Western Warrior (above) and Countess Varovski, both ex Amy Bronkhorst, have their first race for the Stidolph stable in the 1100m MR 55 Handicap, due off at 11.45 am on Sunday, February 25.

Bridget will also saddle Megagram and Arial.

Western Warrior, a son of Querari (USA) out of a Silvano (Ger) mare has had three starts at Borrowdale Park, finishing second last time out to Israel over 1260m.

This is a competitive field and most of the 12 acceptors could feature. Don’t miss this one.

STAYERS COME OUT TO PLAY

On 19 February 2017 stable mates Stirling Road (nearest the camera) and Rawedge fought out the finish of a MR 55 Handicap over 2400m.

They meet again at Borrowdale Park on Sunday in a 2400m MR 70 Handicap. This time Kirk Swanson will also saddle Perfect Grace and Baumgartner in a field of 10.

Mathematician and Ashton Park, more often than not set to carry top weight, get to meet former rivals on even terms in the 1600m MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes (L) at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, February 25.

This race takes place annually to commemorate the great race mare, Ipi Tombe, who was bred and began her racing career in Zimbabwe. It is open for all horses at Weight For Age which means Mathematician, Ashton Park, Comanche Brave, Life Is Good, Amsterdam, Road To Dubai, Leven Point and David’s Flower (AUS) will carry 60 kgs. Simona, the only filly entered, is on 57.5 kgs.

Most of these runners, with the exception of Amsterdam and Leven Point, need little or no introduction to Borrowdale Park punters. The seven horses Zimbabwean punters are most familiar with have won 57 races between them.

This will be Leven Point’s second outing at Borrowdale. On January 28 he finished 2.75 lengths behind Simona in a 1800m MR 83 Handicap. On that occasion the winner was receiving 5.5kgs. By Fort Wood (USA) out of a Jallad (USA) mare, this six-year-old gelding has won 3 times from 1400m to 1800m. Fanie Chambers rides for Bridget Stidolph.

Amsterdam, another six-year old gelding, by Windrush (USA) out of a Machiavellian (USA) mare, will be having his first race in Zimbabwe. His last outing was at Turffontein on January 27 when he won an 1800m MR 99 Handicap, beating Bankable Teddy. To date Amsterdam has won 6 races from 1600m to 2000m. Greg Cheyne will ride for Kirk Swanson.

I am sure this will be a great race. Life Is Good, owned and bred by Robin Bruss, is trying for a hat-trick, but with Formgrids still not completely up to date I won’t be making predictions. That’s my excuse anyway – at these weights it could be tricky.

The Stidolph yard is sending out five of the 9 runners – Mathematician (McNaughton), Comanche Brave (Habib), Life Is Good (Herholdt), Leven Point (Chambers) and Simona (Storey). Penny Fisher will saddle Ashton Park (Munger) and David’s Flower (AUS) (Penny). In addition to Amsterdam, Kirk Swanson has entered Road To Dubai who will be ridden by Sherman Brown.

Try a Quartet.

The first race at Borrowdale on Sunday – a 1100m MR 55 Handicap with 12 runners – is due off at 11.45 am. The Fillies Classic should start at 14.35 and the MOTA Ipi Tombe Stakes at 15.10.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod: David’s Flower (AUS) winning a 1450m MR 70 Handicap in February 2016, followed by Goose Green. Penny Fisher’s charge takes on the big boys at level weights in the Ipi Tombe Stakes on Sunday. The seven-year-old gelding has won 8 races to date.

Before the February 11 race meeting, subsequently rained off, I said the field for the 1600m Fillies Classic, first leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Tiara, was not particularly exciting.

At that stage only four fillies had accepted, but now that this race has been carried forward to Sunday, February 25, and re-opened, there are two additional acceptors…Raven Girl and Hillah The Hun.

This will be Raven Girl’s first start at Borrowdale Park. The lightly raced daughter of Philanthropist (USA) won her first start over the Turffontein 1400m in September, followed by three unplaced runs over 1600m, 1160m and 1400m.  Her last race in Gauteng was on January 27, so definitely the mystery horse here. She is now trained by Bridget Stidolph and will be ridden by Collen Storey.

Hillah The Hun, on the other hand, has had two starts at Borrowdale, finishing second to Canadian Champion over 1600m, before going on to win a 1700m Maiden Plate on January 14. By Visionaire (USA) out of a Jet Master mare, she is trained by Penny Fisher and Hennie Greyling has the ride. I fancy her chances – more than likely because the name appeals.

Of the original four runners Bridget Stidolph’s pair, Sweet Tea and Hollywood On Set, are probably evenly matched, judging by their performance over the distance, behind Peggson, on October 22. They finished 5.75 and 6 lengths, respectively, behind the winner, and this was their last outing.

Both are one time winners over sprints but Sweet Tea did finish 3.50 lengths off Flanders over 1450m. If I had to choose between these stable mates Sweet Tea would get the edge.

Kirk Swanson’s duo, Dartagna and Wild Imogen, are lightly raced but have more recent form… up the straight. Dartagna, by Fencing Master (GB) out of a Dynasty mare., won her first start over 1100m, in November, beating Blue Label. Next time out on January 14 she ran 12.10 lengths behind her stable mate, Designer Pot, in a 1600m Novice Plate. With some experience around the turn perhaps she can do better than that.

Wild Imogen, also by Fencing Master (GB) but out of a Kitalpha (USA) mare, has not raced further than 1200m. She was unplaced in her first start on January 14, in a 1100m Maiden Plate won by Respectable Rock, but two weeks later won a similar event over 1200m, beating Bomber Pilot.

All the fillies will carry 58 kgs. Brendon McNaughton rides Sweet Tea and Caleb Habib will pilot Hollywood on Set. Francois Herholdt is on Dartagna while Sherman Brown takes Wild Imogen.

Things are looking up – we have an interesting event!

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News: Hillah The Hun with Hennie Greyling aboard.

I have just been advised by the Racing Manager at Borrowdale Park that tomorrow’s race meeting will not take place due to heavy rain.

At this stage I do not know whether the scheduled races have been postponed, or abandoned. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the race meeting was moved forward to the following Sunday – or something – as happens elsewhere?

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

In the 1200m HRIB Gold Cup in December Coachella carried 61 kgs to victory, but all of Super Good, Life Is Good and Road To Dubai finished within 1.10 lengths of the winner.

They all step out again on Sunday in the 1260m Control Freak Open Handicap – with the addition of Mathematician who is set to carry top weight of 60 kgs.

Life Is Good has won twice (over 1100m and 1450m) since finishing third to Coachella, and takes on some of his former rivals here. The son of Var (USA) may well be heading for a hat-trick but this has the makings of a good and close race.

Bridget Stidolph will saddle four of the five runners, and the Swanson yard will be represented by Road To Dubai. I quietly fancy Super Good and Road To Dubai in this one – both carrying 52.5 kgs – but have to admit this could be anyone’s race.

The first race at Borrowdale Park on Sunday is due off at 12.50. This interesting sprint is the last race on the card, scheduled for 16 15.

Photograph: Life Is Good with Randall Simons in the irons. Calvin Habib gets the ride on Sunday.

Not the most exciting field for the 1600m Fillies Classic, main event at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, and first leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Tiara.

Of the four runners Bridget Stidolph’s pair, Sweet Tea and Hollywood On Set (by Jay Peg), are probably evenly matched, judging by their performance over the distance, behind Peggson, on October 22. They finished 5.75 and 6 lengths, respectively, behind the winner, and this was their most recent outing.

Both are one time winners over sprints but Sweet Tea, by Antonius Pius (USA), did finish 3.50 lengths off Flanders over 1450m. If I had to choose between these stable mates Sweet Tea would get the edge.

Kirk Swanson’s duo, Dartagna and Wild Imogen, are lightly raced but have more recent form… up the straight. Dartagna, by Fencing Master (GB) out of a Dynasty mare., won her first start over 1100m, in November, beating Blue Label. Next time out on January 14 she ran 12.10 lengths behind her stable mate, Designer Pot, in a 1600m Novice Plate. With some experience around the turn perhaps she can do better than that.

Wild Imogen, also by Fencing Master (GB) but out of a Kitalpha (USA) mare, has not raced further than 1200m. She was unplaced in her first start on January 14, in a 1100m Maiden Plate won by Respectable Rock, but two weeks later won a similar event over 1200m, beating Bomber Pilot.

All the fillies will carry 58 kgs. Calvin Habib rides Sweet Tea and Brendon McNaughton will pilot Hollywood on Set. Francois Herholdt is on Dartagna while Sherman Brown takes Wild Imogen.

I am not keen on predicting the eventual outcome…it could even depend upon the rain.

Photograph by Zimbabwe Equine News: Sweet Tea with Fanie Chambers aboard. Calvin Habib rides on Sunday.

Rumbavu Park Stud, based in Zimbabwe, added another two winners to their tally at Borrowdale on Sunday when Wild Imogen won the 1200m Maiden Plate, and Israel the 1260m MR 60 Handicap.

Both fillies are owned by Christopher Peech of Rumbavu and Israel (below) was ridden by Francie Herholdt and trained by Kirk Swanson.

Kirk saddled a third winner during the afternoon when Baumgartner won the 1900m MR 64 Handicap for John Koumides. Sherman Brown was in the irons on both Wild Imogen and Baumgartner.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Red Rebel won the 1600m MR 50 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday for the Gin’ll Fix It Syndicate (nominee Kirsty Stidolph).

The five-year-old son of Rebel King was having his second start in Zimbabwe and started at 15/1, beating Goose Green, stable mate Crystalline, and Record Bid. Brendon McNaughton was riding for Bridget Stidolph and the winner was bred by Riverton Stud. Congratulations everyone.

Earlier in the afternoon the Stidolph yard saddled two winners. Mia Finola won the 900m Maiden Juvenile Plate, and Simona scored in the 1800m MR 83 Handicap.

Things have been quite tight at the top of the Zimbabwe trainers log since the beginning of the 2017/18 season. With the two leading stables sharing the training honours at Borrowdale Park on Sunday Kirk Swanson seems likely to remain on top, for the time being.

According to stats published in the official MTC race card of January 28, the Swanson stable (after the January 14 meeting) headed the list with stake money of $128 290 from 39 individual runners, 120 T/Runs and 21 wins – winning percentage 18%.

The Stidolph yard earned $105 855 with 38 individual runners, 145 T/Runs and 12 wins – winning percentage 8%.

Penny Fisher came in at $99 230, from 31 individual runners, 102 T/Runs and 18 wins – winning margin 18%.

I have not heard officially but understand Amy Bronkhorst bowed out as a trainer after the January 28 meeting, but during the period mentioned above Amy’s yard had earned $68 901, with 28 individual runners, 99 T/Runs, 12 wins – winning percentage 12%.

So far the playing field has been fairly level with regard to individual runners per stable, and the stake money for most races remains the same, regardless of whether it is a Maiden Plate or a MR 90 Handicap. In fact, during the period 1 August to 14 January I think only the $13 000 HRIB Gold Cup, had an increased stake.

Unfortunately, looking ahead, there is a huge difference in stakes when it comes to the $50 000 Castle Tankard, the $40 000 OK Grand Challenge and the Republic Cup, also $40 000. With the small pool of horses at Borrowdale Park these major events are more often than not dominated by one or two horses (including very recent imports)…and thereafter winning percentages count for nothing as the training log is judged only on winning stakes.

The departure of Amy from the training ranks should also have some bearing on the statistics – depending on who gets what – but hopefully the yards will remain more or less evenly balanced with regard to numbers.

Gavin Macleod definitely needs more horses …you have to be exceptionally lucky to achieve great things with three individual runners…and a couple more training yards would also perk things up.

Oh well…I can dream. I really and truly hope racing at Borrowdale Park is NOT about to become a numbers game…which is so boring.

The favourites went AWOL at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, but Knuckleball, although not outright favourite, was at least strongly fancied in the Guineas Trial,  a 1600m handicap for three-year-olds.

The previously unbeaten Edward The Seventh failed to catch the front running Knuckleball, having to settle for 1.50 lengths off the winner. Night Of Speed, third, was four lengths back.

By Curved Ball (AUS), Knuckleball was bred by Clifton Stud and is owned by Mr V. Gappah, Mr R.H.S. and Mrs P. Beattie, and Mr D.H. and Mrs J.L. Cocksedge. Randall Simons was riding for Amy Bronkhorst.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Red Savage is aiming for a hat-trick in the 1900m MR 65 Handicap at Borrowdale on Sunday.

He vanquished Baumgartner and Wee Doch ‘n Dorris by 2 lengths and 2.75 lengths respectively on December 2, but with a turnaround in weights they should present more of a challenge here.

Photograph: Red Savage, by Jay Peg, with Hennie Greyling in the irons.

On December 17 Phantom Major and Kevin Barry provided a nail biting finish to a 2000m MR 80 Handicap – with Kevin Barry closing on the front runner, Phantom Major, with every stride.

Kevin Barry didn’t quite make it – winning margin 0.25 lengths – but they meet again at Borrowdale Park on Sunday in a 1800m MR 90 Handicap.

There will, however, be seven other runners all capable of making their presence felt. In addition to Light The Way, Betula Uber, Boiling Point, Haga Haga and Simona, one also has to consider Leven Point, a three-time winner having his first start in Zimbabwe.

In his last outing in South Africa in April the six-year-old gelding was 5.25 lengths off No Worries over 2400m.  By Fort Wood, Leven Point won his races at Greyville from 1400m to 1800m.