LEADING South African jockey Ryan Munger will take the reins on odds-on favourite Kilrain when the 30th running of the OK Grand Challenge takes centre stage at Borrowdale Park Racecourse next Saturday.
BY MICHAEL KARIATI
Munger — who is leading the season’s jockey standings — takes the seat from his compatriot MJ Byleveld, who rode the six-year-old son of Dynasty to third place in the 2018 Castle Tankard on May 5.
He will head into the OK Grand Challenge on the back of some impressive results recently, including a hat-trick of winners at Flamingo Park Racecourse on Monday, which included a nicely judged pillar-to-post score on Bongo Dance in the R110 000 Kimberley Classic.
Kilrain, on the other hand, is a regular campaigner at Turffontein in South Africa and is being trained in Zimbabwe by Penny Fisher.
Kilrain, who was the 2/1 favourite for the Castle Tankard, retains the favourite tag in the OK Grand Challenge despite finishing behind Roman Discent and Simona in the longer Castle Tankard, which is 200 metres more than the OK Grand Challenge.
Borrowdale Park resident bookmaker Kenny Mukopa placed the 1 800-metre specialist from the Mike de Kock yard in South Africa at 3/1 just ahead of the Kirk Swanson-trained Amsterdam, who is at 7/2.
Ironically, Roman Discent, who is at 12/1 for the OK Challenge, won the Castle Tankard as an outsider at 20/1, a position that has been taken over by stable mate Peggson, who is at 25/1 and will be ridden by Zimbabwe-based Brendan McNaughton.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Local jockey Morgan Nyamagwete makes a return to his familiar Borrowdale Park racecourse and will ride Super Good, who finished third in the 2017 edition of the OK Grand Challenge behind Royal Honour and Windigo.
All in all, Stidolph contributes the highest number of runners in the race with her faith placed on Comanche Brave, Life Is Good, Roman Discent, Simona, Raven Girl, Super Good and Peggson.
Stidolph is riding the crest of a wave after she won the Castle Tankard with Roman Discent, and had two other horses in the quartet with Simona finishing second in that race and Mathematician in fourth place.
Apart from Amsterdam, Swanson also contributes Phantom Major, Heir Line, and Cool Solution. “I think Phantom Major and Amsterdam have the best chance in the race.
Heir Line is still new, but he too can give a strong fight. If they fail to win, then I think Comanche Brave or Simona will take it,” said Swanson.
Comanche Brave in particular is now used to the conditions of Borrowdale Park racecourse as he has been a regular campaigner since winning the Castle Tankard in 2017.
The winner of the OK Grand Challenge gives $24 000 to his connections with the second-placed runner taking home $8 000.
There is $4 800 for the third-placed runner while the runner that finished fourth is guaranteed $2 400 with the fifth finisher giving his connections $800.
