The field for the 1600m ZRP Fillies Charity Stakes at Borrowdale Park on Saturday is evenly split between three and four-year-olds and, on this occasion, two of the three-year-olds may have the edge.  At least the handicapper thinks so.

Wylde Style (MR 84) and Crystalline (MR 70) have the highest ratings in this field of eight, and admittedly this pair were the first to catch my eye…before I began to wonder how one could possibly compare  Wylde Style, former champion two-year-old and seven-time winner,  with one-time winner Crystalline.

However, having looked at the form for a couple of hours, I am doing exactly that.

Crystalline has had six starts at Borrowdale Park and always finished in the money. She won a 2000m Maiden Plate in April, beating Whatsnewpussycat, and ran second to Solinski in both the 1800m TBA Silver Slipper and the Zimbabwe Oaks. On OK Grand Challenge day the daughter of Biarritz finished a close third behind Kevin Barry and David’s Flower over 1600m. Her last start was in a 1600m Novice Plate, won by Saturday’s runner and stable mate, Simona.  This time Crystalline has a 2 kgs turnaround in weight with Simona, for a 2.50 lengths beating, which should bring her closer. In fact Bridget Stidolph has a strong hand with her runners, Crystalline, Placid Sea and Simona, but they all have to beat Wylde Style.

Amy  Bronkhorst’s  Wylde Style probably prefers a shorter trip but won both the 1600m Tote Free Handicap and the 1600m Fillies Classic. More recently she finished second to Flasher On The Run in the Zimbabwe Guineas, and third to Solinski in the Zimbabwe Oaks, prior to some tough campaigning in the Castle Tankard and the OK Grand Challenge.

Wylde Style, Ladies First and Penny Fisher’s charge, Betula Uber will all carry 60 kgs to Crystalline’s 54 kgs on Saturday, which is why I have given so much thought to this relative newcomer.

That said I am still far from convinced Crystalline will beat Wylde Style. Whatever you do include both these fillies in your Quartet…along with Betula Uber, Placid Sea, Simona and Ladies First.

Photograph by Gavin Macleod: The Gimmethegreenlight filly, Simona, stable mate of Crystalline, might be the cat among the pigeons.  Seen here with Apprentice Calvin Habib. Jarryd Penny rides on Saturday.

Saturday’s ZRP race day brings Borrowdale Park’s 2016/17 racing season to a close and the 8-race card includes the 1450m ZRP Depot Province Breeders Sprint, the ZRP Fillies Charity Stakes over 1600m, and the 1450m Thoroughbred Breeders Champagne Stakes. The first race is due off at 12.20 pm.

There is no doubt in my mind that as far as class and general interest goes, the Breeders Sprint, seventh leg of the Sprinters Series, for all horses at WFA, will take the biscuit. Ten horses have stood their ground and with the exception of the two three-year-olds, Coachella and Life Is Good, who carry 59 kgs, the remaining runners are all on 60 kgs.

It remains to be seen if the three-year-olds can win when only receiving 1 kg from the likes of Newton Power, Road To Dubai, Comanche Brave and Super Good. To add to this conundrum, Windigo, will be receiving weight all round if Apprentice Mjoka climbs aboard, as anticipated, and claims 2.5 kgs.

Although Ashton Park, El Gallo and Call Me Earl have not yet been mentioned they cannot be discounted.

There are no rabbits in this line-up, and it is going to be a great race.

Photograph Gavin Macleod: 1200m MR 100 Handicap on Castle Tankard day, won by Newton Power (52kgs) then El Gallo (52 kgs), Road To Dubai (60 kgs) and Super Good (55.5 kgs). Winning margins 0.10, 2.10, 4.6 lengths. This quartet meets again on Saturday over 1450m. The distance should not be an issue but there is a huge turnaround in weights for the Breeders Sprint.

The Geoff Armitage bred Night Of Speed, relishing more ground, won the 1600m Maiden Juvenile Plate at Borrowdale Park on Saturday. The Antonius Pius (USA) colt, having his second start, finished ahead of Knuckleball and Misterioso in a tight finish.

Owned by Colin Bird and trained by Kirk Swanson, Night Of Speed was piloted by Sherman Brown. Congratulations all round.

This doesn’t happen often. Bridget Stidolph saddled the first four horses past the post in the 1200m MR 71 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Saturday. 

The winner was Just A Jag,  by AP Answer and bred by Patterson Racing.  Jarryd Penny was in the irons, and the five-year-old gelding is owned by Mrs A.J. Wynne and Messrs S.N. Buchan, N. Evans, D.C. Samuels and R. Sherwood.   Just A Jag finished 2.20 lengths clear of  Nimble Dancer, followed by Porterhouse and Romantic Balladeer.

The photograph (above) of all the happy people was taken by Rosie Dorward.  Just A Jag, now a three-time winner, is the horse on the right.  Nimble Dancer (second) was ridden by Morgan Nyamagwete.

Earlier in the afternoon the Stidolph yard scored with Simona (below) in the 1600m Novice Plate.  The Gimmethegreenlight (USA) filly is owned by Newbury Racing  (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr D.E. Evans).  She was bred by Nadeson Park and ridden by Apprentice Calvin Habib.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Penny Fisher saddled three winners at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, as well as Ashton Park  who finished a close second to Comanche Brave in the $40 000 Republic Cup.

First up was Eurozone in the 1000m MR 48 Handicap, followed by Jay Kay Two (above) in the 1700m MR 72 Handicap for three-year-olds.  Haga Haga was a hairbreadth behind him and then came Jameson Run and Rhythmical Reply.

By Century Stand (AUS) and bred by Sarahdane Stud,  Jay Kay Two has won his only three starts. Ryan Munger had the winning ride and the bay gelding is owned by Julie Zieve.

Muhannad (below), a son of Giant’s Causeway (USA), found his form again in the 1700m MR 50 Handicap, narrowly beating Aloft, Philanthropy and Viking Castle to the line (winning margins 0.10, 0.20 and 0.70 lengths).  The six-year-old gelding was ridden by Hennie Greyling and bred by Phalaris Breeding Ltd.  He is owned by Matt Charlton, Bruce McLaughlan, Alistair Fisher, Ken Fisher, Brian Watson, Murray Smith and Alan Smith.

Congratulations to all the winning connections.

Amy Bronkhorst saddled two of the first three horses past the post in the $40 000 Republic Cup (Gr3), including Comanche Brave, the winner.

By Kahal (GB), the four-year-old Comanche Brave won the $50 000 Castle Tankard in May and came good again in the 1900m event at Borrowdale Park on Saturday. Randall Simons was in the irons and the minor places went to Ashton Park, Life Is Good and Roman Discent.

The winning owners are Duncan Jones, Adrian Nydam, D.C. Samuels and Steve Shutt. Comanche Brave was bred by Summerhill Stud.

Congratulations to the winning connections.

The $40 000 Republic Cup (Gr3) – final leg of Borrowdale Park’s “big three” – takes place on Saturday afternoon over 1900m.  It has the makings of a competitive race and although several of the contestants took part in the 2000m Castle Tankard in May and the 1800m OK Grand Challenge in June, the result is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Turnover in weights, as well as the change in distance, have to be taken into account.

Comanche Brave won the $50 000 Castle Tankard (Gr1), carrying 52 kgs, but disappointed in the $40 000 OK Grand Challenge (Gr2), a month later. His supporters will expect Amy Bronkhorst’s charge to make amends this time but the handicapper may have caught up with him, so we shall see. The Bronkhorst yard also fields Life Is Good, a well bred three-year-old having his fifth start at Borrowdale, and Newton Power.

Bridget Stidolph trained Royal Honour, the winner of the OK Grand Challenge, but he is missing from this line-up.  She will saddle Super Good, third in the OK, and Roman Discent who showed signs of a return to form at the last race meeting.

Ashton Park and Lava Flow will represent Penny Fisher, while Kirk Swanson has a brace of runners, namely Windigo (fourth in the Tankard and second in the OK); Cool Solution (fifth in the Tankard and fourth in the OK); Fah Fee (fifth in the OK), and Light The Way, a newcomer to Borrowdale Park.

THE FIELD IN BRIEF

WINDIGO – 60 kgs drawn 2. Six wins from 1450m – 1800m. Five-year-old gelding by Windrush (USA).  Sherman Brown – Kirk Swanson. Ran fourth in the 2000m Castle Tankard and second in the 1800m OK Grand Challenge. A genuine sort and I hope he can handle top weight and 1900m.

ASHTON PARK – 59.5 kgs drawn 6. Ryan Munger – Penny Fisher. This will be his second start in Zimbabwe. Finished 8.25 lengths off Comanche Brave in the Castle Tankard. This seven-year-old gelding is by Battersea Park out of a Jet Master mare. Most of his 8 wins have been over 1400m. A bit of a dark horse.  At one time not disgraced behind the likes of Captain America and Legal Eagle over 1600m.

COMANCHE BRAVE – 59 kgs drawn 7.  Randall Simons – Amy Bronkhorst. Winner of the 2017 Castle Tankard over 2000m when carrying 52 kgs.  Disappointed his supporters in the 1800m OK Grand Challenge but rates another chance.  Five-time winner from 1200m – 2000m.  Four-year-old gelding by Kahal (GB).

SUPER GOOD – 57.5 kgs drawn 4.  Fanie Chambers – Bridget Stidolph. Winner of 4 races from 1100m to 1260m, but placed in good company up to 2400m. Four-year-old  gelding by Announce out of a Dynasty mare. Maybe he has more to do here but impressed in the OK Grand Challenge.

NEWTON POWER – 55.5 kgs drawn 11  Nicky Sibanda – Amy Bronkhorst. His 8 wins range from 1000m to 1600m but Newton Power has been best sprinting. At the last Borrowdale Park meeting he finished 3.50 lengths behind stable companion, Life Is Good, in a 1200m MR 85 Handicap when carrying top weight. This seven-year-old gelding is by Newton (IRE).

LAVA FLOW –  54 kgs drawn 5.  Hennie Greyling – Penny Fisher. Five-year-old gelding by Western Winter (USA) out of an Elliodor (FR) mare. Won two races in Gauteng, 1200m and 1800m, and repeated that at Borrowdale Park in 2016.  Raced over 1700m at the last Borrowdale meeting, finishing 3.25 lengths behind stable mate Barbarian. Roman Discent and Cool Solution finished in front of Lava Flow, receiving weight.

FAH FEE  – 53.5 kgs drawn 8. Morgan Nyamagwete – Kirk Swanson. Five-year-old gelding by Ideal World (USA) out of a Sadler’s Wells (USA) mare, and you don’t get much better than that. Since returning from a long layoff has had two starts, placing fifth in the OK Grand Challenge. Won four races over distances up to 1600m in South Africa.  Interesting.

LIFE IS GOOD – 52.5 kgs drawn 1.  Jarred Penny – Amy Bronkhorst. Three-year-old gelding, by Var (USA) out of Gracie Jones (USA). Moved to Borrowdale Park in May, having won two races in RSA over 1200m and 1400m.  Won his first start at Borrowdale over 1600m, then followed up with a second to Solinski in the Zimbabwe Derby.  Disappointed in the OK Grand Challenge but comes into this one fresh from his recent win in a 1200m MR 85 Handicap. Can’t ignore on breeding, and when carrying 52.5 kgs.

LIGHT THE WAY – 52 kgs drawn 9. * Mpumelelo Mjoka – Kirk Swanson. This five-year-old gelding by Miesque’s Approval (USA) won four races over 1400m and 1450m and then seemed to drop the ball. His last race at Turffontein was on February 14, and this will be his first start in Zimbabwe. In November 2015 Light The Way finished 5.50 lengths behind Ertijaal (AUS) in the 1800m Sea Cottage Stakes for three-year-olds – with Deputy Jud, Greek Legend, French Navy, Fah Fee and Cool Chardonnay ahead of him. Your guess will be as good as mine.

COOL SOLUTION – 52 kgs drawn 3. Brendon McNaughton  – Kirk Swanson. Four-year-old gelding by Mullins Bay (GB) out of a Tilden (IRE) mare.  Has won four races from 1200m to 1600m and placed fifth in the Castle Tankard and fourth in the OK Grand Challenge. One for the Exotics?

ROMAN DISCENT – 52 kgs drawn 10. *Calvin Habib – Bridget Stidolph. A four year-old Dynasty gelding with four wins up to 2400m to his credit.  His three starts at Borrowdale Park include the Castle Tankard and OK Grand Challenge – where he did not shape – but showed signs of a return to form, in the 1700m MR 84 Handicap won by Barbarian at the last race meeting. Worth some thought.

FLASHBACK to the 2016 Republic Cup won by Mathematician.  Morgan Nyamagwete was in the irons, and he teams up with Fah Fee on Saturday.

…THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Jackie Cocksedge has sent me the following information…and I quote:…

“This is to inform you that the Council of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association Of Zimbabwe have taken the decision to formally close the association. We no longer have a viable breeding industry in Zimbabwe and we see little point in maintaining an office.

With apologies to Margaret Mitchell, I have penned the following:”

” Here was a land of gentle folk and rolling pastures 
An equine Camelot
Here they bred and nurtured the athletes that graced our turf
Here in this productive world they took their last bow
Here was the last ever to be seen of stallions and their ladies fair
Of grooms and horses
Another casualty of our homeland Zimbabwe
Look for it only in books for it is no more than a dream remembered
The glory days, gone with the wind”

Included above is a photograph of Ip Tombe taken after her Dubai Duty Free win. Zimbabwe has produced hundreds of good racehorses but Ipi Tombe proved some could take on the best and win.

Once again the Kirk Swanson yard came up trumps with stayers at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. The lightly weighted Baumgartner won the 2200m MR 69 Handicap with stable companions Rawedge (56.5 kgs) and Solinski (60kgs) second and third.

Baumgartner was ridden by Apprentice Mpumelelo Mjoka who, within a matter of days, has won races in France, South Africa and Zimbabwe. I believe this was his first visit to Borrowdale Park. The promising apprentice won the recent Longines Future Racing Stars event at the annual Prix de Diane meeting at Chantilly, competing with apprentices from Australia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Morocco and Turkey.

The four-year-old Black Minnaloushe (USA) gelding, Baumgartner, is owned by John Koumides and he was bred by the Haras Del Carmo Close Corporation. He has now won three races and been placed 7 times from 18 starts.

The son of Silvano (GER), Barbarian, bounced back to earlier form in the 1700m MR 84 Handicap at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, finishing 1.50 lengths clear of his slightly more fancied stable companion, David’s Flower. Royal Discent and Cool Solution followed this pair across the line.

Owned by Tim Wilkes, trained by Penny Fisher and ridden by Hennie Greyling, Barbarian has now won 5 races and been placed 6 times from 15 starts. Both Barbarian and David’s Flower are due to run in the 1900m Republic Cup on July 8. The stable mates will carry 52 kgs….which could be interesting.

The Var (USA) gelding, Life Is Good (above), rounded off Sunday afternoon for Amy Bronkhorst and Randall Simons when beating El Gallo by a length over 1200m in the MR 85 Handicap.

This pair also won the first race on the Borrowdale Park card, a 1100m Maiden Plate, with Arial (below) .

Bridget Stidolph saddled four winners at Borrowdale Park on Sunday, including the cherry on top – Flanders – in the 1200m Champion Juvenile Stakes (Gr3).

The two-year-old gelding, owned by Newbury Racing (nominee Mr D.E. Evans), is by Gimmethegreeenlight (AUS) out of a Captain Al mare. He was bred by Zandfleit Stud and Fanie Chambers was in the irons. Flanders started at 12/10 on a day when most favourites failed. His stable companions Butchie Boy and Misterioso finished second and third.

The other winners from the Stidolph yard were long shot Nimble Dancer (Morgan Nyamagwete), winner of the 1200 MR 60 Handicap, Rhythmical Reply (*C. Habib) who scored in the 1450 m Graduation Plate,  and Philanthropy (Chambers) in the 1800m Maiden Plate.