Igugu(AUS) Wins Against The Odds Share Both trainer Mike de Kock and Anthony Delpech admitted that there would have been no problems with Igugu (meaning Jewel in Zulu) winning the J&B Met at 100%, but the true champion that she is she was able to do it even off her best. The filly is by world champion stallion Galileo(IRE) out of Zarinia(IRE) by Intikhab(USA) and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum & Mr and Mrs A J Macdonald. She has now won 10 races and two placings from 12 starts, with both placings being second. The odds were stacked against her; in a shock withdrawal as a result of a cough from the Grade 1 TBA Paddock Stakes run in early January, she was then confined to her quarantine stable. Mike de Kock said that she certainly didn't have the best preparation going into the race, but sometimes it's the size of the heart that matters. Igugu recorded her 7th career Group win in a row, undefeated since February 2011 in only Graded company including the her Vodacom Durban July victory. She now takes her earnings to approximately R5 million - her R1 million purchase tag, sold by Summerhill Stud at the Ready-To-Run sale proved to be a bargain purchase. During the race she was lying between third and fourth on the rail, with Anthony saying the pace was too slow for her. She switched to the centre and began unwinding, making up two lengths and finding extra to defeat Bravura by a head, with L'Ormarins Queens Plate winner Gimmethegreenlight finishing third and Run For It fourth. With Igugu recording a winning time of 123.75, Mike de Kock explained afterwards, "She wasn't the Igugu I know that flies out of the gates and is right there. I feel she was probably at 90% today, so for her to still dig down deep and win by a head is just unbelievable. It's been a great team effort. "If she wasn't here today, it wouldn't have been the same; she really contributed to the day." He went on to say, with her having to travel 18 hours, "Champions seem to get over this, lesser horses wouldn't but she wasn't the Igugu that was in the July, today she didn't have that early gate speed she was a little sluggish and she took her time to get going which is not how we know her at all but with what she has been through, locked up in quarantine from dawn to dusk it hasn't been easy. "With the slow pace, I was expecting to see us in front; she was sluggish out the gates which just shows you she wasn't at her best, but champions dig down, don't they? It's not easy to train horses like this, there are always knockers out there but thanks to Mr Mac and Sheik Mohammed who have faith in the team and they deserve every bit of success that they get. "Thanks also to Mike Greef and his team at Kenilworth, they have been fantastic. They have done everything they can to make an uneasy situation comfortable." Jockey Anthony Delpech echoed the trainer's sentiment about the slower than usual start, explaining that it was tough out there. "I struggled to hold my position early on, they bumped her around a little bit and it didn't work out too well. She got cut into behind quite badly, but at the end of the day, Igugu has won the race just through pure heart. "Today the pace was too slow for her, she likes to gallop but when I found myself in that position, I couldn't panic, I had to swallow the pill and make for the straight. I got her out at the top of the straight quite early and got going on her and it didn't look like I was going to get to Anton, but over the last 100 metres she showed that she doesn't know how to lose and went on to win again. All credit to Mike and the whole team. It was a tough one to come and win here today . "She is a real star who has shown up all the critics. "I wish to God I will always sit on her because she is one of those horses that come once in a lifetime and well done to Mr Mac and to the Sheik. "I knew she was better than all of them but nothing was a 100%. I knew that with a 100% Igugu, we wouldn't have to worry, but I had a lot on my shoulders today, Thanks very much to my wife who has been so supportive." Congratulations to Summerhill Stud for bringing this wonderful filly to this country, the current Equus Horse Of The Year is sure to campaign successfully overseas.

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