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Takudzwa Chitsiga

Sports Reporter

DINDINGWE is proving to be a force to reckon with after she romped to victory at the Zimbabwe Guineas Grade Three race at Borrowdale Park on Sunday afternoon.

Coming into the race, the runner was one of the favourites after she outclassed other competitors in the previous races.

Apprentice Rodgers Satombo steered her to victory in the Champion Juvenile Stakes, the Breeders Fillies Mile and, recently, the first leg of Zimbabwe’s Triple Tiara, Fillies Classic.

Dindingwe retained the upper hand, against arch-rival True Beauty, who stood gallantly in defeat, as she tried her best, with Kevin Derere as the pilot.

The Zimbabwe Guineas is the first race of the Triple Crown and was shown live on DStv’s racing platforms.

Dindingwe will be expected to maintain the fine form, and win the last two races, to join a group of best runners, who have won the Tripple Crown, at Borrowdale Park. 

It was Zimbabwe’s top two three-year-olds, Dindingwe and her stablemate True Beauty, who provided a thrilling finish in the feature race of the day.

Peacable , riding for Bridget Stidolph, after having taken the 1800m Maiden Plate — Pictures by Zim Equine News.

Dindingwe held on, in a tough race, with True Beauty closing in, very fast.

Due to scratchings, Diesel And Dust and Mazikeen, could not race, because of elevated temperatures, leaving a depleted field.

But, the two main players were there and that was what counted. 

Dindingwe, bred by Ndoro Stud, is by Futura out of a Jallad (USA) mare.

She is trained by Swanson Racing, and apprentice Satombo, was on the irons.

Both fillies are based in Kirk Swanson’s yard and had clashed before.

Dindingwe has now won five of her six starts.

Jubilee, from Tomcat Racing, finished third and Magnus Maximus completed the places.

Meanwhile, according to Borrowdale Park’s social media platforms, Double Dab, a winner over 1200m on January 17, scored again in the 1600m MR 65 Handicap on Sunday.

“The five-year-old Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) mare is trained by Gokhan Terzi and Calvin Habib was riding while regular jockey Brendon McNaughton, recovering from an injury, watched from the stands,’’ the sites reported. 

“Double Dab has now won four. 

“Gokhan Terzi was on course on Sunday having come back home to Borrowdale, and he paid tribute to his Assistant Trainer, Vanessa Birketoft, for managing everything so well.

“Double Dab was bred by Eclipse Racing & Breeding and her proud owners are Gengiz Goksel and Bruce McLauchlan.

“Calvin Habib was in fine form at Borrowdale Park on Sunday where he had four rides for four winners, including Peacable’s victory in the 1800 metre Maiden Plate. 

“Habib also won on Mind Master, Double Dab and Hold The Biscuit — all trained by Gokhan Terzi.

“The Stidolph yard had another winner earlier in the afternoon when Teaque Gould scored on Butchie Boy in the 1800m MR 90 Handicap.’’