This is the sixth event on the calendar and the field looks like a who’s who at the home of horse racing, with an array of Zimbabwean and South African horses seeking glory. The course though, with the rains, will play a pivotal role as to who will win the event, as some of the horses do not perform well under the current weather conditions, while others prefer the wet course.
There is also a new kid on the block at Borrowdale in the form of South African trainer Johan Van Janse, who is making his maiden appearance at the course with Newton Power from South Africa.
Two Zimbabwean horses, both from the Kirk Swanson stable, Captain’s Tiger and Li’l Abner make up the list that is dominated by South African horses – including Amy Bronkhorst’s Equina, who recently won the Champions Fillies Stakes. Bronkhorst also saddles Gossamer and Penthouse.
Swanson’s seven-year-old brown gelding, Captain’s Tiger, has had a good run at Borrowdale but in most cases it has been over long distances. That aside, the son of Century Stand still remains Swanson’s top drawcard in an event he has fielded only two Zimbabwean horses.
The pick of the crop appears to be Ghokan Terzi’s Super Trouper and Approval Rating. Approval Rating once under the Nuno Nur yard had pole finishes in events between 1100 to 1 400 metres last season and also finished second behind Super Trouper in a 1 200 metre race which is equivalent to the HRIB Gold Sprint.
This gives the two Ghokan Terzi horses the favourites tag, but from the outset, the Armstrong-owned four-year-old Approval Rating appears to have an edge over Super Trouper and the rest of the field.
Lisa Harris, seasoned trainer at Borrowdale, fields three horses, Count The Music, Arula Borealis and Macchiato all of whom were disappointing last season.
Yet this is a new season altogether and having been on a break preparing for it, perhaps Arula Borealis, with only one win over 1,400 metres, can come out of his shell and take this one.
Also coming to the party is South African-based Zimbabwean trainer Alyson Wright, who has declared Jet Command, Whole Kaboodle and Ritchie Rich while Sebastien D’Aquino sends out only Song of Camden.
Post published in: Sport