Keagan de Melo riding for Kirk Swanson, and the Soar With Eagles (USA) gelding, Ezekial, achieved a hat-trick when winning the 1600m Mr 60 Handicap at Borrowdale on Sunday.

Bred in Zimbabwe by Sunmark Thoroughbreds, the four-year-old finished 3.25 clear of It’s A True Story, then came Flasher On The Run and Al Salaam. An encouraging run from The Flasher who was giving weight to the rest of the field.

Ezekial is owned by Debra Swanson and John Koumides. Congratulations to everyone concerned.

First race, first timer, first Swanson winner on Sunday afternoon…is this becoming a habit?

Dartagna, a three-year-old Fencing Master (GB) filly, won her first outing in a 1100m Maiden Plate at Borrowdale Park. Sherman Brown was riding for the Swanson yard and came up trumps again with Light The Way later.

Owned by Christopher Peech, Dartagna was bred in Zimbabwe by Rumbavu Stud. Blue Label finished a length behind Dartagna.

Congratulations everyone.

SIMONA, by Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) out of a Western Winter (USA) mare, won the 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. Belle Epoque ran second, then Placid Sea and Ladies First –  winning margin 1.25 lengths.

Jarryd Penny rode the winner for Bridget Stidolph and the four-year-old filly is owned by the Newbury Racing Syndicate, nominee Mr D.E. Evans.  Simona was bred by Nadeson Park and has now won four races.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

Solinski, seen here with Karl Zechner up, after her Zimbabwe Oaks win.

The main event at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, November 19, is the 1800m Champion Fillies Stakes, and joint Horse Of The Year, Solinski, is not nominated.

One of her owners, Jackie Cocksedge, has confirmed that the four-year-old filly has damaged a pedal bone… “she will be back, but not yet.”

The horse comes first so while wishing Solinski a speedy recovery it is good to know she will be given all the time she needs before returning to racing.

It is also good that the owners have been upfront about this problem.  All too often, in Zimbabwe, there is a total lack of transparency. This is racing, everything doesn’t always go according to plan, and supporters need to know about it.

Edward The Seventh completed a double when winning the 1200m Novice Plate on Sunday, finishing 2.50 lengths clear of his stables mates Switchblade and Designer Pot. 

The Seventh Rock (AUS) three-year-old, bred in Zimbabwe by Rumbavu Park Stud, and owned by Christopher Peech, has now won both his starts. Francois Herholdt was riding for Kirk Swanson.

According to the statistics in the most recent  Borrowdale Park race card, Rumbavu Park tops the Breeders log, and Mr C.P.M. Peech heads the list of leading owners.  What an achievement  for a Zimbabwe based stud when our breeding industry is more or less moribund.  So sad but…Well done Noelene and Christopher.

The Kirk Swanson stable were off to a good start at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, saddling the winners of the first two races.

First off the mark was What A Dandy, by Just As Well (USA), who held on to beat Canadian Champion and Epee to the wire in the 1000m Maiden Plate. Fransie Herholdt was riding the three-year-old gelding bred by Barton Hall Stud.

What A Dandy races in the familiar brown, white and green silks owned by John Koumides.

Congratulations to the connections.

Red Savage, with Brendon McNaughton riding for Penny Fisher, was a convincing winner of the 1800m MR 50 Handicap at Borowdale Park – and the second winner on Sunday for the Fisher yard.

By Jay Peg, the six-year-old gelding is owned by Julie Zieve, Ken Fisher and John Koumides. He was bred by Tawny Syndicate. His slightly more fancied stable mate, Finlay, was 1.50 lengths back, then came It’s A True Story (28/10) and Goose Green.

Congratulations everyone.

Betula Uber, a daughter of Ideal World (USA), carried 58.5 kgs in Sunday’s 2200m MR 65 Handicap, and made every post a winning one.

Philanthropy finished 3.50 lengths behind her, followed across the line by Ladies First and Baumgartner.

The five-year-old mare, bred by Mauritzfontein Stud, is owned by Gengiz Goksel and trained by Penny Fisher. Ryan Munger was aboard for Betula Uber’s fourth victory.

Congratulations to all concerned.

Domenico Angelo retained the upper hand in the 1700m Maiden Plate on Sunday, in a close finish involving Atlantic Bijoux and Business Jet. 

The son of Golden Sword (GB) was having his second start in Harare, and Randall Simons was riding for Amy Bronkhorst. The four-year-old gelding was bred by Summerveld Stud. He is owned by Gengis Goksel, Grant Littleford, Spencer Murray and Paul Rugg who were on course to shout their horse home.

Well done everyone.

Coachella, by Alado (GB), was the first of two winners sent out by the Stidolph yard at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. The four-year-old gelding’s regular jockey, Fanie Chambers, was in the irons.

Owned by John Koumides and bred by Professor I.M. Sanne, Coachella won the 1100m MR 95 Handicap by a comfortable 2.50 lengths, with Life Is Good, Wylde Style and Sheik’s Brashee in the minor places.

This was Coachella’s fifth win from 12 starts. He has been placed five times.

Congratulations to the winning connections.