Igugu(AUS) Captures Nineth Career Win In Ipi Tombe Challenge

As expected, Summerhill’s raised and grazed champion filly Igugu(AUS) swept to a 5.25 length victory over Queen’s Bay in the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m on Sunday afternoon at Turffontein, steered to victory by Anthony Delpech.

This brilliant filly, in her nineth career win, proved her tenacity with not only this comprehensive victory but shouldering 60kgs to boot, while Queen’s Bay only had 57.5kg. Checcetti went off at odds of 20/1 and ran third, with St John Gray’s Engagement finishing fourth.

It is interesting to note that only six other horses were prepared to take up the challenge against the daughter of Galileo and their trepidation proved to be right as she stormed to an emphatic victory.

The win couldn’t be more appropriate for her trainer Mike de Kock, who has trained two Vodacom Durban July winning fillies, with Igugu(AUS) emluating the feat of Ipi Tombe who won the 2002 July before campaigning successfully overseas.

It was the 2011 Equus Horse-Of-The-Year’s first appearance in five months and she looks to be on target for the J & B Met in January.