The Sunday News
Mandla Moyo
A lean field of four Fillies and Mares will battle over 1 800m for the 2018 Champion Fillies Crown at Borrowdale race course today.
The field is off at 15.15 pm and there is $8 000 in stakes money.
From the $8 000 stake money the winner will gallop away $4 800 while the first runner up will get $ 1 600 leaving the last two-placed runners over the line with a reward of $1 000 and $600 respectively.
The four survivors from the provisional list of six released last week are Simona and Mia Finola trained by Bridget Stidolp.
The second and last group is from the yard of Trainer Kirk Swanson who has opted for Solinki and In The Mood.
Even though the odds favour Simona rated (90) to cruise to victory and deliver the trophy to the stable something interesting could be on its way.
Jockey Calvin Habib will direct the proceedings from the saddle down lane three.
Much will also depend on how she will handle her top weight of 60kgs surrounded by a light field. Mia Finola in lane one stands out as the second best athlete at (80) to give Simona a headache all the way.
Once off the blocks the field is expected to push towards her, an advantage she might utilise but much will depend on how veteran jockey Brendon McNaughton will implement the game plan.
Solinki, a Zimbabwe-bred runner is drawn wide in lane four and will be loaded as the third highest rated entry for this competition. She has a decent rating of 70 and will be ridden by jockey Jarry Penny.
Solinski last raced at Borrowdale Park on June 25, 2017, as a three-year-old, racing for the first time in open company in a 2 200m Borrowdale Handicap.
Though having been out of action for a while Solinski still has an impressive record of five wins in her seven previous starts, including the 1 800m Silver Slipper, the Bloodstock SA 2000, the Zimbabwe Derby and the Zimbabwe Oaks.
A member of the Syndicate that owns Solinski, Jackie Cosksedge had this to say when asked about the chances of their horse striking gold during this event was modest but hopeful.
“She has had an enforced lay off due to kicking her stable wall and fracturing a pedal bone, that is a tiny bone in the hoof.
Fortunately it is the type of injury that heals well and without repercussion, provided sufficient recovery time is given. She is back in training and working well and we are all hoping for a big run,” said Jackie.
It would be of interest to see how this girl will shed off the effects from the long layoffs. However, when all is said and done the horse is here to complete her recovery path and prove to the trainer that she has indeed recovered.
Taking into account the size of the field the safest punter will follow the best trainer of the moment Bridget Stidolp and the winner of the 2018 OK Grand Challenge race and the Castle Tankard.
The OK grand Challenge was claimed by Simona with jockey Calvin Habib in the iron challenge. This connection is definitely a team any trainer would long for at an event like this.
My tips
Simona, Mia Finola, Solinski, In The Mood
@mandlamoyo3
