South African visitor Warcraft has opened betting as the favourite to lift the 2015 OK Grand Challenge.
By Michael Kariati
The four-year-old gelding who is making his second trip to Zimbabwe opened betting at 3/1 and had the backing of OK Supermarkets chief operating officer Albert Katsande, who was the first to place his bet on this year’s challenge.
Warcraft, who finished third in the Castle Tankard a week after he won a 1 900 metre race at Greyville Race Course in South Africa, is under the guidance of Alyson Wright in Zimbabwe.
The son of Western Winter, who was bred by the Lammerskraal Stud has a very impressive record of four wins and seven placings in only 15 starts and should fancy his chances after a good weight of 53kg and a favourable draw of two in this 1 800 metre race.
The race, though, is not short of contenders as Castle Tankard winner Yer-Maan has also passed through the final acceptances stage and bookmakers have placed the six-year-old son of Jam Alley at 7/2.
St John Gray’s gelding will have Zimbabwe champion jockey Quinton Riddle to guide him through the race but has paid dearly for his Castle Tankard win.
Yer-Maan, who is also making his second visit to Zimbabwe, is the top weight in the race as he has been burdened with 61,5kg but has the lucky draw of being in lane one.
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Amy Bronkhorst declared that Equina has recovered from loss of form, saying that the defending champion is in good shape, fit and ready for the battle. “People should not read much in her recent past form. She is in good shape to retain her title,” said Bronkhorst.
The five-year-old mare which was the darling of Borrowdale Race Course last season has not had the best of seasons this year after managing only one win in the Zimbabwe National Army Charity Handicap and a disappointing fifth in the Tankard.
Bookmakers, though, have been generous on Equina who will have regular pilot Karl Zechner in the saddle. The Silvinho Queen opened betting at 6/1, the same as in the Tankard and should have a number of racegoers backing her for a second consecutive win.
All in all, the OK Grand Challenge has drawn together seven trainers and 14 horses with Gorkan Terzi fielding the highest number of contestants. Terzi has lined up Super Trooper, champion three-year-old Merhaba, Rock the Country and outsider Got A Hold On Me who is at 40/1.
For the record, Super Trooper at seven years is the oldest fielding in the race. However, the super horse could find this distance a bit too hard as he is used to distances of between 1 200 and 1 400 where he has been very dominant this season.
New graduate Bridget Stido-lph has also lined up Menacing and Lucky Sam who should not be discounted in this race after coming second in the Tankard. Lucky Sam will be partnered by stable jockey Randall Simons who is hoping to add the OK Grand Challenge to his collection of the Republic Cup and the Independence Trophy.
Bronkhorst is having a three horse assault on the challenge as apart from Equina, Bronkhorst also lines up Thriller in Manila and Say So Tiger who both will have 52kg on them.
Kirk Swanson has been quiet of late and in the challenge he fields only Madigan, the same as Sebatien D’ Aquino who lines up Two Gun Kid who opened betting at 50/1, probably the highest paying horse in the race.
However, another of St John Gray’s exports Norgay who is at 7/1 is the dark horse in this 14 horse fielding.
Once again, All the Birds who had also been nominated for this race is no longer coming to Zimbabwe after having missed out of the Castle Tankard. Unfortunately trainer Cornie Spies was not available to respond to word doing rounds that she has decided to concentrate her efforts on the Durban July Handicap instead of the Tankard and the OK Grand Challenge.
But before the OK Grand Challenge takes centre stage, there is the Zimbabwe Oaks to be run over 2 000 metres. The Zimbabwe Oaks is the third and final leg of the Triple Tiara.
The racing season comes to an end on July 27 with the next season beginning on September 7 after a six-week break.
