The Sunday News
Mandla Moyo
All eyes will be on Edward the Seventh this afternoon when an impressive field of seven runners are loaded into the starting stalls for a 1 100m long straight home battle at Borrowdale Racecourse.
The race is on at 15:45. The winning connection will share $4 800 prize money from the declared stake of $8 000, leaving the next three athletes over the line to get $1 600, $1 000 and $600 respectively.
Edward the Seventh with jockey Mathew Thackeray up won the 1450m Zimbabwe Challenge at Borrowdale Park on 15 December last year.
This runner made a smash and grab finish after the leading horse for much of the race Road to Dubai who seemed to be going for something but unfortunately his saddle slipped back in the process handing him the initiative to grab the top accolade two lengths clear of Twilight Trip the second runner to fly past the winning post.
To date Edward the Seventh has recorded wins in four races ranging from 1 200m to1 600m, including the 2017 Tote Free Handicap where he finished 2.50 lengths clear of Knuckleball when giving him 1 kg. Another runner punters need to keep an eye on is Twilight Trip based on that past performance.
In the last race of the year that is in 2018 this runner was in scintillating fashion when crossing the line behind the eventually race winner of the Zimbabwe Challenge Edward the Seventh.
Road to Dubai ran second in the recent HRIB Gold Cup and might be able to turn the tables around here but has not shone to date over 1450m.
This runner has won 9 times from 1 000m to 1 260m, including the HRIB Gold Cup, twice. Jockey Wes Marwing will direct the proceedings from the saddle. Could this be his ideal distance? Let’s wait for them stall gates to open! Kingston Passage a five-year-old gelding by Western Winter (USA) out of a Horse Chestnut mare a winner Kenilworth but has yet to find form at Borrowdale may possibly spoil the party for the top dogs in here. The other two runners to look out for are Flanders and Tar Heel.
Six more supporting acts will be hosted on this race meeting.
