Guineas Trial Race provisional list out

Mandla Moyo Racing Correspondent
THE provisional list for the Guineas Trial Race slated in for 17 January at Borrowdale Race Course in Harare is out. The lean list was made available by the custodians of the local sport, Mashonaland Turf Club and it comprises nine horses nominated to take part in the 1 600 metres long race set for Sunday. Also revealed is prize money of $8 000 to be shared among the winner and the three-placed runners-up of the day.
Trainer Bridget Stidolp leads the way with the highest number of entries after five runners from her stable made it through the first acceptance stage.
Stidolp has thrown into the hat Al Salaam who is rated 56, Bullion Bay (69), Détente (69), Rock Road (69) and Super Good (83).
Also recognised are nominations from the rival yard of Gokhan Terzi in Betula Uber rated 60 and Tandava who is sitting at 72.
Other trainers with horses vying for slots in the final list include Kirk Swanson and Amy Bronkhorst who have each opted for Cool Solution rated 66 and Slick rated 63 respectively.
In 2015 the Guineas Trial race was won by Mica Point trained by Gokhan Terzi. However, some quarters have raised their concern about this trial race as they feel it does not meet the conditions to be called a trial race.
Normally the Zimbabwe Guineas for all three-year-olds takes place at the end of February and will be run over 1 600m at set weights.
Colts and geldings carry 58kilogrammes, while fillies take on 55kgs with no Apprentice Allowance.
According to the MTC 2016 racing programme also available online via (www.mashturf.co.zw <http://www.mashturf.co.zw>), the final acceptance stage will be held tomorrow at the race course.
A total of seven events are set for the day and to date 95 nominations have been recorded.
However, tomorrow horses that fail to pass the final stage will face the dreaded axe as expected.
Guineas Trial Race nominations
Al Salaam (56), Bullion Bay (69), Détente (69), Rock Road (69), Super Good (83), Betula Uber (60), Tandava (72), Cool Solution (66) and Slick (63).