IGUGU (Pat Cosgrave) finished a close second in her comeback run at Newmarket on Friday, going down in the closing stages of the Listed Shadwell International Stallions Rosemary Stakes over 1600m to Richard Hannon’s Zurigha, ridden by Ryan Moore.
Igugu had not run since April and, after travelling smoothly, had made a bid for home two furlongs out, kicking two lengths clear. But Moore urged Zurigha to reel in the leader and go on to win by three quarters of a length.
Igugu (yellow and blue silks), outpaced late. (Sporting Life)
Zurigha is owned by Saeed Al Tayer, chairman of Meydan racecourse, and Hannon suggested the Dubai World Cup Carnival was a logical target.
Igugu is also slated to run in Dubai again next season, and is also due to run one more time in Europe before shipping out to the UAE.
Whether that is at Ascot in the Qipco British Champions Series Fillies & Mares at Ascot next month remains to be seen.
“She’s run a genuine race against lesser quality but you can only bring them back by giving them confidence,” Mike de Kock said.
“She’s in the mile and a half at Ascot. We will know what the acceptors are on Tuesday to see the strength of the field.” – extracts from Sporting Life.
