HARARE - South African thoroughbred A King Is Born, who is trained by Alyson Wright, won the Castle Tankard $50 000 race here yesterday some five lengths ahead of second-placed Ginepri from Argentina.

A King Is Born, who was ridden by Deon Sampson, arrived at the Tankard an outsider for the race at 16-1 but upset the bookies favourite Captain’s Tiger, who finished in third place.

Another Argentinian horse, Orbit War, who was ridden by Francois Hierholdt came in fourth place.

Orbit War, who is also trained by Wright, was tipped to be a top contender for the race but came up short.   

A King Is Born, a Bay Gelding, came into this race on poor form having come in 11th place in its last featured race.

Sampson was however delighted by the delighted by his first win at the Castle Tankard which was A King Is Born fifth win.

“First and foremost; to win a race like this in Zimbabwe is always special moment,” a beaming Sampson said after the race.

“I have a lot of people to thank for this victory especially the caretakers who have been here for the past month, the Fisher family and the whole team.

“I just settled at the back of the field and took my time when coming into the stretch. I always knew that Captain’s Tiger was the horse to beat.”

Wright’s mother, Penny Fisher was ecstatic at the end of the race because it is the second year in a row that a horse trained by her daughter has won the race.

Last year, Code Rock, who was also trained by Wright, defied all odds to win Africa’s oldest sponsored race.

“We actually preferred the other runner but this horse ran a cracker and I’m pleased for the owners back in Durban because it takes a lot of money to get the horses here,” said Fisher.

“The Castle Tankard is a fantastic race and racing would not be racing without it. The sponsors are good and they have done fantastic stuff for us and I’m very happy that we have got two in a row.”

The race was reduced to a field of 15 horses yesterday after five other horses were scratched from the card for various reasons.

South African thoroughbred, Emperor Augustus, who had been tipped to win the race was among the five horses that failed to make it for the race.