News

Igugu Returns With a Win

5th Dec 2011

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Monday, 5 December 2011

Australian bred South African Horse of the Year Igugu returned from a spell to score a resounding win in the Group II Ipi Tombe Challenge at Turffontein in South Africa on Sunday.

Trained by Mike de Kock for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and Mr and Mrs A J Macdonald, Igugu was utterly dominant in taking the 1600 metre feature for fillies and mares by more than five lengths under the top weight of 60kg.

Igugu took her overall record to nine wins from 11 starts and looks set for another outstanding campaign with her immediate target the Group I J & B Met(2000m) on the January 28.

Igugu (pictured courtesy www.sahracing.com )was bred by Kia Ora Stud and fetched $65,000 when offered at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale where she was bought by Livestock Traders. She was then sold for 1million Rand from the Summerhill draft at the 2009 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale in South Africa.

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

Zarinia has no yearling for the sales in 2012, but did produce a filly by Shamardal (USA) this spring and her two year-old colt Honorius, by Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) made his debut at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trained by David Payne, he finished fourth to Fundido beaten two and a half lengths.