Although most of the regular Borrowdale race course participants are in the race, reigning champion and filly Got Personality and last year’s runner-up, Splendid Tambur, will not be among those galloping for gold. No reasons have been given for their absence so far.
But this has not taken the gloss off the event as course favourite, Captain Tiger, from the Kirk Swanson yard, is in the run and wants to win this event, after failing to land the Castle Tankard and the OK Grand Challenge, despite being heavily favoured.
Also in the running for Swanson is Australian-bred Eight Street, a regular Borrowdale campaigner. There will also be Choisir, winner of the Republic Cup Grade 3 race over a distance of 1,900 metres. He is under the services of trainer Sebastine D’ Aquino, winner of the Republic Cup in July. Choisir appears suited for the distance and should have a strong say in the finish, having done well in races of 1,800 metres.
Apart from the Argentine bred Choisir, trainer D’ Aquino, who has the highest number of horses in this event with three runners, also sends out Burmese Cat, a third finisher in the OK Grand Challenge, won by Earl of Surrey, and the Australian-bred Royal Arrow. Alyson Wright, who snatched the Castle Tankard with Code Rock and came second in the OK Grand Challenge with the same horse, is not banking on that runner this time around, but fields only one horse – Whole Kaboodle.
Lisa Harris and Gokhan Terzi have two horses each, with Harris sending out Candymancan and Tara’s Son while Terzi will be hoping for a good show from Fernebache and Vincent. The race has a gamble of $9,000 and it looks as though Choisir will be the horse to beat, as he is suited to such long distances.
Post published in: Sport