IGUGU is expected to put up a good performance in Sunday’s APQEII Cup over 2000m at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, in which Mike de Kock also sends out Treasure Beach.
Mike believes Igugu is just about back to her best and commented: “Both our runners travelled well from Dubai and Igugu is the fittest we’ve had her in quite a while. She’s got better and better.
“She is getting back to what we all know she is capable of. Things didn’t go her way in Dubai during the Carnival. But I think things have turned for her and we’re expecting a big run.”
Assistant trainer Steven Jell drew the number 10 for Igugu.
Anthony Delpech has made the trip to Hong Kong to ride Igugu, while Irish jockey Colm O’Donoghue will partner Treasure Beach, of whom Mike said: “He’s a smart horse and you can ignore his Dubai World Cup run, which came a bit soon. We didn’t have enough time to get him ready.”
Mike’s pair have drawn wide, but he’s never been one to give up before a race because of unfavourable stall positions. The stable won the 2006 QEII Cup with Irridesence and the 2008 renewal with Archipenko.
*The last four races from Sha Tin will be screened live on Tellytrack from 9.30 on Sunday morning. TAB will be operating its normal range of pools.