The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
IT was an emotional moment for retiring renowned trainer, Penny Fisher, as she watched her horse Tandava gallop to victory at the 23rd edition of the Republic Cup Trust race at Borrowdale Racecourse yesterday.
lt was Tandava’s first race after returning from a 95-day vacation in South Africa and he gave a colourful send-off to his trainer, who is retiring after a 30-year career with horses.
With Deon Sampson on the saddle, Tandava beat a 16-horse field ahead of Kirk Swanson’s Arte, another Penny Fisher trained Fareeq and Bridget Stidolph’s Simona.
The trio occupied second, third and fourth places respectively.
The Zimbabwe-bred horse walked away with $90 000 while Arte, Fareeq and Simona bagged $30 00, $18 000 and $9 000 respectively.
Fisher, who will be handing over the stable to Vannessa Burgertoff, walked into retirement with tears of joy.
In an interview, her son Alistair Fisher showered praises on the horse for a befitting send-off for his mother.
“This is the end of my mother’s career and as a family, we are happy that she had to win this big race. We are very happy. Well done to Tandava and thank you for adding colour to her send off. “We are very glad that mom had to end her career in this manner,” he said, adding that the seven-year-old horse is in fine shape to feature in more races. Sampson recently bagged the 2019 OK Grand Challenge with Simona but has found new love in Tandava.
“Winning such a big race with him, in his first race after returning to the course, is like finding new love.
“He is a magnificent animal, he sprints and has a bright future. He can win a few more races in the next season. “We won a big race today, something that marks a bright future for us,” Sampson said.
The Republic Cup Trust compliments other charities’ efforts. Beneficiaries are the less priviledged people in the country.
