3 minute read

Horse of the Year Igugu, winner of this year's Vodacom Durban July, will make her seasonal debut at Turffontein on Sunday.

She will contest the G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m.

Trainer Mike de Kock has confirmed that the Australian-bred filly would then go off to Cape Town to run in the R1 million TBA Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth on January 9.

Igugu was due to travel overseas to run at the Dubai World Cup meeting in March but, as a result of the protocols regarding moving horses from South Africa being too strict at the moment, De Kock has taken a decision to leave all of his runners at home.

Meanwhile Felix Coetzee will have two decent feature race rides at Saturday's Cape Fillies Guineas meeting at Kenilworth although both his mounts will be up against champions.

He rides the Brett Crawford-trained filly Thunder Dance in the Fillies Guineas against the Glen Kotzen-trained superstar Princess Victoria.

After easily winning a maiden over 1200m at Kenilworth and then a 1400m handicap at Durbanville, Thunder Dance finished third to Princess Victoria in the G2 Choice Carriers Championship over the Kenilworth 1400m last time.

“She is very well and will go into the race as fit as she can possibly be,” Coetzee said.

Coetzee also rides the Justin Snaith-trained State Blue in the G2 Southern Cross Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m against the Dennis Drier-trained Equus champion sprinter Val De Ra.

State Blue has a good record up the Kenilworth straight with a win in the weight for age G3 Champagne Stakes over the Kenilworth 1200m in her penultimate start before taking on the G2 Merchants over that same course and distance against the boys.

“She has proven herself up with the best females over sprints, and although Val De Ra is probably unbeatable she is very honest and will have come on from her last race,” Coetzee said.