Zim Challenge Race nominations out
NOMINATIONS for the Zimbabwe Challenge horse race pencilled in for 16 December at Borrowdale Race Course are out.
Fifteen horses have been thrown into the ring to fight for all the available places in the Zimbabwe Challenge race which will see participating connections battling over 1 450M for the winners prize.
A sum of $8 000 has been declared as prize money to be shared among the winner and three runners up.
From the list sent out by Mashonaland Turf Club, trainer Penny Fisher has the highest number of entries at six.
She is followed by Bridget Stidolph who has short listed four runners to wrestle for the honours.
The most outstanding nominee is Supa Good trained by Bridget Stidolph who is rated at (96) followed by Kingston Passage conditioned by veteran trainer Kirk Swanson with a merit rating of (87).
Trainer Kirk Swanson has also put Heir Liner in the line of fire, she is the third best place runner merit rated (87).
If these three manage to get though all the pre-race qualifying stages then a bruising encounter is on the cards based on their figures and the pedigree of the stables they hail from.
On Tuesday all teams wishing to take part will converge at Borrowdale Racecourse for the final prerace qualifying stage, which will be followed by the pushing out of the race care the following day.
On the racing day six races of various distances will be hosted throughout the day, with a combined total of 81 and runners plus $5 000.
All participating stables will be gunning to finish off on a high note as this is the last competition on the calendar for 2018.
Meanwhile last Saturday was not all about the main race that is the HRIB Gold Day Cup, instead two visiting apprentice jockeys left the race course with a spring on their step after they guided their runners to victory.
The two visiting apprentices that left their mark were Liam Tarentaal and Nathan Klink who both rode winners in their respective feature races.
First to make the honours at the parade ring was Tarentaal on board Bomber Pilot sent to duty by trainer the Penny Fisher yard.
Tarentaal rode to victory in the HRIB Life Assurance Merit Rated 55 Handicap, So tight was the race that his running mate Bomber Pilot crossed the line 0.55 lengths ahead Finlay.
On the runner’s side, Oden a three-year-old gelding with jockey Hennie Greyling on board won the first race of the day by a distance of six full lengths.
Another runner, Pampas emerged victorious in the 1 900m Zimnat Insurance Company MR 75 Handicap, finishing three lengths clear of Bugatti Blue, who was followed by Perfect Grace and Wolves Among Sheep.
There was also a close call in the Old Mutual Insurance Company 1600m Maiden Plate on Saturday when Red Pollard had the edge over Pea Pack, winning margin 0.25 lengths.
Deon Sampson was riding for Bridget Stidolph. During the HRIB Medical Insurance 1 100m MR Handicap Cool Solution had the form and cruised home to victory. Apprentice Nathan Klink was riding for Kirk Swanson.
On the trainer side Trainer Bridget Stidolph returned back to the stables with a smile on her face after she sent out three winners.
Bridget Stidolph is the reigning 2017-2018 Champion Trainer at Borrowdale Park, this win will add another feather in her hat, putting her in a better position to challenge for the Champion Trainer of the 2018-2019 horse racing season. Amsterdam
Betula Uber
Butchie Boy
Edward The Seventh Heir line
Kevin Barry Kingston Passage Lava Flow
Peggson
Road to Dubai
Roy’s Sailor
Super Good
Tar Heel
Twilight Trip
Zita (Zim) Kirk Swanson Penny Fisher Bridget Stidolph Kirk Swanson Kirk Swanson Penny Fisher Kirk Swanson Penny Fisher Bridget Stidolph Kirk Swanson Penny Fisher Bridget Stidolph Penny Fisher Bridget Stidolph Penny Fisher 84 69 78 75 86 77 87 65 83 81 54 96 91 83 68