 run on May 7, 2022, were the most fancied runners when the final field was declared for the 1800m OK Grand Challenge (Gr1) earlier this week.){kind=link}
The first three past the post in the 2000m Castle Tankard (Gr1) run on May 7, 2022, were the most fancied runners when the final field was declared for the 1800m OK Grand Challenge (Gr1) earlier this week.
True Beauty won the Tankard, and then came Only Him and Holy Land. Winning margins 0.75 and 1.50 Lengths. When betting opened for the OK Grand Challenge, True Beauty and Holy Land were quoted at 5/2, and Only Him was 4/1.
Holy Land (above) may prefer the 1800m trip and there has been a significant turnaround in the weights. In The Castle Tankard, True Beauty received 3 kgs from Holy Land, while Only Him was receiving 1 kg from the older horse. On June 4 Holy Land only gives True Beauty half a kilogram, while Only Him will give Holy Land 0.5 kgs.
There is no doubt that the four-year-olds will have to dig deeper to beat Holy Land, but it isn’t all over bar the shouting. The OK field is bristling with possibilities and to check on all the runners visit https://zimracing.com/ok-grand-challenge-2022/
Stake money for the OK Grand Challenge to be run over 1800m at Borrowdale Park on June 4, has been increased to US$70 000 while the final field of the race to be run over 1800m at Borrowdale Park on June 4, was announced at a function given by the sponsors early this week.
During his welcoming address the deputy chairman of the Mashonaland Turf Club, Scott Buchan said the OK Grand Challenge is one of the biggest events on the Zimbabwean racing calendar.
“Over the years the OK Grand Challenge has not only become a much-loved permanent fixture of the Zimbabwean racing calendar, a permanent fixture in our national sporting and fashion calendar but now undeniably a major race within the international racing fraternity. This international focus not only presents Borrowdale Park as a world-class racing centre but also adds to the attractiveness of Harare as an international destination and city, giving fantastic exposure to the OK group as a leading international brand and company,” Buchan said.
THE FINAL FIELD
Race-1 (Turf) US$ 70,000 1800m
OK GRAND CHALLENGE (Grade 1)
Open/6th leg Open Series
WFA: 2yrs-11.5kgs 3yrs-2.0kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
1 5 WHAT A DANDY 62.0 105 A N.Takawira – Debra Swanson 7/1
2 13 LILY BLUE 59.5 99 A J. Penny – Bridget Stidolph 6/1
3 10 CAPTAIN OF TORTUGA 59.0 98 BA F.Herholdt – Bridget Stidolph 16/1
4 6 FINCHATTON 59.0 98 A…… Gokhan Terzi 10/1
5 16 ONLY HIM 58.5 97 A K.Steyn – Bridget Stidolph 4/1
6 3 HOLY LAND 58.0 96 BA…… Vanessa Birketoft 5/2
7 8 TRUE BEAUTY 57.5 95 A D.Schwarz – Thomas Mason 5/2
8 11 DAFFIQ 57.0 94 A…… Vanessa Birketoft 7/2
9 9 MR GREENLIGHT 57.0 94 BA …… Vanessa Birketoft 16/1
10 4 WANTAGE 55.5 91 A…… Bridget Stidolph 12/1
11 20 ARMSTRONG 55.0 90 A…… Vanessa Birketoft 14/1
12 19 BUGATTI BLUE 55.0 90 A Wes Marwing – Debra Swanson 20/1
13 12 EDWARD THE SEVENTH 54.5 89 A…… Gokhan Terzi 14/1
14 1 SEVEN SEAS 52.5 85 AM…… Gokhan Terzi 12/1
15 18 LOVE THE VIEW 52.0 82 A A.Arries – Thomas Mason 10/1
16 15 CITRUSDAL 52.0 81 BA M.Nyamagwete Bridget Stidolph 14/1
17 2 MIND MASTER 52.0 80 A …… Vanessa Birketoft 16/1
18 17 OBSCURE 52.0 80 A …… Bridget Stidolph 14/1
19 7 VARNICA 52.0 79 TA Reserve 1 Debra Swanson 20/1
20 14 TULIP WAY 52.0 77 A Reserve 2 Debra Swanson 20/1
TOTAL RUNNERS 20
Photographs by Jenny Stock.