Ipi Tombe final list released

THE LOCAL custodians of horse racing, Mashonaland Turf Club have pushed out the final list of seven runners to battle all the way to the finishing line this afternoon in the Ipi Tombe Stakes Listed race meeting set for Borrowdale Racecourse.

This year’s edition of the Ipi Tombe Stakes Second Leg Open Series race, to be run over 1 600 metres has $8 000 stake money to be awarded to the winner plus the three placed runners up.

For their hard work the winning connection is set to get $4 800 while the three placed runners to arrive home will each collect $1 600, $1 000 and $600 respectively.

Twilight Trip trained by Bridget Stidolph is the horse to beat after being accepted as the highest merit rated runner at 91. In the irons is pilot Davin Habib who will collect the reigns.

Coming into this event Twilight Trip a five year-old gelding has taken part in 12 competitions won five times and placed 13 times.

However, according to his career record this gelding looks better at distances shorter that the task at hand, a factor that can swing the pendulum in favour of other runners amongst the field.

Then there is Peggson another one by Bridget who has proved to be handy around similar distances.

If statistics are anything to go by then on a good day if jockey Brendon McNaughton on board applies the game plan as planned then this is the team that can make Stidolph happy at the end of the race.

Peggson has a career record of 19 runs, four wins and nine place finishes coming into this race meeting.

From the same yard is Pamapas with jockey Colleen Storey in the irons merit rated 81 with an impressive career record on the turf recorded on distances similar to the task at hand.

Pampas with a merit rating of 81 is a winner twice, has been placed six times from a total of 15 races. Can he spring a surprise? All when the stall gates open can this question be answered!

From the stable of Kirk Swanson is Edward The Seventh a Zimbabwean bred runner with jockey Wesley Marwing as the pilot.

Edward The Seventh merit rated 81 comes with a career record of 14 runs, five wins plus six place finishes.

All this records have been recorded over shorter distances it will therefore be interesting to see how this gelding will respond surrounded by equines familiar with the distance.

Trainer Kirk Swanson expressed happiness about the stable preparations though he felt the distance could turn out to be too short for his runner.

“I am happy with the preparations that we have done so far prior to this race meeting however, this distance might prove to be too short for my house. As is stands other horses from the stables that have put forward entries are in a better position as compared to my horse, “said Swanson.

Kevin Barry merit rated 72 directed by Ryan Munger completes the list after being sent out by trainer Penny Fisher with a career record of 20 runs from which four wins and eight places finishes on his records.

In addition to this equines are Amsterdam merit rated 84 with Raymond Danielson and Master Switch merit rated 88 ridden by Hennie Greyling all with a chance of winning the crown depending on their form on the day.

Now that the field is out stables are working flat out in preparation for the judgement day on Sunday.

At the same town punters across the country and beyond are now having a torrid time in their search of the winner.

There will be 6 more supporting acts on the race day. A total of 53 runners have given the thumbs up signal to take part in different races to be hosted on the day.

This number is a clear indication that with each passing race meeting the fields are getting lean a cause of concern for the stakeholders.

Captain’s Tiger won the Ipi Tombe in 2012 and 2013, Madagan came to the fore in 2014, followed by Super Trouper in 2015, Principled Man in 2016, Windigo in 2017, and last year Ashton Park scored.