MIKE de Kock stables 17 of the 31 entries for the R2-million President’s Champions Challenge to be run over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 28 April.

Among his host of nominations is South Africa’s undisputed champion, Igugu, who is a winner of four Grade 1 races in less than a year.  She started her run with victory in the SA Fillies Classic at Turffontein and followed that with a facile win in the Woolavington 2000 at Greyville. Those were both against three-year-old fillies but she truly showed her ability with a victory in the Vodacom Durban July.  

Igugu winning J&B Met, 2012.

The daughter of Galileo displayed the heart of a champion when she captured the J&B Met at Kenilworth, fighting her way to the line from an almost hopeless position, despite having an interrupted preparation.

Sansui Summer Cup winner Dancewiththedevil is also among the Champions Challenge entries as is Durban July second-placed Pierre Jourdan. Both raced on the Grade2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday and both ran on well behind Kavanagh. Pierre Jourdan ran fourth, 2.25 lengths back, and Dancewithdevil finished sixth, beaten 3.50 lengths.

The Western Cape could be represented by English Garden from the Mike Bass yard, and Run For It who is trained by Justin Snaith. English Garden performed well at Turffontein last year, winning the Grade 1 SA Classic and finishing a 2.25-length second behind Seal in the Grade 1 SA Derby.

Among the other De Kock entries is Summer Cup runner-up Ilsanpietro and third-placed Rudra, as well as 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 but has cut little ice since, 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.

The 31 entries in order of horse, age, sex, trainer and merit rating.

IGUGU (AUS)         (4F)        Mike de Kock         117

DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL         (5M)        St John Gray         116

PIERRE JOURDAN         (5G)        Gary Alexander         116

ILSANPIETRO (BRZ)         (5G)        Mike de Kock         111

RUN FOR IT         (4C)        Justin Snaith         111

ENGLISH GARDEN         (4G)        Mike Bass         109

SMANJEMANJE         (5G)        Tyrone Zackey         108

RUDRA         (7G)        Mike de Kock         107

SOLO TRAVELLER         (4G)        Mike de Kock         106

VERTICAL TAKEOFF         (6G)        Sean Tarry         106

GALANTHUS         (5G)        Tyrone Zackey         105

WHITELINE FEVER         (3C)        Sean Tarry         105

BERRY BLAZE (IRE)         (4F)        Mike de Kock         104

GALILEO’S DESTINY         (4C)        Mike de Kock         104

BUY AND SELL         (8G)        Sean Tarry         103

CAPTAIN’S WILD         (5G)        Mike de Kock         103

SAFWAN (AUS)         (5G)        Mike de Kock         103

GOLDEN CHATEAU (AUS)        (3C)        Mike de Kock         102

POMODORO         (3C)        Sean Tarry         102

KNOCK ON WOOD         (4G)        Ormond Ferraris         100

FLIRTATION         (5M)        Mike de Kock         99

ATLANTIC OAK (GB)         (5M)        Mike de Kock         98

MASAI WARRIOR         (4C)        Mike Azzie         96

MEADOW MAGIC         (4G)        Mike de Kock         96

SAGE THRONE         (4G)        Colin Scott         96

EUROPA POINT (IRE)        (5M)        Mike de Kock         95

ATYEB (AUS)         (5H)        Mike de Kock         94

DUNRAVEN         (4G)        Mike de Kock         93

GOVERNOR GENERAL         (3C)        Mike de Kock         92

POWER LORD         (5G)        David Rahilly         92

FRONTINO GOLD (AUS)        (3C)        Mike de Kock         90