3 minute read

Champion mare Igugu heads the list of entries for the R1 million President's Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein on April 28.

The Australian-bred daughter of Galileo is a multiple G1 winner, having won two of the country's premier events, the Vodacom Durban July last season and the J&B Met last month as well as the SA Fillies Classic and Woolavington 2000.

She beat Pierre Jourdan by a length in the Durban July and Gary Alexander's runner is also among the 31 entries for the feature on Champions Day, the richest race day in Africa.

Pierre Jourdan has run several times since the Durban July, winning twice. He contested the 1400m Hawaii Stakes at Turffontein, his pipe-opener for this big date, and finished powerfully for fourth, 2.25 lengths behind Kavanagh.

Dancewiththedevil, who finished sixth in the Hawaii Stakes in her first outing since beating Ilsanpietro in the Sansui Summer Cup back in November, will come on a lot with that run and will also have her supporters if she is declared to run when the final field is announced on April 18.

Ilsanpietro went on to finish 12th, just 6.60 lengths behind Igugu in the Met.

Both Igugu and Ilsanpietro hail from the powerful yard of ruling champion trainer Mike de Kock, who has entered another 15 horses for the Champions Challenge.

They include evergreen seven-year-old Rudra, who finished third behind Dancewiththedevil and Ilsanpietro in the Summer Cup, dual Guineas winner Solo Traveller, who has run only twice for the yard, and another highly regarded acquisition in Galileo's Destiny.

Captain's Wild, who finished a neck second to Happy Landing in this race last year, is another De Kock nomination and he also has three three-year-olds on the list of entries – Gauteng Guineas winner Golden Chateau, promising Governor General and Frontino Gold.

Other three-year-olds are Sean Tarry-trained Whiteline Fever and Pomodoro, seventh and eighth behind Golden Chateau in the Gauteng Guineas.

Two Cape-based runners have been entered – Run For It from the Justin Snaith stable and last season's SA Classic winner English Garden, who is trained by Mike Bass.