News

Aussie Quinella in South African Group Three

10th Oct 2010

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Sunday, 10 October 2010

Australian bred Galileo (IRE) filly Igugu beat older mares to win the Group Three Joburg Spring Filly and Mare Challenge at Turffontein in South Africa on Saturday.

The Mike de Kock trained filly remained unbeaten in winning her third straight race, beating four year-old Aussie bred mare mare Queen Mira (Danehill Dancer (IRE) x Celtic Queen (IRE) by two and three-quarter lengths.

Igugu was bred by Kia Ora Stud and fetched $65,000 when offered at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale where she was bought by Livestock Traders.

A daughter of champion sire Galileo (pictured), Igugu is the second foal of Zarinia (IRE), an Intikhab mare from the family of champion mare and Arc winner Zarkava.

Winning on the same program was Royal Academy (USA) four year-old Royal Arrow, who won his fourth race from 12 starts when taking the Pinnacle Stakes (no Black Type) over 2200 metres.

A $70,000 purchase from the Rheinwood Pastoral draft at a Gold Coast sale, Royal Arrow is from the Brief Truce (USA) mare Whilrigig.

Also breaking his maiden in South Africa at Durbanville on Saturday was three year-old Anabaa (USA) colt Arabian Empire, who over 1600 metres at his second start for Glen Kotzen.

Bred by Swettenham Stud, the colt was sold in their dispersal of weanlings in 2008 for $50,000 and was then re-offered by Raheen stud at a Gold Coast sale in 2009 where he was purchased for $70,000.

Arabian Empire is the fifth winner for former champion South African filly Arabian Lass, an Al Mufti mare who won 10 races four of them Group One.