All The Bids pulls out of Castle Tankard

The Corne Spies trained horse was expected to dominate the race.

THREE year old gelding, All The Bids, considered by many to be the best horse currently racing in South Africa, has pulled out of Zimbabwe’s biggest horse racing event, the Castle Tankard, due to injury.
The country’s most revered sporting event, to be run over 2 000 metres, is set for this Saturday at Borrowdale Race Course.
Betina Gurajena, the racing manager, told the Financial Gazette this week that the South Africa based horse was scratched.
“Yes, All The Bids, was scratched, so it’s no longer coming for this year’s Castle Tankard,” said Gurajena.
The Corne Spies trained horse was expected to dominate the race, given the fact that he was in smashing form of late, winning seven competitions in South Africa.
Zimbabwean jockey, Kevin Derere, had been nominated to hold the straps on All The Bids this weekend.
Now, he will ride Gentle Brook from Amy Bronkhors stable.
Other contenders include debutants — Norgay, Warcraft and local horse Glorious Jet.
Gloroius Jet is trained by Gokhan Terzi, who has two other entries in the race –Super Trouper and Rock the Country.
Defending champion, Equina, which was ridden by the hugely talented Zimbabwe –born jockey Karl Zechner last year is badly out of form at the moment.
Even the stable trainer, Bronkhors, admitted that other horses will give Equina a tough time for the race.
“We are looking forward but it’s going to be tough for Equina this year.”
Equina romped to victory in a time of 119, 47 seconds ahead of A King is Born.
Apart from winning the Castle Tankard last year, Equina, also won the OK Grand Challenge and came second in the Republic Cup.
But she has not been all that impressive this season so far.
Although she won the Zimbabwe National Army Charity Stakes, she has been a big disappointment in the other races she has taken part in.
In the history of the Castle Tankard, only two horses- Taranaki and Fashion Maker —have won the competition more than once.
Taranaki won the Castle Tankard in 1978 and 1979 while Fashion Maker won it in 1997 and 1999.
Zechner, this Saturday, is set to ride Thriller in Manila on the track, which is also trained by Bronkhors.
Kirk Swanson who trains local horse, Mighty Sha, is also targeting to win the 2015 Castle Tankard to add to the four wins under his belt already.
Former Zimbabwe champion trainer, Swanson, has won Castle Tankard race four times in a row between 2005 and 2008 with Sports Record (2005), Reflectadanzig (2006), Muscat Express (2007) and Moon Horse (2008).
Castle Tankard is bankrolled by Delta Beverages to the tune of US$50 000.
The winner will take home US$30 000.
The horse that comes second will receive US$10 000 while the third placed gets US$6 000.
The fourth placed horse will get US$3 000 while the Fifth placed horse will receive US$1 000.

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