both should see out the 2000m trip.

On previous form the Antonius Pius (USA) filly, Sweet Tea, will have to improve drastically to feature. With recent Tankard winner, Roman Discent, in mind I am not going to say she can’t do that!

It is, however, probably safe to say that whoever beats Raven Girl wins.

Photographs by Zimbabwe Equine News: Above – Raven Girl.  Below the Bold Silvano filly In The Mood.

Roman Discent, by Dynasty, won the $50 000 Castle Tankard at Borrowdale Park this afternoon and, to quote the winning trainer Bridget Stidolph “Surprised everyone on Borrowdale Racecourse.” A win paid $34.30!

It was almost a clean sweep for the Stidolph yard in the Tankard. Bridget also saddled Simona (second) and Mathematician (fourth). The Tote Favourite, Kilrain, was third.

Matthew Thackeray rode a brilliant race, coming from behind and fighting out a tight finish with Simona. Roman Discent was bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm.

Congratulations to all the winning connections. Roman Discent is owned by Ryan Sherwood,Scott Buchan, Neil Evans, Gary Carter, Merlyn Chant and Paula Lewis. The Ipi Tombe Room at Borrowdale Park will be jumping tonight.

Photographs by Andrew Philip

The morning in Harare is bright and clear and it’s all systems go at Borrowdale Park for our race of the year.

Thoughts are with the connections of every runner at today’s race meeting – there must be a few butterflies here and there.

The first race is due off at 12.50 pm and the Castle Tankard is at 16.25.

We wish you happy racing and safe returns.

Photograph by Andrew Philip.