Ideal View eyes Castle Tankard history

MICHAEL KARIATI

Ideal View, trained by Debra Swanson, will compete in the 2024 Castle Tankard at Borrowdale Park and Racecourse on Saturday in an attempt to become just the third horse in history to win the race more than once.

Only Taranaki in 1978 and 1979 and Fashion Maker in 1997 and 1999 have won double Castle Tankard titles and success for the 2023 champion will see the runner go into the history books in Zimbabwe.

Barring any last minute card scratchings, the South Africa based Ideal View will lead a small but strong field of 12 runners for the 2000 metre race which has US$50 000 in stake money and US$25 000 for the winning horse.

However, the five-year-old who is the bookmakers’ odds on favourite  will pay the price for that favourite tag as he will be the top weighted runner in the race.

Happily, though, Ideal View has always proved profitable for punters even under these daunting circumstances, and could have a lot of followers for a win or a placing.

Swanson, though, will not only have Ideal View on the course but also four other runners from her stable, Dingingwe, Jacky Sparrow, Majestic Warrior, and of course Admirals’ Chance who opened at 20/1.

Dindingwe finished second behind Ideal View in the 2023 race and even Swanson’s rival trainer, Bridget Stifolph thinks Dundingwe will give the rest of the pack a run for their money.

Stidolph, though, is not looking elsewhere for the 2024 Castle Tankard champion but in her own yard and in particular in the five-year-old Raffles.

Sired by Time Thief (AUS) off Girl’s Best Friend (SAF), Raffles has won two of her 19 races since 2022 and also boasts of four second placings and eight third placings from the same races.

This means, the gelding has not been placed in only five of the 19 races that he has contested in over that period which makes him a good bet for a place.

Stidolph also sends out Citrusidal, Wantage, and the rank outsider Tradition who opened betting at 25/1 and will be coming out of gate two.

The race will not be complete without Holy Land from the Amy Parham yard as well as Raining Again and Brianna from the Gavin McLeod stable.

In addition to the US$25 000 awarded to the winner, the horse in second place will receive a prize of US$12,500, and the runner who completes the placings will receive a reward of US$7,500.

For the horse finishing in fourth place, there will also be US$5,000 up for grabs.