three– which has attracted a field of 17 of the best horses that have raced at the course this season.
The Castle Tankard is gone and gone too is the OK Grand Challenge and the
$40 000 Republic Cup offers the climax to the racing season which will go on break from July 29 to September 7.
The stakes on offer cannot be overemphasized as there is a $24 000 package for the winning horse with those close by taking home $8 000 and $4 800 respectively.
What is interesting is the fact that not even a single trainer has been able to dominate the big races with one, two, and three finishes in the Tankard going to Alyson Wright, Sebastien D'Aquino and Kirk Swanson while D'Aquino took the OK Challenge followed by Swanson, and Wright.
This means only one of Wright and Aquino will clinch a double or instead somebody new like Lisa Harris who fields Arula Borealis and Charro Negro or Ghokan Terzi who sends out Super Trouper, and Approval Rating, could land the big Republic Cup prize.
Or it could be Swanson who could reverse the bridesmaid tag after a third in the Tankard and a second in the Challenge. On his part, Swanson will bank on Captain's Tiger who apart from the heavy 60kg weight has also been drawn badly on 15. Swanson also has Madigan who came second in the 1800 metre Challenge as well as Mother's Eyes which will have Kevin Derere on the saddle.
What of Kumaran Naidoo who sends out Directorate. Isn't it time Naidoo's disappointing seven year old gelden surprised many. The South African bred horse has not made much of an impact at Borrowdale but in races like the Republic Cup form does not count much.
The horses to beat though remain Wright's five year old A King Is Born and D'Aquino's four year old Ginepri. The two horses bred in South Africa and Argentina respectively have been the most dominant at the home of horse racing Zimbabwe and there is a chance one of them will take the title.
Wright who saddles A King Is Born also has Orbit War in the same race while D'Aquino has the highest number of horses in the race including defending champion Choisir as well as Eight Street, Burmese Cat, Royal Arrow, and the favourite Ginepri.
The season comes to end following the staging of the TBA Champaigne Stakes on July 27.
Post published in: News