Mandla Moyo Sports Reporter
STABLES across the country are working flat out in preparation for the Zimbabwe Guineas Grade (3) race, the first leg of the Triple Crown scheduled to take place at Borrowdale on Sunday.

Sunday’s event will be run over 1,600M.

The stables which are going to be represented include the Bridget Stidolp yard with two entries, Kirk Swanson (1), the Alyson Wright stable (3), Corne Spies (4), Gokhan Terzi (2) and the Amy Bronkhorst stable with a single entry.

Over the past years Bridget has been an assistant trainer to Lisa Harris. However, at the beginning of the year the National Horse Racing Association (NHA) granted her a trainers’ licence after she passed the relevant examinations.

She quickly hit the ground running when one of her horses, Mica Point, shocked the bookmakers’ favourites Eversolucky and Supa Challenge to win the Guineas Trial Race in January this year over 1,600M to win by three lengths.

The pressure is now certainly on Bridget Stidolp and her crew to prove once again that their win during the running of the Guineas Trial race was no fluke. They have to be at their best on the Sunday. According to trainer Bridget preparations are on track.

“We’re looking forward to the race, and as of now our preparations have been going smoothly”, said Bridget

Another trainer Gokhan Terzi said all was going according to plan.

“I’m very happy about our preparations. The filly, Eversolucky, is doing well with Quinton Riddle on board. She however, likes longer races, but we’re definitely waiting for the race day”, said trainer Gokhan Terzi.

If there is a race fans are eagerly waiting for then the first leg of the Triple Crown is certainly it. After galloping to victory in the running of the Guineas trial race, Mica Point will find himself surrounded by familiar faces in the stall gates.

Most people feel he robbed these opponents in January hence this race will be like a replay since it is also over the same distance.

Therefore he definitely needs this one more than any other horse to prove his running abilities and put his stable once again on the limelight.

After this leg focus will shift to the Bloodstock South Africa 2000 Grade (3) which is the second leg of the Triple Crown set for March 22. The race will be over 2,000M.

The final leg of the Triple Crown is the Zimbabwe Derby Grade (3) Race scheduled for April 19 at Borrowdale. The leg will be over 2,400 metres.

It is however, very difficult for a horse to win all the three legs. The Triple Crown race is known as the ultimate test of the thoroughbred horses. In the history of horse racing in Zimbabwe, it has happened only seven times in over 100 years of racing.

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