The Apache To Race In Hong Kong At End Of Year

Mikedekockracing.com reports that champion filly Igugu(AUS) and the stable’s recently acquired dark bay son of Mogok, The Apache (bred by Scott Bros), are notable exclusions from the nominations for the Gr1 2012 Vodacom Durban July, announced on Thursday.

Mike de Kock explained on Friday that the pair, and a group of other runners, will be going into quarantine in Cape Town on 6 May with the aim of being shipped to Dubai via Mauritius and the UK.

He said: “For Igugu and others to be able to compete internationally at the end of the year and next year in Dubai we have no choice but to make early arrangements to get them out of the country as soon as we can, which is about now. It’s really ridiculous, but we cannot take the chance of waiting until after the July, for example. We’re following the export protocol as it stands right now.”

Igugu, The Apache and a number of horses owned by Sheikh Hamdan of Dubai will be spending 19 days at the Kenilworth Quarantine Station, followed by 90 days in Mauritius and a further 30 days in the United Kingdom.

“The plan is for The Apache to contest a race in Hong Kong at year-end, while the rest will travel on to Dubai,” he said.

Both Igugu and The Apache were last seen in action in the J&B Met on 30 January at Kenilworth, when they finished first and sixth respectively – The Apache just 2 lengths off Igugu.

Summerhill’s raised and grazed Igugu(AUS) won the Vodacom Durban July last year from another Summerhill-bred, Pierre Jourdan.

The Apache, an R80 000 purchase from the 2009 National Two Year Old sale, is a dual Grade 1 winner and current Equus Award winning Champion Three Year Old Colt. He was formerly trained by KZN-based Gavin Van Zyl.

KZN Breeders have had significant success with racehorses overseas such as Rathmor Stud’s Grade 1 winning Gypsy’s Warning – a daughter of Mogok (Storm Cat’s best performing son at stud in South Africa), Wolf Whistle and Zirconeum who were both bred by Bush Hill Stud, Chocolicious of Backworth Stud, Art Of War and Imbongi from Summerhill Stud – and of course Paris Perfect, a son of Muhtafal who ran third to Well Armed in the 2009 Grade 1 Dubai World Cup.

The Apache is sure to fly the flag successfully for KZN Breeders once more overseas.

Information courtesy www.mikedekockracing.com