It will be the 50th edition of the oldest sponsored horse racing event at Borrowdale race course on Saturday. Sadly, though, 2011 winner Grisham will not be coming from his Geoff Woodruff yard in South Africa to defend his title and also absent will be Kirk Swanson’s Al Kahtan which was part of the nominations but was scratched from the final acceptances.
That, however, has not taken the gloss off the 2000 metres US$50 000 race as a top class field has been retained comprising both top local and foreign horses. Borrowdale race course favourites Captain’s Tiger and Winter’s Night are part of the field but they are not the favourites with that mantle resting heavily on Woodruff’s entrant, House of Wax.
House of Wax was unveiled as a favourite on the opening day of betting and Woodruff is hoping to emulate the achievements of Kirk Swanson who won the Castle Tankard for four years running from 2005 to 2008. He took the title with Sports Record in 2005, Reflectadanzig in 2006, Muscutt Express in 2007 and Moon Horse in 2008.
Swanson is well represented in this year’s race with three horses from Zimbabwe Briefcase Bill, Captain’s Tiger, Pressure, and Eight Street which was bred in Australia while rival trainer, Lisa Harris fields Arula Borealis, Boost My Ego, Earl of Surrey and Australian bred Gracie Jones.
Last year Eight Street and Gracie Jones came second and third with Got Personality in fourth place and it was the only Zimbabwean horse in the top four finish. The other trainers, Alyson Wright sends out Whole Kaboodle and Code Rock while Gokhan Terzi’s Got Personality rounds up the field for the race.
Delta marketing director Maxen Karombo promised punters an eventful day revealing that they have lined up six other races for punters in addition to the Castle Tankard.
