adminAugustine Hwata Sports Reporter
THERE is no winner for the prestigious Zimbabwe Triple Crown this year after a third horse, in as many races, won the third and final leg at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.
Demittase, the three-year-old bare filly by Lisa Harris, won the Zimbabwe Derby (2 400m) which was the third and final leg of the Triple Crown series.
For a horse to win the prestigious tiara, it has to win all the three legs of the series starting with the Zimbabwe Guineas, the Bloodstock South Africa (second leg) and the Zimbabwe Derby.
But a different horse has been winning the various legs in the races, open for top three-year olds.
Ernie or Else from the Kirk Swanson yard won the first leg in the Zimbabwe Guineas (Group 3), 1600m on February 23 by beating Let’s Flu High by three lens.
Harris won The Bloodstock South Africa (Group 3) over 2000m on March 23 when Lucky Sam cantered to victory.
So the third and final leg was just a formality after the series saw two different winners and on Sunday Demitasse, piloted by jockey Marco Van Rensburg, won by a comfortable six lens.
The daughter of Horse Chestnut completed the distance in 2 min 31.16 seconds to take the US$4 590 purse money from the US$7 650 in stakes.
A total of 10 horses had accepted to go to the starting stalls but two equine athletes Heron Boy and Typing were scratched off before the race leaving eight runners.
Supa Dupa with Karl Zercher was second.
Trainer Army Bronkhorst saddled the chestnut filly that is still looking for its maiden career win in five starts which are now laced with four placings.
Young trainer Gorkhan Terzi brought the next two finishers in Lets Fly High and Juelz who had the services of Lance Pagel.
The Zimbabwe Derby came as race six of the day that had seven events on the card.
Alyson Wright won the first event while Bronkhorst won race two with Swanson’s yard winning race three.
Harris’ stable took the honours in race four when Bobby Boxer cantered to a lens’ win over Hypodromo da Gaeva. Bronkhorst took race five Terzi won the last event.
Online Reporter