Antony Delpech on Igugu on Avontuur day.
Antony Delpech on Igugu on Avontuur day.
‘Thank heaven for little girls,
thank heaven for them all,
no matter where no matter who
for without them, what would little boys do?’
Champions Day at Turffontein. What a day to have XX chromosomes ! Apart from the dedicated fillies’ races, there was plenty of girl power being flaunted with Val de Ra waving 2 fingers at the boys in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. However, becoming the first filly to win the Triple Tiara in the history of South African racing (and adding the female triple to Mike de Kock and Horse Chestnut’s Triple Crown title), the day really belonged to the little bit of bay fabulousness that is Igugu.
I come from a land Downunder
Igugu joined the world on 16 September 2007 at the Kia Ora stud just outside the quaintly named Scone in New South Wales, Australia. Despite being born ‘Downunder’ Igugu’s pedigree is a distinctly Northern Hemisphere one. Her dam Zarinia (Intikhab) is out of a Darshaan mare by the name of Zariliya and hails from the Aga Khan stable. Zarinia was sold in 2004 for 30,000 Euros to De Burgh/Farrington and exported to Australia and her second foal would turn out to be a little bay filly by Galileo.
By the time the unnamed filly caught the eye of Mick Goss at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sales, Australia had fallen a little out of love with Galileo. However, her connection to the Aga Khan’s 2008 European Horse of the Year, Zarkava was enough to ensure that when the hammer fell at $65,000, the name on the bill of sale read Livestock Traders South Africa. Which just goes to show that the Australian export market is good for more than just Bundaberg and Fosters !
The Name Game
It’s hard dreaming up appropriate names for youngsters at the best of times and Mickey tells me that trying to find one that satisfies both the South African and Australian stud books can be harder than most. However, experience has shown that Zulu names expedite the process somewhat and as he was so thrilled with his purchase of the Galileo filly (one of two from that sale), Mickey christened his acquisition Igugu, the Zulu word for jewel.
The newly christened Igugu shipped to South Africa and grew up in the rolling green hills of Summerhill. Micky recalls that she although she was not very tall, she was a very nice filly – a straightforward sort who exhibited her sire’s trademark action. As she had been acquired as a resale prospect, Igugu joined the Summerhill draft at the 2009 Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run sale.
Fate
Among the crowd on 8 November was Andre Macdonald and he had his heart set on lot no 100, the ‘other’ Galileo filly from the Melbourne sale, Uthawini. He pursued her all the way up the bidding to R2million, but she was eventually knocked down to Mike De Kock on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
I am a firm believer that things tend to happen for a reason. When Mr Macdonald went to speak to Mickey to express his disappointment at missing out on Uthawini, Mick reassured him with the news that there was a second Galileo on offer in lot 114 – Igugu. To make the deal even more attractive, Mick offered to take a share of the filly should she go Mr Macdonald’s way. And so the stage was set. There was no stopping him the second time round and the little filly with the big action was knocked down to Andre Macdonald for R1 million. “You win some and you lose some,” said Mr Macdonald, but I am very happy with the one I got.”
He clearly was. He rang Mickey the next morning with the following feedback – ‘There’s good news and there’s bad news. The good news is I’ll keep you as a partner. The bad news is, you’ve only got 25%!’
Early Career
The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when Igugu made her way to the Mike de Kock yard. She spent her formative months under the appreciative eye of young Matthew who was enthusiastic about her from very early on. There is an expression that a horse ‘doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care’ and the filly flourished under Matthew’s care. So much so that Igugu astounded everyone by winning her debut by 2.75 lengths over 1200m at the Vaal on 26 August 2010.
She reaffirmed her credentials on 16 September, running handy to romp home by 4.5 lengths over 1600m. In October she stepped out for the Gr3 Joburg Spring Mare & Fillies Challenge and changed tactics completely. Randall Simons rode an extremely mature and well-timed offensive, running from the back and employing her huge stride to mow down the competition over the last 400m to finish 2.75 lengths clear and securing her third consecutive victory.
She was narrowly beaten by Hollywoodboulevard in the 2010 Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m in November and then made the 18 hour trip down to Cape Town, arriving only 2 days ahead of the 1600m Avontuur Cape Filllies Guineas. I was lucky enough to be in the crowd on Guineas Day. Us Capetonians are not always known to make newcomers feel welcome and I had thrown my hat in the Snaith camp early, having developed a soft spot for the big black giant, Ebony Flyer.
As is her habit, Ebony Flyer strode into the parade ring regally, with her head up and her ears pricked, surveying her home crowd. My heart quailed seeing the diminutive bay shuffling out into the parade ring in the wake of her gigantic black rival and I confess to harboring traitorous thoughts….. I rushed to watch the horses canter down to the start and my breath caught in my throat as I watched Igugu pass. She may be small in size, but watching her unconcernedly ease into that monstrous stride, I knew it was going to be a good race.
On the day, Ebony Flyer took the honors, but she did not have an easy job of it and it is this columnist’s considered opinion that Igugu was still making headway in the closing stages. It seems I was not the only one to notice – in the weeks following her Guineas run, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum purchased a 50% share.
After a well-deserved Christmas break (and a change of silks in her Christmas stocking) the De Kock stable announced their intention to aim Igugu for the Triple Tiara.
Triple Tiara
Igugu launched her 2011 offensive in fine style, trouncing Hollywoodboulevard by an emphatic 4 lengths in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1600m on 26 February.
She confirmed her relish for a bit more ground, stretching out over the 1800m Gr1 SA Fillies Classic to lead Las Ramblas home by an incredible 10.25 lengths on 26 March.
However, she sealed her place at the very top of her class when she stormed home by the best part of 6 lengths in the Gr2 SA Oaks on Saturday, raising the roof by becoming the first winner of the Triple Tiara. She took home the prize, the prestige and relieved Phumelela of the whopping R1million bonus for her efforts. Not bad for 2 and a half minutes’ work !!
Future Plans
Although Clyde Basel commented that Igugu might be itching for some globetrotting, I’m pleased to say that South African fans can enjoy this fabulous filly just a little longer. She leaves for Durban this week for a crack at the Woolavington Stakes and all being well, her name will be joining the July roster at the second nomination stage.
And why not ? Mike de Kock has proved that his fillies are equally as capable as his colts over the Greyville trip when he won with Ipi Tombe back in 2002. And there is no reason that the game and glittering Galileo can’t follow in her footsteps. I don’t know that anyone has said it quite as well as Andre Macdonald did on her debut – she truly is ‘So impressive I can’t believe it!’
