Chronicle Editor
Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
ONE of the leading trainers at Borrowdale racecourse, Kirk Swanson, says Captain’s Tiger will carry the hopes of his stable during the running of the Castle Tankard on May 10.Captain’s Tiger will get the services of jockey Kevin Derere while there are also three other runners from the stable – 2012 Triple Crown winner Madigan, Copper Bay and three-year-old Ernie or Else.
Captain’s Tiger is one of the only two Zimbabwean-bred horses that will go to starting stalls for the Grade 1 rated 2 000m run next month while Lisa Harris is saddling the other locally bred horse – Forty One. “Obviously, with the draw (I would pick) Captain’s Tiger. There is not much between him and Madigan but obviously being drawn two and 17 makes a big difference. The other horse from my stable is Ernie or Else, he is an up-coming three-year-old and he won the Guineas Trial and was touched off in the second leg of the Triple Crown. “It’s a young horse taking on the older horses for the first time. It’s a tall order and the merit rating does not favour him,” said Swanson. Copper Bay was also accepted yesterday and does not have the best draw but has the advantage of carrying less weight on his back.
Even Delta Beverages marketing director Maxen Karombo was persuaded to place his bet on Captain’s Tiger when the 18 horses were unveiled yesterday.
Jockey Derere is also hopeful that Captain”s Tiger will be one of the top contenders for the oldest sponsored horse race in Africa. “He is the kind of horse that knows the course very well. I hope he does well on the day,” said Derere.
Defending champion A King Is Born from the Alyson Wright’s yard is also back with Deon Sampson holding the straps while the Argentine-bred Coltrane by Joey Ramsden would be difficult to ignore for the punters. The gelding Coltrane is favoured by the draw as he will come with rider Antony Marcus and the partnership has a credible merit rating of 97 while Alula Borealis from the Lisa Harris yard carries a top weight of 60kg but has a rating of 100. The horse will get the services of Quinton Riddle while last year’s runner-up Genepri is trying the luck again from the Seb D’ Aquino stable as South African trainer Paul Matchett sends in Double Bind.
Castle Tankard Entries and Draw
A King is Born (12), Alula Borealis (14) , Approval Rating (11) , Coltrane (1), Copper Bay (15), Equina (9), Ernie Or Else (13), Forty One (8), Gentle Brook (4), Ginepri (18), Madigan (17), Menacing (7), Orbit War (5), Rock The Country (16), Star Dance (6) Super Trouper (3), Double Bind (10), Captains Tiger (2)
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