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Mandla Moyo
It’s all systems go this afternoon when Mashonaland Turf Club hosts the last horse racing competition of the year, The Zimbabwe Challenge race, at Borrowdale Racecourse.
The field is off at 1540hrs. An impressive field of seven battle hardened horses are set to gallop flat out post wards over 1 450m to determine the winner of this year’s edition.
The winning team will collect US$4 500 from the declared stake money of US$8 000 leaving the second runner to fly past the winning post US$1 600 better off.
There will also be US$1 000 prize money for the second-placed runner over the line and the last-placed connection will get US$600.
From the final list all eyes will be on Super Good ridden by jockey Collen Story who has the highest rating of 96. Super Good will make noise from lane two also carrying a top weight of 61,5kg.
Another horse punters need to keep an eye on is Kingston Passage with a merit rating of 87, the second highest rating among this group.
The equine to be directed by jockey Sean Brown will stride down the turf from lane three carrying a burden of 57kgs
The reigning Champion jockey of the 2017/18 Horse Round Up Calvin Habib will collect the reigns of Twilight Trip. Coming into this event Twilight Trip merit rated 83 plus a weight of 55.0 will be loaded in lane five.
Even though this runner stands at number three in terms of ratings the fact that trainer Bridget Stidolph has handed over the reins of this horse to her best jockey to date speaks volumes about the potential of this runner, a factor that puts this connection in the running for the top prize when the stall gates slide open.
Other horses to look out for are Road To Dubai merit rated 81, Butchie Boy, Edward The Seventh (75) and Kevin Barry (77).
Horse racing analyst Sheldene Chat expects a tricky battle this afternoon since according to her not much separates the field.
To spice up this horse racing day six more minor races will be hosted at Borrowdale Racecourse.
However, despite whet the ratings say they are but just a number, when the stall gates open anything can happen.
@mandlamoyo3
Online Reporter