TOP class filly Igugu is likely to make her return to the racetrack at the end of February in the R500,000 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the first leg of the SA Triple Tiara.

The long-striding three-year-old is enjoying a well-deserved break after finishing second to Ebony Flyer in the Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on 4 December lasy year. In the weeks following the Guineas a 50% share of Igugu was acquired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum of Dubai.

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Igugu.

 Mike de Kock said on Saturday that Igugu was “rock solid” and in fine shape and that she was destined for a career abroad.

“There is no reason for concern,” he commented. “I don’t want to race Igugu just for the sake of winning local features when there will be plum pickings overseas later in her career. She’s talented with a bright future ahead of her and we have a long-term plan for her.”

“We decided to bypass the latter part of the Cape season because we don’t want to risk over-racing her. I made a mistake running Mother Russia virtually through four seasons in 2009 and 2010 and she went off the boil in the niddle of last year. Yesterday’s Queen’s Plate showed that her rest did Mother Russia the world of good, but we’ll be racing Igugu sparingly, I don’t want to risk facing a similar situation.

“We’re all looking forward to her return but we will stick to our long-term goals,” he added.

Igugu, an import by Galileo forom Zarinia (x Intikhab), has won three of five starts including the and R643,000 in stakes. Her mame means “Jewel” in Zulu amd she fetched R1 million at the 2009 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Sale.