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Castle Tankard when he lines-up against 16 other runners at Borrowdale racecourse today.
The Castle Tankard is the oldest sponsored horse race in Africa and, since the first edition in 1960, only one horse Taranki has managed to reclaim the coveted prize.
Taranaki achieved the feat in 1978 and 1979 and no horse has managed to defend the Castle Tankard, let alone win it on more than two occasions since. But Trainer Lisa Harris could do it today if last year’s winner Winter’s Night gallops to victory in the 2 000m sprint.
There is US$50 000 in stakes, making it a Grade 1 race and comparing favourably with events in South Africa.
Dewi Williams, held the straps last year, as the horse won the race and he is on board again today with a draw of 12 and number two on the race card. The partnership will bolt from Gate 11 and Winter’s Night is coming into the race as a 2/1 favourite.
He has been racing in Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg, South Africa, under trainer Neil Bruss and the bookmakers put him as one of the leading lights for this race with Williams, on 58,5kgs. He will also be chasing a personal glory of winning his third Tankard in row.
In 2009, Williams guided Chill Out to a win but this time it has a top weight of 60kgs in Tatenda Guta.
Chill Out is drawn at 25/1 and could find the distance to his liking as he fared badly in his last run over 1 600m.
But Chill Out has managed to get places in his runs over 2 000m and could still come out right today although the chances are slim judging by the field.
He still brags of holding the class record for the Tankard when it won in 119,05seconds with Williams but Summer Silence remains with the course record when it won in 119,03s, carrying 58kgs in 1999.
Eight Street (4) is one of the race favourites and he is coming from the Kirk Swanson’ yard on 4/1. His last run was at the Independence Trophy where it beat Captain’s Tiger by 1.25lens over 1600m and he has to keep the momentum to win. The six-year old Street Cry gelding is one of the biggest challengers to the race and in jockey Quiton Riddle, Swanson is hopeful of a winner.
Riddle has been restricted by his weight to just two horses from Swanson’ stable but still fancies his chances.
His other option was Captain’s Tiger.
“There was not pretty much of a choice to make but I have followed the form.
“I am cautious in my heart and I have not ridden Eight Street before but I think I am on the right one,” said Riddle.
Splendid Tambur (5) needs to improve here while Sonic Barrier (6) could find the distance to its liking but still has to beat Eight Street who was its nemesis in the last run.
Trainer Noleen Peech saddles in Got Personality, a fine filly which could get a place if in form. Glen Hatt rides the horse while Jiminy Cricket (7) has been off form in the last two runs and need to an improvement here.
At number 10 is Grisham, a top South African runner but leading race commentator Adrian Nydam, had during the final nominations this week, ruled out the horse as a potential winner.
Trained by Geoff Woodruff, the Kahal gelding will be taking on the home runners on familiar turf and it has South African jockey Karis Teetan.
Harris also brings the four-year old Smartly Jones filly, Gracie Jones for her biggest test.
The United States-bred Gracie Jones has proved to be a decent runner, beating Madam Madonna over 1600m in the last run and she could be among the top finishers.
Gavid Macleod brings Sharp Texan who is coming from 111 days of rest and managed to get a place the last time he ran the same distance.
The Divine Act gelding has been off form of late, according to the bookmakers.
Kithala (14) and Al Kahtan (16) could prove to be the real dark horses.
With Delta returning to sponsor the Castle Tankard, seven other races under the beverages manufactures’ brands have been lined up.
The Castle Milk Stout Maiden Plate 1100m with US$5 000 has nine runners being accepted, while the Castle Light Maiden is over the same distance with the same number of runners.
Coming as race three is the Castle Pilsner with 10 horses while the Zambezi Handcap Race Four has nine horses. The Bolhinger, Carling Black Label and Zambezi Light all have US$5 000 in stakes. The Carling Black Label is over 2 200m and serves as the penultimate event before the feature race.