At the 2010-2011 Equus Awards, there were few surprises when the 3yo filly Igugu won Horse of the Year and scooped three awards.
While in the Media Catergory Sporting Post’s Robyn Louw won the best journalist award.
Igugu owned in partership by Sheikh Mohammed bu Khalifa Al Maktoum and Andre and Joyce MacDonald was trained by champion trainer Mike de Kock, who retained the trainer’s title, and partnered by Antony Delpech in all her races. Delpech was pipped at the post by 9 wins by Anton Marcus to take the Jockeys. Igugu became the first South African filly to win the SA Triple Tiara (Gauteng Guineas, Gr1 SA Fillies Guineas, SA Oaks). Her oustanding season of eight wins and 2 places from 10 starts included the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 and Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, and placed in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas (Ebony Flyer) and the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup (Hollywoodboulevard).
The Australian bred daughter of Galileo was imported by Champion Breeder Summerhill Stud as a weanling for the best value sale in the country – the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale.
2010-2011 Equus Award winners:
CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD FILLY
Princess Victoria
CHAMPION TWO YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING
Delago Deluxe
CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD FILLY
Igugu
CHAMPION THREE YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING
The Apache
CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE (Four-year-old and older)
Dancewiththedevil
CHAMPION OLDER MALE (Four-year-old and older)
Past Master
CHAMPION SPRINTER (1000m-1200m)
Val de Ra
CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE HORSE(1400m-2200m)
Igugu
CHAMPION STAYER (2400m and further)
Aslan
CHAMPION STALLION AWARD
Jet Master – Mr and Mrs Devine
OUTSTANDING STALLION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Captain Al – Klawervlei Stud
BROODMARE OF THE YEAR
Sunshine Lover – Mr W J Engelbrecht
BREEDER OF THE YEAR
Graystone Stud – Mr S D Gray
BREEDER AWARD – EXCEPTIONAL INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT and EQUUS AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
JJ the Jet Plane – (Breeder – Mr Devine) and Gypsy’s Warning – (Breeder – Rathmor Stud)
CHAMPION BREEDER
Summerhill Stud
WORK RIDER AWARDS
Bizu Mjokwa – Western Cape
Abram Makhuba – Gauteng
MEDIA AWARD
Print – Robyn Louw
Television – Aiden Lithgow
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT
Ronnie Napier
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
JP van der Merwe
CHAMPION JOCKEY
Anton Marcus
CHAMPION TRAINER
Mike de Kock
OWNER OF THE YEAR
Ingrid and Markus Jooste
HORSE OF THE YEAR
Igugu
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