adminTakudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
JACKY Sparrow was crowned the Zimbabwe Guineas champion after getting the better of stable compatriot Down to Business at Borrowdale Park and Racecourse on Saturday.
The Zimbabwe Guineas was the third race of the year and the first of the Triple Tiara races which are Grade 3 merit rated.
Racing opened with the 1 450 metres Zimbabwe Challenge which was won by veteran crowd favourite What A Dandy on February 11, but his next outing on February 23 in the Ipi Tombe Stakes did not turn out well, as he collapsed during the race, giving trainer Debra Swanson a “terrible fright”.
Fortunately, What A Dandy and jockey Norbert Takawira survived the incident but What A Dandy is unlikely to race again, and the eight-year-old retires having won 17 races.
The 2023 Ipi Tombe Stakes was won by Holy Land, trained by Vanessa Birketoft and Hennie Greyling was riding.
Jackie Sparrow, a three-year-old daughter of Jackson, has won two of her three starts and she steps out again on Saturday in a 1450m MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares.
As expected it was a two-horse race, but with some exciting finish.
The Jackson filly, Jacky Sparrow, won by 0.10 lengths in a tight contest as seasoned jockey Rodgers Satombo recorded another victory.
Both horses are owned by Messrs G M Littleford, S H Murray and P C Rugg.
Jacky Sparrow is trained by the Swanson yard and Rodgers Satombo was riding.
During the afternoon Swanson yard saddled two other winners — Red Top who had Satombo as the pilot and Dindingwe who was saddled by Norbert Takawira.
Satombo also scored with Jubilee and Love the View for Thomas Mason’s yard as he dominated the day.
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