Madigan heads classy field race
SIX-YEAR-OLD Madigan heads a classy field of 10 horses for the main feature race of the day, the 1 300 metre Merit rated 90 handicap that takes centre stage at Borrowdale race Course today with Kevin Derere on board.
Derere has just returned from a successful trip at Ngong race Course in Nairobi, Kenya where Zimbabwe won the International Jockeys Challenge ahead of South Africa, with Kenya and Mauritius following behind.
The Zimbabwean team finished with 51 points, followed by South Africa on 43 points, Kenya on 25 and Mauritius on 14 points in a day that also marked 110 years of the existence of horse racing in Kenya.
Madigan — the son of Joshua Dancer and Western Glow — has been disappointing of late, but Kirk Swanson says he has conditioned the 2013 Zimbabwe horse of the year, saying race goers are going to see a much stronger and different Madigan.
The Triple Crown winner, who was bred in South Africa, had an impressive debut at Borrowdale with seven wins and five placings in 2013, at that time under the pilotship of Quinton riddle, but since then, all has not been well.
he comes up against some of the seasoned campaigners at Borrowdale race Course, among then Alula Borealis who is under the guidance of Bridget Stidolph. Stidolph is making her debut as a trainer after graduating from the Lisa harris stable where she was an assistant to the champion trainer.
Also in the race is On This rock from the Corne Stable, who is leading the Sprinter’s Series after winning the hachiman Sprint and earlier on the hirb Gold Cup.
Not to be outdone is seven-yearold Super Trouper, who has also been declared by trainer Ghokan Terzi and drawn in lane six. The son of West Man and Queen of Dance is having a good run.
he beat On This rock over 1 300 metres, pipped Count The Music and Arula Borealis over 1 400 me-
Horses breath neck to neck in the Castle Tankard race in 2013 when Madigan was voted Horse of the Year
tres and easily got the better of the field ahead of Thriller In Manila over 1 200 metres. This super horse with jockey Wes Marwin as the pilot looks like the one to beat.
Bred by Clifton Stud, the brown Gelden made his racing debut at Borrowdale on October 27 2012 finishing fifth ridden by Sherman Brown but has since then gone on to become one of the top sprinters in the country.
Apart from Madigan and On This rock, Super Trouper could as well
face a strong challenge from Thriller In Manila, and Count The Music who have picked up form, as well as from Alula Borealis who is the top weight at 60kg but could spring a surprise.
The other horses that are billed to contest for the title include King halal, Wittenberg, Quick Glance and Corne Spies fielding Gaelic Girl who will be ridden by Brendon McNaughton, one of the three members of the Zimbabwean team at the International Jockey Challenge.
Quinton riddle, who also returns after the Kenyan experience, is not riding in the Merit rated 90 handicap. The winner of the race is guaranteed of US$4 500 while the second placed horse will get US$1 500.
The third placed horse will get US$938 while the horse that finishes fourth will receive US$562.
The punters will be rewarded according to the odds of the day as dividends vary from the sell on the opening day of betting to the last time of betting.