Igugu will be closely watched today!
SA Champion trainer Mike De Kock sends out two big guns at Newmarket this afternoon.
Igugu will make her return to the racetrack in the Listed Shadwell International Stallions Rosemary Stakes over 1600m.
Igugu has been prepared a stone’s throw away from the course at Abington House and Mike de Kock said on Wednesday that the team was looking forward to see the champion racemare back in action.
Igugu, who was plagued by “female problems” in Dubai and ran below par in three outings, stopped off in Hong Kong on her way to the UK to contest the QEII Cup in April, finishing 8th of 14 runners. She hasn’t raced since.
Mike commented on Wednesday: “Igugu’s had a good rest and seems to be over her hormonal problems. It looks like she’s on the right road back to her best. I’m really just trying to get her back to what we all know she is capable of. This listed race doesn’t look all that strong, it will give us an indication of where we stand with her now.”
Pat Cosgrave has been engaged to ride Igugu for the first time.
Patience has been the key word for Soft Falling Rain this summer and Mike can see that the “softly softly” approach could reap dividends with victory in the Group 2 Joel Stakes over 1600m.
Soft Falling Rain. Expected to win today
So reports Geoff Lester in Racing Express.
A Gr1 winner in South Africa, Soft Falling Rain enjoyed a lucrative Carnival in Dubai, winning both the UAE 2000 Guineas and Godolphin Mile, but he took time to acclimatise when arriving in Britain and the Edconnections decided that Royal Ascot would come too soon.
However, Soft Falling Rain ran a terrific race on his belated return in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last month, beating all except super-fit Gregorian, and the form was given a boost when Tawhid (third) won back at Newbury last Saturday.
De Kock, who has won the race before with Eagle Mountain, is adamant that Soft Falling Rain has improved since the Hungerford and is now at his peak and I expect him to go one better here. He said on Wednesday afternoon: “Soft Falling Rain is well and he’s come on fitness wise since his last run. This is a competitive field, a good test on a tough course.
Watch the two live on Tellytrack Dstv 239!
Igugu runs in the Newmarket second race at 15h10. It is the first leg of the PA.
Soft Falling Rain runs in the third race at 15h40.
