Mandla Moyo, Sports Reporter
FOCUS will be on Sygone and his running mate, jockey Collen Storey when a lean field of six runners are loaded to battle for the Zimbabwe 2000 Grade (3) Listed race pencilled in for today at Borrowdale Racecourse.
The test will see the field contest over a taxing distance 2 000m long to determine the winner of this leg who will walk away $4 800 richer while the first runner up over the line will get $1 600.
There are prizes for the third and fourth-placed runners which have been pegged at $1 000 and $600 respectively.
Coming into this event Sygone the winner of the first leg has the highest merit rating of (78). This bay gelding has posted three wins, placed five times form ten runs. He is expected to make noise from lane four not a bad lane for a long distance race. The presence of jockey Storey on the irons means a lot about its chances here and also taking into consideration that this partnership produced positive results during the first test.
On the other hand, stiff competition is expected to come for Action Jackson who comes along with a career record of two wins plus placed three times from five runs.
Action Jackson has drawn wide in lane six ridden jockey Ryan Manger for the stable of Penny Fisher.
This gelding comes into this event as the second highest rated runner at (71) alongside Three To Tango who is drawn in lane two.
If there are any runner amongst the field who have the potential to spoil the day for Bridget then these too are such candidates.
As the same time while Stidolph has produced fast runners Kirk Swanson is and his stable is the real deal when it comes to long distances.
According to horse racing analyst Sheldene Chant there could be room for redemption this time around.
“During the first race Sygone race as he pleased, however one must not ignore the extra 400m as none of the runners have tried this trip before.
“There is plenty room for redemption and I hope we will see more competitive race this time around,” said Chat.
Other runners who also have a chance when the stall gates open are Red Pollard, Rain Spider and Crown Brewed.
Horse racing followers will be anxious to see how the field will respond to the ruthless form shown by this team when winning by close to three horse lengths during the first leg.