FIVE-year-old gelding Action Zone pulled off a stunning upset victory in the prestigious $50,000 Castle Tankard race at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.
Doubts had been raised about whether the son of Canford Cliffs could handle the 2000m distance, having previously excelled at shorter 1600m races.
But under the expert guidance of jockey Monty Thackeray, Action Zone proved the naysayers wrong, holding off a strong challenge from Jaeger Moon to cross the finish line.
Bred by Daytona Stud, Action Zone has now notched up 10 career wins for his ardent owner Craig Danckwerts, a popular figure in Zimbabwean racing circles. The victory was especially sweet for Danckwerts, who was on hand to witness his horse’s triumph.
Also drawing attention was the presence of Nico Kritsiotis, a familiar face in the Borrowdale commentary box, who had returned to the track after a brief hiatus.
With the Castle Tankard once again living up to its reputation as one of the most thrilling races on the Zimbabwean cal
