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Mandla Moyo Sports Reporter
PRINT The Pounds put up a decent run on his way to winning the tightly contested Zimbabwe Guineas Grade (3) Race, the first Leg of the Triple Crown held at Borrowdale Race Course on Sunday.

The grey horse from the stable of Bridget Stidolp with jockey Derreck David directing from the saddle, withstood the last seconds challenge from the highly rated Picalilly to win the first leg of the Triple Crown race.

Print The Pounds needed one minute 35.06 seconds to cover this 1,600m long race which was the sixth event of the day to win by 0.25 lengths.

In second position was Picalilly followed by the two surprise packages of the race, Zita in third position and So Ruler in fourth.

For winning this first leg of the Triple Crown the winning connection returned to the stables $5,400 richer while Picalilly got $1,800, leaving Zita and So Ruler to pick up $ 1,125 and $675 respectively.

Once off the blocks the field set off at a cracking pace towards the finishing post. Mica Point with jockey Denicious Smith on the saddle was quick to pick up the pieces and found his way smoothly to the front.

However, Print The Pound and his running mate, David, were just behind waiting for the dust to settle, as they pondered on their next move.

With every turn that the field made the tempo went a gear up and positions changed hands time and again. At the front it quickly became a two-horse race featuring Mica Point and Print The Pounds.

Unfortunately as the finishing post got nearer with each stride, the field made Mica Point run out of steam and quickly fell further behind the leading pack. After Mica Point’s world collapsed like a deck of cards it was left to the other front runners to battle for the top prize.

When the runners approached the 200m mark Print the Pounds was already on song with jockey David calling the shots. He was rolling smoothly at the front, leaving the rest of the field do the chasing.

Picalilly the filly from the stable of Alyson Wright and her running partner Raymond Danielson tried to stage a last minute comeback but Print The pounds was already printing the pounds in no mood to take prisoners as she clung on to her dear lead to cross the finishing line.

The next races on the calendar are the Breeders’ Champions Cup Race (L) third Leg Open series (2,000m) and the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (L) second leg Triple Taira Race (1,800m) set for March 8 at the ceremonial home of horse racing, Borrowdale Park.

Borrowdale results

Race 1: Soccer GG Maiden Plate Race (1 000M)

1 Full Court, 8 Promising, 7 Pente’s Daughter, 2 Mysterious Cat

Race 2: Soccer 11 merit Rated 70 Handicap (1 400M)

2 Breezing Through, 5 Just Knock, 6 Let’s Fly High, 1 Demitasse

Race 3: Soccer 4 Maiden plate (1 700M)

15 Second light, 17 Shezawarrior, 7 Hope Dies Last, 12 Irish Salesman

Race 4: Soccer 6 Merit Rated 50 Handicap (1 800M)

2 Arrowfield, 8 Captain Grant, 9 Temple Run, 10 Seaclipper

Race 5: Soccer 10 Merit Rated 70 Handicap (1 900M)

11 Heron Boy, 5 Butler Yeats, 2 Killa Man, 1 Forty One.